FRIENDSHIP STORIES, FAIRY TALES & FOLKLORE (excerpts from Storytell posts plus original research) •••••••••• •••••••••• (Scroll down or click on your choice below) BOOKS JEWELRY ONLINE LINKS (includes Friendship Poems) SOS - INPUT FROM STORYTELLERS and TEACHERS

BOOKS
(To retell these stories, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.)

FEATURED BOOK Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett (illustrator) (2008 - Ages 4-8) Description That popular little character is back looking for friends, in an adventure he’ll never forget. Confident and cocky, the Gingerbread Baby happens upon a bakery, where he dances and prances in front of a sugar cookie girl, trying to make friends. But she just stares and doesn’t say a word, like all the other sweet treats he tries to meet. Discouraged, the Gingerbread Baby runs home, chased by a long line of hungry creatures, where Mattie has a fantastic surprise for him—gingerbread friends that fill a giant fold-out page. Irresistible images inside the confectionery and outside in the snowy Swiss countryside will delight Jan Brett fans.

Baby-Preschool and Ages 4-8 Books

• Banza, The: A Haitian Story (Reading Rainbow Book) by Diane Wolkstein with Marc Brown (illus). (1992 - Ages 4-8)
Description
A small goat finds that the banza (little banjo) given to her by a little tiger protects her from harm in an unexpected way.

• Bear Feels Scared by Karma Wilson with Jane Chapman (illus). (2008 - Ages 4-8)
Description
In the deep, dark woods
by the Strawberry Vale,
a big bear lumbers
down a small, crooked trail....

• Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris (I Can Read Book 1) by Jane O'Connor with Robin Preiss Glasser and Ted Enik (illustrators). (2008 - Ages 4-8)
Description
There's a new boy in school, and he's from Paris. Nancy cannot believe her luck. But this Parisian may not be as fancy as Nancy expects!

• Friendship Bracelets (Klutz) by Laura Torres (editor). (1996 - Ages 4-8)
Description
Super-clear directions for ten different kinds of bracelets, with all the colorful floss and beads you need to make all of them. A built-in clipboard provides the ideal work surface for this coolest of crafts.

• Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud with David Messing (illus). (2006 - Ages 4-8)
Description
Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behavior as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves.

• How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (Dino Life Guides for Families) by Laurie Krasny Brown with Marc Brown (illus). (2001 - Ages 4-8)
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-Similar in style to the Browns' Dinosaurs Divorce (Atlantic Monthly, 1986), this picture book offers kids practical suggestions about resolving arguments, getting over being shy, handling bossy children and bullies, and more. The easy-to-read text contains many examples of how to be a friend, each paired with a picture of two or more dinosaurs in that particular situation. For example, "You can protect a friend if someone starts bothering him" is illustrated with a dinosaur saying, "Stop it! Leave him alone!" to a bully. Marc Brown's colorful, whimsical cartoons are integral to the appeal of the book. The front endpapers feature suggestions from a third-grade class on "Ways to Be a Friend" ("Be helpful," "Take turns," etc.) along with drawings of happy dinosaur faces, while at the back, "Ways Not to Be a Friend" ("Make mean faces," "Call them a name they don't like," etc.) are illustrated with grumpy faces. While there are many wonderful stories that deal with friendship, few give direct advice to children about what to do and what not to do. Sure to be a hit without hitting readers over the head with message.
Esther C. Ball, Carver Elementary School, Newport News, VA

• How to Lose All Your Friends (Picture Puffins) by Nancy Carlson. (1997 - Ages 4-8)
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-This reverse etiquette book advises readers to never smile or share; to be a bully and whine; to tattle and be a poor sport. Each "rule" offers specific examples and is illustrated with brightly colored pictures. While children are always interested in stories showing the complications and potential pitfalls of social interactions, this plotless treatment is not likely to hold much appeal for them. Also, it's unfortunate that "tattling" is presented as undesirable. Granted, the examples given are minor ones involving friends who are misbehaving in not terribly destructive ways, but youngsters do need to know that there are situations in which "telling" is perfectly acceptable. Carlson's cartoon-style art is a little more crudely done here than in her previous books, and her figures are more angular, as they "Push in front of the lunch line" or "Cheat at cards."
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

• Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (illustrator). (2007 - Ages 4-8)
From Booklist
Knuffle Bunny returns, but this time he has a doppelganger. Trixie is off to school, and things are going well enough—until she notices that Sonja is holding her own Knuffle Bunny. Arrgh! The afternoon results in dueling bunnies, which are confiscated by the teacher. Happily, they are returned at the end of the day, but at 2:30 a.m. realization hits: the bunny Trixie is sleeping with is not her own. Despite parental protestations, phone calls are placed, bunnies are exchanged, and the girls, bonded during the trauma, become best friends. This has much of the charm of Knuffle Bunny (2004), a Caldecott Honor Book, but the premise is stretched here: the middle-of-the-night meeting is energetic, but it seems overplayed. As in the previous title, the slice-of-life artwork is smashing. Willem's cartoon-style art, set against crisp black-and-white photos of New York City interiors and exteriors, catches every bit of the plentiful emotion. Keen-eyed kids will have fun keeping track of the Knuffle Bunny as he's lost, then found again. Cooper, Ilene

• Mousewife, The by Rumer Godden. (to be published 2009 - Ages 4-8)
Description
Day in and day out the dutiful mousewife works alongside her mousehusband. The house of Miss Barbara Wilkinson, where the Mouses make their home, is a nice house and the mousewife is for the most part happy with her lot—and yet she yearns for something more. But what? Her husband, for one, can’t imagine. “I think about cheese,” he advises her. “Why don’t you think about cheese?”

Then an odd and exotic new creature, a turtledove, is brought into the house, and the mousewife is fascinated. The mousewife makes friends with the strange dove, who is kept in a cage but who tells her about things no housemouse has ever imagined, blue skies, tumbling clouds, tall trees, and far horizons, the memory of which haunt the dove in his captivity. The dove’s tales fill the mousewife with wonder and drive her to take daring action.

