The Headless Horseman: And Other Goulish Tales - Hardcover

Pearson, Maggie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1566563771 ISBN 13: 9781566563772

Publisher: Crocodile Books, 2000

Synopsis

A collection of tales from around the world, including "The bunyip," "Abena and the python," "A bargain is a bargain," and "Vasilissa and Baba Yaga."

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3-7-This collection of 14 stories from around the world is just scary enough to appeal to youngsters, without giving them nightmares. Many of the folktales included are available as single volumes, such as the Australian The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek (Bradbury, 1973) by Jenny Wagner, or the Russian Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave (Morrow, 1994) by Marianna Mayer. There are also numerous collections of scary stories, such as Maria Leach's Whistle in the Graveyard (Viking, 1974; o.p.) and Robert San Souci's A Terrifying Taste of Short and Shivery (Delacorte, 1998). Yet, this book is unique because of its scope, language, and format. As noted in the introduction, several tales sound familiar, but the uncommon cultural setting here opens a new world for readers. "The tale `Abena and the Python' [West African] is not so very different from `Bluebeard' [French]-." The text retains storytelling elements in that the sentences are short, and the language is simple and immediate. The layout and design enhance the presentation; the text is easy for the eye to follow because of the use of white space and point size. Muted watercolor illustrations vary in size from full page for emphasis to spot art at the beginning and end of each tale, helping readers to focus. Overall, a wonderful way to introduce "scary" stories, whether read aloud or alone in bed on a dark, rainy night.-Tina Hudak, St. Bernard's School, Riverdale, MD

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 4-7. These 14 tales, classic to obscure, introduce an assortment of eerie beings from around the world--from Bluebeard and bunyips to Baba Yaga and Ichabod Crane. Retellings include "A Bargain Is a Bargain," a Romanian outwit-the-devil tale; the African "Abena and the Python," in which a young bride gets a chilling lesson in appearances versus reality; and "The Shadow," a haunting Danish story about a sinister, ambitious shadow. Slightly oversize text and lively, descriptive prose sprinkled with periodic direct address make for fast, engaging reading. Some of the expressive watercolor illustrations may be a bit gruesome for the tenderhearted (lanterns made of human skulls; a bloody skeleton), but they are an apt accompaniment, detailing international landscapes, cultural elements, and human and otherworldly characters in muted, shadowy tones. An introduction sets the mood, briefly touching on tales' similarities and general representation of culture; the table of contents includes each story's country of origin. A well-told collection illustrating that a good spine tingler knows no national boundaries. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Crocodile Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1566563771
• ISBN 13: 9781566563772
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 92
• Illustrator: Rowe Gavin