Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!: A Palestinian Folktale by Margaret Read MacDonald

A lively folktale from the middle east introduces us to a woman who longs for a child and prays to Allah "even if it's just a cooking pot" which is what she gets. The mischiveous little pot runs ("Tun-jur! Tun-jur!" is the roll-y noise she makes) off with things that do not belong to her. She learns her lesson when someone fills her up with goat muck- instead of the reward she was expecting.

A lesson of learning right from wrong is shared with strong arabic- styled illustrations.

Author's notes are included.

Solomon and the Ant, retold by Sheldon Oberman

Here are forty-three clever, witty, and illustrative stories sure to delight students of all ages. This collection is a goldmine for storytellers. Oberman has gathered stories from many Jewish traditions - trickster tales, riddles, King Solomon, and the prophet Elijah. Each is short and told so clearly that the jewel at the heart of the story shines through every time. It is recommended for grades 5 and up....but many of the stories have delighted younger audiences at my school. The seven page introduction was a little long. Surely the material before and after each story would have sufficed. A simple "Sheldon Oberman did not live to actually hold this book in his hands; nevertheless, he held the stories in his heart" would have been more in keeping with the spirit of these fabulous folktales.

Grades 5 - 8

Keep Climbing, Girls, by Beah E. Richards

A young girl climbs a tree in defiance of Miss Nettie, who hands on hips, tries demands, shame, and fear to bring her down. The message rings loud and clear for all girls, particularly girls of color, to climb higher, forge a path upward, and defy expectations. Besides it's such a great view from the tree top! R. Gregory Christie's angular and expressive swatches of color capture the spirit of this inspirational poem. Grab a girl or two and read this one aloud! An introduction provides background on the author, an actress featured in the documentary: Beah: A Black Woman Speaks.

All ages.

Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became An Inventor, by Emily Arnold McCully

As a child, Mattie Knight loved to play with tools and invent toys and other useful devices for her brothers and widowed mother. Her mechanical abilities and perseverance also led to other inventions most notably a machine to produce square-bottomed paper bags. The story underscores the difficulties the inventor faced as a woman as well as her ingenuity and perseverance. Watercolor illustrations and small sketches of many of the inventions further illuminate the text.