Rumer Godden’s lovely fable about the unexpected ways in which dreams can come true is illustrated with beautiful pen-and-ink drawings by William Pène du Bois.
(The 1966 version is also available at: The Mousewife)

• Pete & Pickles by Berkeley Breathed (illustrator). (2008 - Ages 4-8)
Description
Pete is a perfectly predictable, practical, uncomplicated pig. At least, he was . . . before a runaway circus elephant named Pickles stampeded into his life, needing a friend. Pickles is larger than life and overflowing with imagination. She takes Pete swandiving off Niagara Falls. (Sort of.) And sledding down the Matterhorn. (Sort of.) Pete goes along for the wild ride and actually begins to enjoy himself . . . until Pickles goes too far. And Pete tells her she must leave.
Yet sometimes the simple life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed offers two new irresistible characters and a heartfelt, hilarious look at the rarity of true friendship.

• Purplicious by Elizabeth Kann with Victoria Kann (illus). (2007 - Ages 4-8)
Description
It's purple Pinkalicious! Pinkalicious loves the color pink, but all the girls at school like black. They tease her, saying that pink stinks and pink is for babies. But Pinkalicious doesn't think so…that is, until her friends stop playing with her. Now Pinkalicious has a case of the blues. But could she ever turn her back on her favorite color? In the follow-up to the bestselling Pinkalicious, a young girl remains true to herself and discovers that pink isn't only a pretty color, but also a powerful one.

• Step by Step by Diane Wolkstein with Jos. A. Smith (illus). (1994 - Ages 4-8)
From Publishers Weekly
Over a stone, across a leaf, under a branch--step by step, a red-sneakered ant wends her way to meet her friend the grasshopper. Together, the two enjoy an outing, then the ant travels home again, step by step, arriving just before dark. Although the story line is slight and the pair's adventures practically nonexistent, Wolkstein's pacing is expert. Here, repetition of the phrase "step by step" propels the tale and sets the stage for a rhythmic, reassuring read-aloud. Smith's larger-than-life illustrations provide an ant's-eye view of the world; solid attention to detail and gentle
anthropomorphization of the ant and her friend make this, if not a show-stopper, decidedly reader-friendly. Ages 3-up.

• Sugar Plum Ballerinas #1: Plum Fantastic (Sugar Plum Ballerinas) by Whoopi Goldberg and Deborah Underwood with Nancy Cato (illus). (2008 - Ages 4-8)
Description
Alexandrea Petrakova Johnson does not want to be a beautiful ballerina, and she does not want to leave her friends in Apple Creek. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop her ballet-crazy mother from moving them to Harlem, or from enrolling Al at the Nutcracker School of Ballet.

Life is hard when you're the new ballerina on the block, and it's even harder when you're chosen to be the Sugar Plum Fairy in the school recital! Not only is Al a terrible dancer, but she's also got a rotten case of stage fright! Al's ballet classmates are going to have to use all the plum power they've got to coach this scary fairy!

• Three Questions, The by Jon J. Muth. (2002 - Ages 4-8)
Description
Nikolai is a boy who believes that if he can find the answers to his three questions, he will always know how to be a good person. His friends--a heron, a monkey, and a dog--try to help, but to no avail, so he asks Leo, the wise old turtle. "When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?" Leo doesn't answer directly, but by the end of Nikolai's visit, the boy has discovered the answers himself.

Award-winning illustrator Jon J Muth's lovely watercolors are the most appealing aspect of this book about compassion and living in the moment. The simple Zen-based profundity of the boy's philosophical exploration may escape young readers, but they will enjoy the tale of a child who, in doing good deeds (for a panda and her baby, no less!), finds inner peace. Muth based his story on a short story of the same title by Leo Tolstoy. (Ages 5 to 9)
Emilie Coulter

• Traveling to Tondo: A Tale of the Nkundo of Zaire (Dragonfly Paperback) by Verna Aardema. (1993 - Ages 4-8)
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4 - Not since the Three Sillies has there been a more foolish group of misfits--an unlikely quartet of a groom-to-be civet cat and his friends: a pigeon, a python, and a turtle. Bowane, the cat, has asked for the hand of a beautiful feline and is returning to his future wife's village with a basket of copper and trinkets. On the way, he invites one dear friend after another to accompany him. But one delay after another stalls the wedding party--for years--and when the entourage finally reaches Tondo, they are not welcome. The bride-to-be has married another and has a family, and Bowane is run off in disgrace. This satisfying tale owes its success to a clean, straightforward telling and beautiful illustrations in blues, browns, greens, and gold. Small black decorations under the text show the silly travellers in silhouette as they march along. This is the kind of story children love, and they're sure to cluck their tongues as they sit in awe of someone else's stupidity. Told with a steady rhythm that's perfect for reading aloud, this is a traveling tale for all collections. — Denia Lewis Hester, Dewey School, Evanston, IL



Ages 9-12 Books

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. (2007 - Ages 9-12)
Description
Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they? The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to

It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things.

• A Gilgamesh Play For Teen Readers: A Tale of the First Myth & Legend of Ancient Mesopotamia for Middle & High Schoolers by Jerry L. Parks. (2007 - Ages 9-12)
Description
Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The oldest story known to man. In a teaching unit, performable play format, A Gilgamesh Play for Teen Readers tells the essence of the Gilgamesh story without the archaic (and often inappropriate) language. It is the only such format of the story, and furnishes teachers a thorough and interesting background regarding the world of young people in ancient Mesopotamia. The author is a National Board Certified Teacher, and has taught middle school for over twenty years.

Because there are so few plays on the story of Gilgamesh geared to teens, this play was created to fill the void. Although not an exact retelling of the story, the play furnishes a great deal of insight into the ancient Mesopotamian culture, as well insight into the story of Gilgamesh. The play features:

. Probing questions on various themes for teenage discussion
. Themes listed for the teacher use in a quick-reference
. A quick-reference Sumer-cabulary with keywords bolded in the play
. Pre-teaching suggestions for teachers
. A complete Sumerian 'further reference list' for teachers to utilize

The story is the legend of the great king Gilgamesh, and the eventual tragedy of his friendship with Enkidu--lord of the wild. It was written by a Sumerian, but was absorbed into later Babylonian culture. Because of Gilgamesh's arrogance and pride, the gods created Enkidu--a warrior as powerful as the king--in order to teach the king humility. The warriors became friends and had many adventures together. But the evil goddess Ishtar punished Enkidu with an untimely death sentence, and Gilgamesh undertook a long journey in search of Utnoa (Utnapishtim) the Faraway--survivor of the Great Flood--who possessed the secret of immortality. At the story's end, the fruit benefits neither the king nor his friend, but ironically, Gilgamesh--through his timeless story--has indeed become immortal.

• Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean with David Parkins (illus). (2003 - Ages 9-12)
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-Long before Homer, Sumerians were creatively tackling the human condition. Their epic, preserved by other Near Eastern cultures, focuses especially on themes of friendship and mortality. Gilgamesh is overactive and oversexed (McCaughrean handles this, and a later seduction scene, discreetly), and his status affords plenty of opportunities to act out. The gods balance his personality by matching him (jaded, cultured) with Enkidu (innocent, wild). The pair finds socially constructive outlets-and then Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh suddenly understands his own vulnerability, and sets out to seek immortality. His journey echoes in the Odyssey and in the biblical flood story. McCaughrean's retelling is superb. Faithful to the fragmentary originals, her adaptation adds inspired details, similes, dialogue, and description. It enriches readers' understanding without violating the source. Unlike David Ferry's spare, poetic redaction in Gilgamesh: A New Rendering in English Verse (Farrar, 1992), McCaughrean grippingly and tenderly elaborates. Her language is both vernacular and classic, her pace unslacking, her characterizations deft. This volume will add luster to the author's glittering reputation. The illustrations recall Charles Keeping's bold style; Parkins's thick, dark line gains energy from its rough, unfinished edges. Unframed vignettes seem to emerge out of the text; full-page pictures spill over to the facing page. The somber palette evokes the desert setting, and the style is slightly archaic and wholly vigorous. It would be a pity if the single instance of a bare bottom in one vignette discouraged purchase: this fabulous introduction to the epic tradition deserves a wide readership.
Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI

• Gilgamesh the King (Gilgamesh Trilogy, The) by Ludmila Zeman. (1998 - Age 9-12)
Description
Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help. In answer, another kind of man, Enkidu, is sent to earth to live among the animals and learn kindness from them. He falls in love with Shamhat, a singer from the temple, and he follows her back to Uruk. There, Enkidu, the “uncivilized” beast from the forest, shows the evil Gilgamesh through friendship what it means to be human.

• Homework Machine, The by Dan Gutman. (2007 - Ages 9-12)
Description
Doing homework becomes a thing of the past!
Meet the D Squad, a foursome of fifth graders at the Grand Canyon School made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker. They are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code-named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, attracting a lot of attention. And attention is exactly what you don't want when you are keeping a secret.

Before long, things start to get out of control, and Belch becomes much more powerful than they ever imagined. Now the kids are in a race against their own creation, and the loser could end up in jail...or worse!

• Little Mouse's Painting by Diane Wolkstein. (2003 - Ages 9-12)
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Even though this sweet picture book seems, on first reading, to be devoid of complexity or any real action, a second, more thoughtful perusal uncovers unexpected charm. Little Mouse, a sociable yet independent sort, enjoys visiting with her friends Bear, Squirrel, and Porcupine, and shares different activities and interests with each. One day she devotes her time instead to painting on her own. When the picture is done, Little Mouse proudly shows it off; the animals see themselves in it. She is initially frustrated with their interpretations, insisting that the blueberry bush, flower, and sun do not bear resemblance to them. Later, however, when she hangs the picture, she realizes that their visions have some merit and she is pleased to have them nearby, in spirit and in pigment, if not in fact. Wolkstein's expressive, straight- forward narrative and Begin's beautiful, luminous watercolor and acrylic illustrations combine to produce an appealing, insightful look at friendship and creativity. The exquisite artwork; subtle characterization; and simple, thoughtful story add up to a satisfying whole. — Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

• Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, The (Mysterious Benedict Society) by Trenton Lee Stewart with Diana Sudyka (illus). (2008 - Ages 9-12)
Description
The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search--a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain. With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all--a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them.

• No Talking by Andrew Clements with mark Elliott (illus). (2007 - Ages 9-12)
Description
"You have the right to remain silent." However...
The fifth-grade girls and the fifth-grade boys at Laketon Elementary don't get along very well. But the real problem is that these kids are loud and disorderly. That's why the principal uses her red plastic bullhorn. A lot.

Then one day Dave Packer, a certified loudmouth, bumps into an idea -- a big one that makes him try to keep quiet for a whole day. But what does Dave hear during lunch? A girl, Lynsey Burgess, jabbering away. So Dave breaks his silence and lobs an insult. And those words spark a contest: Which team can say the fewest words during two whole days? And it's the boys against the girls.

How do the teachers react to the silence? What happens when the principal feels she's losing control? And will Dave and Lynsey plunge the whole school into chaos?

This funny and surprising book is about language and thought, about words unspoken, words spoken in anger, and especially about the power of words spoken in kindness...with or without a bullhorn. It's Andrew Clements at his best -- thought-provoking, true-to-life, and very entertaining.

• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. (1998 - Ages 9-12)
Description
The evacuation of Jews from Nazi-held Denmark is one of the great untold stories of World War II. On September 29, 1943, word got out in Denmark that Jews were to be detained and then sent to the death camps. Within hours the Danish resistance, population and police arranged a small flotilla to herd 7,000 Jews to Sweden. Lois Lowry fictionalizes a true-story account to bring this courageous tale to life. She brings the experience to life through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie Johannesen, whose family harbors her best friend, Ellen Rosen, on the eve of the round-up and helps smuggles Ellen's family out of the country. Number the Stars won the 1990 Newbery Medal.

• Smart Girls Guide to Friendship Troubles, A by Patti Kelley Criswell with Angela Martini (illus). (2003 - Ages 9-12)
Description
From backstabbing to bullying to just being left out, here’s advice for girls about a whole host of friendship problems. How do you speak up for yourself when you’re worried about hurting your friend’s feelings? What if your best friend leaves you for the more popular crowd? What do you do when your friend the "rule setter" decides you’re not cool anymore? When- and how- do you get your parents involved without making things worse? Tips, quizzes, and real life stories about girls who’ve solved their friendship problems round out this timely advice book.

Young Adult and Adult Books

• Doorways to the Soul: 52 Wisdom Tales from Around the World by Elisa Davy Pearmain (editor). (2007)
Description from a reader
This book is designed to be a year-long journey into tales of wisdom from around the world and different cultures. An enjoyable read with ideas for incorporating wisdom, and journeys of the soul shared, in every day life.

