A Forest of Stories: Magical Tree Tales From Around the World. Rina Singh, reteller. Illustrated by Helen Cann. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books (Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books), 2003. 64 pp., cloth, $29.95. ISBN 1-84148-963-8. Subject Headings: Trees-Folklore. Folklore. Grades 8 and up / Ages 13 and up. Review by Gail de Vos. ** /4

excerpt:

On the day of the next market, the chief arrived with great pomp and show. His flowing embroidered robe and red hat distinguished him from the people with whom he mingled. By mid-morning, the marketplace was full of people, and business was good. This time the chief was the first one to see the palm tree dancing toward the stalls. He was also the first to run away screaming, followed by his advisors and then the panic-stricken villagers. As soon as the chief arrived back at the village, he rushed to summon all the elders, the wise men, and even a magician from the neighbouring village, to a meeting. At the meeting, which lasted two days, they pondered over the problem, and the chief promised a bag of gold to anyone who could come up with a solution. The magician, who was well known for his skills, offered to give it a try. (From "The Palm Tree.")

Seven retold tales about trees are presented in this attractive illustrated book to encourage readers to become aware of the imperative role of trees in our world. The tales, and the trees, are from China, Guatemala, Japan, India, Nigeria, Morocco and a Jewish tale set in Poland. The stories are rich in detail and texture, evocative of the culture from which they originated. Each tale is prefaced with a full-page illustration of the tree in question and a few attributes of that tree. The tales, themselves, are exquisitely and subtlety illustrated in a style reminiscent of the countries of origin. Cann's watercolours also add essential detail for furthering the understanding of each culture. While source notes are included for each the tales, they unfortunately are not as complete as they could be. This is regrettable, as Singh has taken great liberty in her retellings and particularly in her endings, making the tales far less gritty, authentic and useful for storytelling. It would be of great benefit if the source notes would include the changes in order for readers to more fully understand the cultural aspects of these tales. She does, however, succeed in her aim in paying homage to these grand trees. Other universal themes are also found within these pages: the folly of greed, the rewarding of honesty and devotion to parents and family, and the value of wisdom. A Forest of Stories: Magical Tree Tales From Around the World is recommended for large collections of folktales and ecological themes.

Recommended.

Gail de Vos is a storyteller and author of five books on storytelling and folklore. She teaches storytelling in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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