The Girl with a Brave Heart: A Tale from Tehran

Author: Rita Jahanforuz
Illustrator:   Vali Mintzi
Publisher:  Barefoot Books
Publication Year:   2010
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Cool Mom picks, featured on Seven Impossible Things,
Summary:  An Iranian-born author (and pop star), used a traditional tale as a basis for this book. Shiraz, a Cinderella like character, goes to find a red wool ball that was left by her mother when he falls into her neighbor's courtyard. She meets an older lady who asks her to smash everything in her house, but Shiraz disobeys and cleans everything. The lady returns her wool and tells her to bathe in two pools in her backyard. She does and becomes incredibly beautiful. Her stepsisters tries to mimic her but turns ugly instead. The pools made them both become the way they feel on the inside.The illustrations are bold, guache paintings with scribble outlines.

Classroom Ideas: A classroom study of other cultures would be enhanced by this traditional tale and the realization that the same lessons are taught everywhere. Because the moral is clearly stated at the end, it would be a good introduction to theme/moral for younger students.

Rabbit's Snow Dance

Author: James & Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator:   Jeff Newman
Publisher:  Dial
Publication Year: 2012  
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Elizabeth Burr/Wozalla Award honor,

Summary:  An Iroquois pourquoi tale that tells about Rabbit, who was short on patience, and couldn't wait for the snow to come. Even though it's summertime and the other animals are ready for cold weather, Rabbit does his dance ("I will make it snow, AZIKANAPO!"). The snow comes and Rabbit just keeps going until he has to take a nap. When he awakes, he has an accident that explains why Rabbit has a small tail today! The illustrations are amazing line drawings and the colors are beautiful.

Classroom Ideas: The retelling of a traditional story is ripe for a classroom/library study of pourquoi tales. Rabbit is a perfect character for studying the effects of his impatience and perhaps the lesson he learned (moral).

The Mightiest Heart

Author: Lynn Cullen
Illustrator:   Laurel Long
Publisher:  Dial
Publication Year: 1998  
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Society of Illustrators gold medal, Marion Vannett Ridgway Award

Summary:  The Welch legend of a faithful dog who would give his life for his master. Prince Llywelyn and his dog Gelert grew up always together and Gelert protected his master from danger. But as Llywelyn grows, he doesn't have time to spend with Gelert. When the prince marries, his new wife doesn't much care for the dog (as shown by an amazing two page spread where Gelert has been banished to the outdoors). When Gelert's son is attacked by a wolf, the dog tries to defend the infant. However, he is first thought to be the attacker and runs away. The prince searches for Gelert for years, but his final encounters with the dog are mysterious. At the end, he allows his son to have a dog with the admonition to remember that "the mightiest heart can come in the humblest vessel." The rich oil paintings bring to mind medieval tapestries with deep colors and incredible details.   

Classroom Ideas: This book has a strong theme and is an example of a traditional folk tale.