• Panchatantra: The Complete Version by Pandit Vishnu Sharma/Tr.G.L. Chandiramani (author). (2008)
Description
Panchatantra, is perhaps the oldest collection of Indian Fables still surviving. It is written around 200BC by the great Hindu Scholar Pandit Vishnu Sharma. Panchatantra means "the five books".It is a "Nitishastra" which means book of wise conduct in life. The book is written in the form of simple stories and each story has a moral and philosophical theme which has stood the test of time in modern age of atomic fear and madness. It guides us to attain success in life by understanding human nature. Panchatantra is commonly available in an abridged form written for children.Here is the complete translation of the book as written by Vishnu Sharma.

• Peace Tales by Margaret Read MacDonald. (2005)
Description
Maybe it's the king who spills honey, and then says it is not his problem until it causes a war. Or maybe it's some sandpipers and whales who get into a foolish fight that almost destroys their homes. Perhaps it's the man who thinks that a gun makes him strong, or the monkeys who follow their leader into water that's too deep.

• Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent (collaborator). (2008)
Description
Switching back and forth in short segments, two narrators portray authors Hall and Moore in memoirs that begin in distant walks of life and intersect in a homeless shelter. In the charming accent of an unschooled black man with a deep, scratchy voice, narrator Barry Scott recounts Denver Moore's life of hardship and misfortune, starting on a Louisiana plantation. In contrast, the subtle Southern accent of Dan Butler speaks for co-author Ron Hall, an educated white gentleman of comfortable means. The narrators play their parts of the drama so well that listeners will believe they are hearing the men who lived the story. In the end, the two individuals form an unlikely friendship resulting from charity and challenged by tragedy. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

 

JEWELRY and GIFTS

• Bracelet - B150 - Bangle Style Friend Prayer
Description
Inscribed with ~ A Friend is Someone We Turn To When Our Spirits Need a Lift. A Friend is Someone We Treasure For Our Friendship is a Gift. A Friend is Someone Who Fills Our Lives With Beauty, Joy and Grace. And makes the Whole World We Live in a Better and Happier Place + Heart Charm ~ Silver Tone Metal

• Bracelet - B151 - Bangle Style
Description
Inscribed with ~ GRANDMA - Sometimes the Best Things in Life Are Often Unseen, a Moment of Serenity, a Feeling of Security. All This and More You've Given to Me + Heart & Crystal Charm ~ Silver Tone Metal.

• Bracelet - B164 - Sister Prayer
Description
Inscribed with ~ If Sisters Were Flowers, I'd Still Pick You. I'd Let the Sun Shine So You'd Never Be Blue. I'd Show the World How Beautifully You Grew, With Bright Bold Colors and Strength Through and Through + Sisters Flower Charm ~ Silver Tone Metal.

• Childrens Jewelry Special Friend Always Bracelet
Description
This sterling silver finish and glass beaded bracelet with a silver toned heart charm is a keepsake gift to give to your special friend. Approximately 6" in length. This fun bracelet says it all. Individually gift box with a verse card.

• Chinese Friendship Symbol Pewter Pendant Necklace
Description
Chinese characters are more than just a written from of the language. They are powerful talismans that embody what they signify. People forever have wished for fortune, wealth, health, happiness and so on and by wearing talismans such as this they can inspire that fortune.
Highly detailed. This piece is a fine crafted pewter pendant necklace. It is made from the highest quality 100% pewter inside and out. Nickle-free. Comes ready to wear with a jewelry black rope necklace or you could put it on your favorite chain. Just amazing!

• Clearly Charming Friendship, Laughter, Love, Irish Silver & Crystal Expressively Yours Bracelet
Description
Enjoy the beauty of this silver-plated and crystal Expressively Yours bracelet. The Friendship, Laughter, Love words are on both sides of the silver bead. It is finished off with a heart charm and a toggle clasp. Included with this bracelet is this inspirational saying: A teacher has unique qualities, The gift of wisdom to share, With patience and understanding, To inspire many with special care. The bracelet measures 8 inches. It comes packaged in a beautiful gift box with a ribbonready to give as a gift.

• Do What You Love, Love What You Do, Sterling Silver Band Ring, Sizes 6,7,8, #8895
Description
Do what you love...words to live by. This sterling silver band ring is inscribed with these words to remind the wearer of the joys of life and doing whatever makes you happy. Inside is the inscription, love what you do. Unique and special! This ring is great to wear alone, or stacked with other rings. The perfect gift for yourself, or a special person. Simple, classic and modern! This ring measures 3/8" in width.

• Irish Friendship / Love Claddagh Ring in Sterling Silver, #2601
Description
WITH THESE HANDS I GIVE YOU MY HEART AND I CROWN IT WITH MY LOVE. People wear the claddagh ring all over the world as a symbol of love, loyalty, and friendship. When it is worn on the right hand, with crown and heart facing out, the ring tells that the wearer's heart has yet to be won. While in a relationship it is worn with heart and crown facing inwards. Wearing the ring on the left hand, with the crown and heart facing out, signifies that your heart has been won. The hands are there for friendship, the heart is there for love. For loyalty throughout the year, the crown is raised above. This ring is 1/2" long and available in size 5 - 9. See pulldown menu for available sizes in stock. Sterling silver.

• Pearls of Wisdom Friend Bracelet
Description
This gift is a wonderful idea for a friend that has brought meaning to your life. Each bracelet is sent with a true definition and one that has a hearfelt meaning. Card Included:friend P Pronunciation Key (fr nd)n 1: a person you know well and regard with affection and trusta person genuine and caringa person who listens when no one else willa person who has made my life brightera person worth knowingA person like you!

• 2 piece YIN YANG Friendship PEWTER PENDANT Necklace
Description
Very cool pendant. It's actually composed of two pieces and comes on two necklaces. You may wear them together, separate as different pendants, or give one to a friend/lover to share with you. Highly detailed. This piece is a brand new fine crafted pewter pendant necklace. One piece has the shiny silvery finish, one piece has the blackish finish. It is made from the highest quality 100% pewter inside and out. Nickle-free. Comes ready to wear with jewelry black rope necklaces or you could put them on your favorite chain(s). Just amazing!

ONLINE LINKS ABOUT FRIENDSHIP

• Devoted Friend, The by Oscar Wilde
http://www.artpassions.net/wilde/devoted_friend.html

• Difference Between Heaven and Hell, The
http://www.story-lovers.com/listsheavenandhell.html

• Friendship Day: Friendship Forever
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/friendship-day/friendship-story/index.html

• Friendship Stories
http://brosia.com/

• Friendship Stories
http://www.theholidayspot.com/friendship/stories/

• Friendship Stories
http://www.dizzyboy.com/stories/friendship-stories/friendship_stories.html

• Friendship Stories
http://www.best-friends-forever.com/friendship-stories.html

• Friendship Stories for Children from Helium.
http://www.helium.com/knowledge/108452-short-stories-friendship-stories-for-children

• Friendship Stores You Can Share from Reading Rainbow
Includes: Alone from Days With Frog and Toad (Arnold Lobel); selections from Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea (Cynthia Rylant) ; selections from The Hating Book (Charlotte Zolotow); The Book from George and Martha Back in Town (James Marshall) ; and A Summer Day from Jake and the Copycats (Joanne Rocklin).
http://tinyurl.com/6co97p

• Hare and Many Friends, The — a poem by John Gay (1685-1732)
http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/869.html

• Hare With Many Friends, The — an Aesop fable
http://www.theholidayspot.com/friendship/stories/aesop_fable.htm

• Kalila and Dimna: Fables of Friendship and Betrayal, retold by Ramsay Wood
http://tinyurl.com/6lt7nt

• Lion and the Mouse, The — an Aesop fable
http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/lion_and_mouse.htm

• Queen and the Mouse, The on the Whootie Owl site.
http://hazel.forest.net/whootie/stories/queen_mouse_france.html

• Shepherd's Story of the Bond of Friendship, The by Hans Christian Andersen (1842)
http://hca.gilead.org.il/friendsh.html

• Six Friends on the Whootie Owl site.
http://www.storiestogrowby.com/stories/six_friends_tibet.html

• Wonderful Friendship: Religious Fablels, Folklore, Legends and Stories
http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/rf-wonderful.html

• Your Life Happiness: Happiness Through Sadness
http://www.yourlifehappiness.com/inspirational.html

FRIENDSHIP POEMS

• Friendship Poems
http://www.lovepoemsandquotes.com/FriendshipPoems.html

• Friendship Poems
http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/friend/

• Friendship Poems
http://www.ellenbailey.com/themes/friendship.htm

• Friendship Poems and Poetry
http://www.indianchild.com/friendship.htm

• 100 Best Friendship Poems
http://100-poems.com/poems/friendship/

• Poems for Friendship
http://www.theholidayspot.com/friendship/poems_for_friendship.htm

• Poems for the People - Poems by the People
http://www.netpoets.com/poems/friends/

SOS - INPUT FROM STORYTELLERS, TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS

1) Query: I need help yet again. I have to do some storytelling sessions for International Friendship Day. Any leads on on friendship stories? The audience will range from 7 years to 12 years.

Response: I love the story Old Joe and the Carpenter. There is an adaptation by Pleasant DeSpain in Elisa Pearmain's book Doorways to the Soul: 52 Wisdom Tales from Around the World.
There is also an online version at this site.
http://www.story-lovers.com/listsoldjoe&carpenter.html

And in Margaret Read MacDonald's Peace Tales, there are other stories about friendship: A Blind Man Catches a Bird (from Zimbabwe), Two Foxes ( from Appalachia), How Friendship Began Among the Birds (from Burma).

2) Try the stories in Panchatantra: The Complete Version, the Hindu-Persian collection compiled in about 200 B. C. One good translation by Ryder is available from the University of Chicago Press. It contains dozens of stories which center around friendship.

3) There's Rumer Godden's The Mousewife - a lovely story about the friendship between a mouse and a caged dove.

4) The Banza: A Haitian Story (Reading Rainbow Book) by Diane Wolkstein. You could also try two other books of hers: Little Mouse's Painting (friendship and art in the eyes of the beholder) and Step by Step, the latter more suitable for the wee folks. Definitely get a look at The Banza ... see how a friendship between a goat and a tiger (yes) can have its advantages.

5) This is a story about the loss of friendship. I even had an arts council ask me not to tell it to little kids because it didn't have a happy ending and was a bit violent. But I tell it because the message is so clear and so needed today. From the The King's Drum and Other African Stories - How Two Friends Parted. Lorna LL Productions - Keepers of the Flame, Buffalo NY.

6) This brought a favorite of mine to mind, as weird as it may seem. From the Gospel of Matthew: Ignatius Study Bible (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) 26: 50. Judas has just kissed Jesus, indicating that He is the one the soldiers are to sieze, and Jesus responds: "Friend, do what you have come for." I've always been blown away by the word, "Friend" at that moment. If any of you have Bach's St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244: No. 36 Rezitativ und Chor: Und der Hohepriester antwortete und sprach zu ihm, he translates it as "Meine Freunde, warum bist du kommen?" -- or , "My friend, why have you come." And the musical setting is breathtakingly loving. Truly, for me, one of music's great moments. in friendly appreciation,

7) True Friends
"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."
-Winnie the Pooh
"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."
- Charles Caleb Colton
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
"Walk beside me and be my friend."
- Albert Camus.
"Strangers are just friends waiting to happen."
"Friends are the Bacon Bits in the Salad Bowl of Life."
"Friendship is one mind in two bodies."
- Mencius
"Friends are God's way of taking care of us."
"If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend."
-Stone Temple Pilots
"I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay."
-DaveMatthews Band
"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them."
"Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say."
"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere."
- Tim McGraw
"My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life."
-Lee Iacocca
"Hold a true friend with both your hands."
-Nigerian Proverb
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

8) My favorite friendship story is Learn To Write in the Sand by Malba Tahan. All ages love it. Malba Tahan is the pseudonym for Julio Cesar de Mallo e Souza, a mathemetician born in Rio de Janeiro.
Response: Adapted from a story attributed to Malba Tahan. Malba Tahan was a pseudonym of Julio Cesar de Mello e Souza, 1895 - 1974, a widely traveled Brazilian mathematics professor who also wrote a delightful collection of stories, The Man Who Counted: A Collection of Mathematical Adventures.
Story:
Learn to Write in the Sand
Long ago in Ancient Persia there lived two merchant traders, Mussa and Nagib, who set out together in a caravan with camels, horses and servants. They headed into the mountains of Northern Persia and soon came to a river that was swift flowing, muddy and dangerous to cross. Mussa being the younger offered to go first. He started across the river holding a rope to guide the rest of the caravan. Partway across he stumbled, lost his footing fell into the swirling waters and dropped the rope. Nagib did not hesitate. Immediately he jumped into the river and was able to reach his friend and pull him to the shore. What do you think Mussa did then? He called his servants to him and said, "I want you to carve my words into the rock of these cliffs here beside the river. That afternoon and evening his servants chiseled while others made camp. They wrote, "Wanderer, in this place, Nagib heroically saved the life of his friend, Mussa." The merchants traveled for many months and eventually returned to this same river crossing with loads of tea and silk. This time the water level was lower so the crossing was easy. Mussa and Nagib sat and talked by the stone cliff where Nagib's heroism had been recorded. Allah only knows what caused them to disagree, but they soon got into an argument. They quarreled; and in a fit of anger, Nagib struck Mussa. What do you think Mussa did then? He picked up a stick. With it he wrote in the sand by the river. "Wanderer, in this place, in a trivial argument, Nagib broke the heart of his friend Mussa." His servants came up to him asking, "Master Mussa, do you not want us to carve your words in the rock?" To this Mussa replied, "I hope to forget this argument before the wind and water erase my words from the sand." If you would be a happy person, you will learn what things to carve in stone and what to write in the sand.

9) Here are the stories I considered for a program on Friendship:
• Little Tree Who Wished for Different Leaves
http://www.rosethestorylady.com
Little tree worries that other trees are making fun of him, wishes for different leaves. I adapt ending. He is glad to have his own leaves back, glad to be just himself, believes he has something to offer and becomes friends with other trees.
• Little Rooster and Turkish Sultan - available in Twenty Tellable Tales: Audience Participation Folktales for the Beginning Storyteller, Margaret Read MacDonald
• Mosquito - story told with storytelling string. Available in Story Vine, The, Anne Pellowski - has directions for string story - I adapt the story by having 2 friends sit on the porch by the lake every evening to talk and weave Mucky Moose - Johnathan Allen - Mucky has good friends, learns to deal with teasing, outwits the wolf. See my website for my adaptations and the little audience participation song I use with it. Kids love this one. This story is copyrighted. I found Johnathan Allen's website by doing a google search and emailed him. He gave me permission to tell the story.
Eagle Soup - this is an African folk tale. I found it in a book called something like Stories from Under the Story Hat (which is now out of print) Spider and Rabbit are friends- there is famine in the land - they hunt together. Rabbit kills an eagle - spider tricks him into burying it by lying - spider digs it up and makes eagle soup - spider's wife eats the soup - spider blames rabbit. This is a good story to use as a discussion starter to talk about loyalty and friendship. What were the good things about this friendship? What were the problems? What kind of friend do you want to be?
• Tipingee - The Magic Orange Tree: and Other Haitian Folktales, Diane Wolkstein
Tipingee's stepmother gives her to the witch of the forest. The witch will recognize her by the red dress she will be wearing. Tipingee asks her friends to wear red and meet her at the well. They trick the witch. Next day everyone wears black. I heard Diane Wolkstein tell this story and it was wonderful. She asked the kids in the audience if they would be willing to wear a red dress -- or a red shirt if it was a boy. If they said yes, she thanked them. If they said no, she said, "That's ok. That witch is pretty scary. Thanks anyway."
• Aesops' Lion and the Mouse
More ideas:
BOOKS AND STORIES TO READ ABOUT FRIENDSHIP
• The Fox and the Stork (Aesop fable) - respect from Aesop for Children
• The Cat and Mouse in Partnership - honesty from The Book of Virtues
• The Frog Prince - keeping promises (The Book of Virtues, Best-Loved Folktales of the World (The Anchor folktale library)
• The Grouchy Ladybug - Sharing, being friendly
• Half Chick - compassion (The Book of Virtues, Best-Loved Folktales of the World (The Anchor folktale library) http://www.rosethestorylady.com
• The Lion and the Mouse (Aesop fable) - compassion, respect (Aesop for Children)http://www.civprod.com/storylady/stories/AesopFables.htm
• The Man and the Lion (Aesop fable) - compassion, loyalty (Aesop for Children)
http://www.civprod.com/storylady/stories/AesopFables.htm
Poor Turkey Girl - Compassion, keeping promises (Cinderella (The Oryx Multicultural Folktale Series) by Judy Sierra)
Stone Soup - sharing
Who's in Rabbit's House? (Picture Puffins), Verna Aardema (Good story to dramatize using masks). Another version, The Greatest Warrior of All, can be found in African folktales, retold by A. Ceni, Barnes & Noble, 1998.

And don't forget that "Once upon a time there was a special group of people who were friends. Now some of them had never met some of the others but they were friends. They all belonged to a group called Storytell Listserv and they all loved stories. . . ."
Rose the story lady

Additional information:
Some of these stories show what friends shouldn't do and might therefore be discussion starters.
• Why Frog Doesn't Play with Snake - baby frog meets baby snake and has a good time. They go home and talk to their parents. Once frog knows that frogs are snake food, he is afraid to play with snake. Snake learns that frog is food and doesn't want to eat frog so he ignores him.
• The Red and Blue Coat (African folktale)
• Wide Mouth Frog - talking to people and being friendly
• Lion and Little Red Bird - picture book
Every day the lion has a different color of tail. Everyday the little bird asks him about it. Bird builds a nest outside lion's cave. Storm comes. Lion rushes out to rescue bird. Bird sees murals on the cave wall that lion has painted.
• Anansi and the Talking Melon
• Chicken Little and the Sky is Falling - friends go with him to tell the king
• The Black Prince

If I'd never met ya, I'd never liked ya.
If I'd never liked ya, I'd never loved ya.
But. .
I did
I do
I does!
Rose the story lady 1/20/06
•••••

10) Oh, yes, don't forget The King's Hawk (or Falcon) in The Book of Virtues. King tries to get a drink from a pool - hawk knocks it out of his hand several times. king kills hawk then climbs up to upper pool to get drink since cup is lost - finds poisonous snake in pool - in anger he has killed his loyal friend.

The Story Bag - servant tells many stories to young master - young master refuses to share stories and puts them in a bag. Story spirits plot revenge. Servant - who is also the friend of his master, hears. Three times he risks his life to protect his master. There is another similar story about I think someone named John who gets turned to stone because he warns his master of danger. . .

11) I had to rack my brain a bit about the friendship stories - I know a few that I had remembered reading (can't remember all of the authors) was Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester (he gets rid of a bully by using the very speech impediment he was insulted about) by Helen Lester.

Another is Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell about a little girl with some big moxie.

There's also Oliver Button Is a Sissy by Tomie de Paola about a boy who wants to be a dancer.

I am also remembering Everybody Needs a Rock (An Aladdin Book) by Byrd Baylor - ties loosely into the friendship theme, but talks about having a rock for a friend (being happy with simple things).

12) The Whale Sound by Roger Dean Kiser
"Leave him alone!" I yelled, as I walked out of the orphanage gate, where several of the Spring Park School bullies pushed a deaf kid around. I did not know the boy at all, but because of his size, I figured we were about the same age.

He lived in the old white house across the street from the orphanage where I lived. I had seen him on his front porch several times. He’d just sit there and make funny hand movements.

In the summer time we didn't get much to eat for Sunday supper, except watermelon. We had to eat it outside behind the dining room, so we would not make a mess on the tables inside. It was those times I would see him was through the high, chain-link fence that surrounded the orphanage.

The deaf kid started making all kind of hand signals, real fast like as I approached.

"You are a stupid idiot," said the bigger of the two bullies, as he pushed the boy down. The other bully ran around behind the boy and kicked him in the back.

The deaf boy's body started shaking all over, and he curled up in a ball, trying to shield his face. He looked like he was trying to cry, or something. But he just couldn't make any sounds, I don't think.

I ran as fast as I could back through the orphanage gate and into the thick azalea bushes. I uncovered my homemade bow, which I had constructed out of bamboo and string. I grabbed four arrows that were also made of bamboo, with coca cola tops bent around the ends to make real sharp tips. Then I ran back out the gate with an arrow cocked in the bow. I stood there quiet like, breathing real hard, just daring either one of them to kick or touch the boy again.

"You're a dumb freak just like him, you big-eared creep!" said one of the boys, as he grabbed his friend and backed off far enough so that the arrow would not hit them.

"If you're so brave, kick him again, now!" I said, shaking like a leaf.

The bigger of the two bullies ran up and kicked the deaf boy in the middle of his back, then he ran out of arrow range again.

The boy jerked about and made a sound that I will never forget for as long as I live. It was the sound like a whale makes when it has been harpooned and knows that it is about to die. I fired all four of my arrows at the two bullies as they ran away, laughing about what they had done.

I pulled the boy up off the ground and helped him back to his house. When we reached his home, his sister told me that her brother was deaf, but that he was not dumb like the two bullies said. She said that he was very smart, but could not say or hear anything.

I told her that he did make a sound when the bully kicked him. She told me that I must be mistaken because all her brother's vocal cords had been removed during an experimental surgery, which had failed.

The boy made one of those hand signs at me as I was about to leave. I asked his sister, "If your brother is so smart, then why is he doing things like that with his hands?"

She told me that he was saying that he loved me with his hands. I didn't say anything back to her at all because I didn't believe her. People can't talk with their hands, and everybody knows that. People can only talk with their mouth.

Almost every Sunday, during the summer time for the next year or two, I could see the boy through the chain-link fence as we ate watermelon outside. He always made that same funny hand sign at me, and I would just wave back at him, not knowing what else to do.

On my very last day in the orphanage, I was being chased by the police. They told me that I was being sent off to the Florida School for Boys Reform School, at Marianna, so I ran to get away from them.

They chased me around the dining room building several times, and finally I made a dash for the chain-link fence and tried to climb over it. I saw the deaf boy sitting on his porch, looking at me as they pulled me down from the fence and handcuffed me. The boy, now about twelve, jumped up and ran across San Diego Road, placed his fingers through the chain-link fence and stood there looking at us.

As they dragged me by my legs, I screamed for more than several hundred yards through the dirt and pine-straw to the waiting police car. All I could hear the entire time was the high pitched sound of that whale being harpooned again.

As we pulled away in the police car, I saw the deaf boy loosen his grip on the fence and slide very slowly to the ground, lowering his head into the leaves and pine straw. That is when I realized, for the first time, that he probably really did love me. He wanted to save me because he thought that I too was making the whale sound.
http://www.rogerdeankiser.com

13) Back in April 2000, Lois Tzur posted this powerful story. I wonder if it would work for you.
The Man Who Married a Troll
A man in Denmark married a troll woman, her arm muscles broader than his head, and too tall to stand up in the house he lived in, so they had to live in a barn until he could build them a new house. Why did he marry her? Because they loved one another, and felt they were right for one another. And they were right. But the people of the town wouldn't have anything to do with the troll.

"One day when it's hungry, it'll eat us up -- starting with him," they said. And though the troll smiled politely at them, and wished them all a good day, and rushed to help the smaller women carry water or bundles of any kind, they rejected all her advances. The kids called her ugly names, or spat at her, or threw stones at her, and then ran away in a panic if she so much as turned her head in their direction. The women turned their backs on her ostentatiously when she greeted them or came close to them. The men stepped back from her as if she was a wild animal, and made the sign against the evil eye.

The husband tried to speak to them - after all, he'd grown up with them, they were his neighbors or his cousins, but they only mocked him or cursed him, until at last he swore he'd never speak to them again. The two continued their lonely life in the barn, while their new house was a-building. The man even stopped going to church.

One fine Sunday the two were comforting one another for their sorrows, when someone knocked at the barn door. It was the troll's father, come to see how his beloved daughter was getting along with hir human husband. He was taller and wider than his daughter, and when he saw tears in his daughter's eyes, he would have torn off the husband’s head, if the daughter had not stopped him at once. But she had to tell him what was wrong, and when he heard the story he turned to his daughter and asked where all the people were. "In church," she said, "all the villagers but us."

The father spoke to his daughter in a solft voice which was much more threatening than any shouting could be. "Daughter, will you throw or catch?" "Oh, no, father, don't, please don't!," she begged. But he persisted, "Will you throw or catch?" And she whispered, "I'll catch." The father started off at once towards the hilltop where the church stood, and his daughter strode after him, with her tiny husband scurrying along behind. They waited outside the broad doors of the church until the last hymn had been sung, and when the people started coming out, there before them was a troll who made 'their' troll look like a Barbie doll.

He waited until all the folk had come out, including the priest, but would not let them pass him. Then he told his daughter to go around to the other side of the church, and when she called out to him, "I'm ready," he picked up the nearest villager and tossed him up in the air, and over the top of the church. Comical as they all looked going up and coming down, no one laughed, for each knew that his turn was coming. Until at last he had thrown every person in the village over the top of the church - except thehusband, of course.

Then they walked around to the other side of the church, where they found all the people seated on the ground, or lying there, or standing holding on to another person, shaking with relief. For though the troll wife had caught each one as gently as she could, and helped them down, and smoothed their clothing, still it is no joke to be tossed over a church roof by an angry troll.

The troll father stood looking at the silent crowd and said, "If ever I hear that you have made my daughter cry again, we'll play this game again. But next time, my daughter will throw -- and I'LL catch. Do you understand?"

They understood.

And from that time on, they all began to call on the troll wife, to invite her to birthday parties, and to work parties, to teach her how to knit and weave new patterns, to ask her to mind their children when they had to go away -- and she never had anything to cry about again. And soon they saw what a sweet thing she was, and everyone said, "Didn't I tell you? I always knew she was really an angel!" They were happy, and she was happy -- only the husband was a bit bitter, because she was so busy with all her friends that he could almost never get her alone to himself. Ah, well, you can't please everybody
Lois Tzur Kibbutz Naan Israel!
April, 2000
Judy S. 1/20/06

14) The Missing Axe can be found in Jane Yolen's Favorite Folktales from Around the World (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library), p 412.
Ina V.D. 1/20/06

15) Here's a file of 'friend' stories.
The African Queen
There was once an African Queen whose advisors came to her one day. They said, "Your majesty we need to warn you of a growing danger. We have enemies in the kingdom to the north. We advise you to reinforce border patrols and to train more young men in the arts of fighting to protect our people."

"This is serious news." The Queen said. "I will think on it and determine what we shall do."

Some time later the advisors saw that her pavilion was decked with flowers and clean, colorful carpets were laid out. She was obviously entertaining someone of importance. They peeked in and were surprised to see her sharing tea and cakes with the Queen of the kingdom to the north.

"What are you doing!?" they gasped.

The Queen replied, "I thought on your suggestions and considered how much it would cost our people to have an enemy. I decided I'd rather have a friend."
•••••

• Two Friends and One Horse
An Arab Bedouin Tale Sent by Israeli storyteller Yoel Perez, adapted by Laura Simms

"Among the Peul people of Africa it is said that there is a little peace and a big peace, but there is no little quarrel. Even a matchstick can burn down a village."

Two men, neighbors and friends, named Nabek and Dagar, lived near a great desert. Nabek had an incomparable horse. It was beautiful and as graceful as a deer. Dagar dreamed of having his friend’s horse. Day and night, he could not stop thinking about the horse. Finally, he went to Nabek and asked him to sell it to him. Nabek said, "I would not sell this animal for all the gold and diamonds in the world."

Unable to control his desire, Dagar decided to trick his friend in order to gain the horse. He disguised himself as a beggar, covering his face, and sat by the side of a road where Nabek passed each day. When Nabak approached, Dagar moaned and called out for help, pretending to be thirsty and hungry. Nabek took pity on the beggar who he thought could no longer walk. He put him on the horse’s back in order to carry him to the marketplace.

The moment Dagar was on the horse, he sat up straight and took control of the reins. He kicked the horse and galloped away, shouting back at his neighbor, "I am Dagar. You will never get your horse back!"

Nabek did not chase after Dagar. But, he called after him, "Dagar, stop for a moment. I want to ask you something." Recognizing that his friend could not catch him by foot, Dagar stopped. Nabek called out, "By Allah’s will you are now the owner of my wonderful horse. But, please never tell anyone how you got the horse."

"Why not?" inquired Dagar.

"If people should hear how you tricked me they might never stop to help another beggar at the side of the road. They will be afraid. Perhaps they will leave some poor soul to die. If this story should be told, it could cause great evil in the world."

Dagar listened and said nothing for a long time. Then, he climbed down off of the horse and gave it back to his neighbor. Together they returned to the tent of Nabek and made an agreement of peace and swore to be friends forever.
•••••

16) A story I love is Dan Keding's tale, The Tear. A moving tale of a boy who befriends a dragon. The boy is not afraid of him because he knows the dragon's story "and you cannot be afraid of someone if you know their story."
One of Dan Keding's stories is The Tear. A young shepherd boy continues to play music for a faceless entity which is hidden within a cave. Soon it is telling the boy stories, "stories that make you laugh, stories that make you cry." It's biggest fear is that it will die alone because all of his kind have been killed off. One day the boy discovers that he has been talking to a dragon. The dragon is amazed that the boy is not afraid of him. The boy answers, "I can't be afraid of you, I know your stories." There is much more to this wonderful tale and the moral is never lost on even the youngest of children.
To contact Dan or to ask permission to tell, go to his website:
http://www.dankeding.com/

Of course, there is always the traditonal version of Stone Soup or Dan Keding's adaptation, Nail Soup.
(see http://www.story-lovers.com/listsstonesoupstories.html )
(see Dan Keding: Stories of Hope and Spirit, Folktales from Eastern Europe)
Karen C. 11/3/02

17) Top of my head, The Bremen Town Musicians ... (Grimm, versions of this online for those who don't know it.) Or any one of endless tales with animal helpers. Or The Friendship Orchard, versions of which are included in MacDonald's book, Earth Care: World Folktales to Talk About, and Pleasant de Spain's book, Eleven Nature Tales (World Storytelling). I guess the importance of friendship is one of those universal themes that stories teach...
Cristy W. 11/4/02

18) Friendship
Some mornings are like other mornings. Other mornings are not. One morning, that was not like this morning. Young monkey awoke and found that he was not feeling well. At first he did not know why .He did not have a headache or a
stomach ache. He did not have a cough. He just not feel well.He remembered that today would be the first day at school. There would be no mommy or family or friends at school. She understood that it was not the thought of school. That was making him feel bad. She told him to remember, that all good endings, do not have good beginnings.She told him to remember, to have a friend, you must be a friend. She told him to remember, that it is better to laugh with people, then at people. Monkey did not know why it was important, but he knew that his mother would not tell him these things, unless they were important. When young monkey got to school, there were no monkeys, just boons and hyenas and other animals. And before he even got into school Boon came running backwards and bumped into him and knocked him on his nose. He was in that way introduced to Badboon, who had good starts and bad finishes. So young monkey said, hello my mother said that all good endings do not have good beginnings. So I guess that some bad endings have good beginnings. If you would be my friend, there would be a good end to a bad beginning, and they laughed and laughed. And hyena who heard them laughing, laughed with them. So young Monkey said "My mother said that it is better to laugh with people, than to laugh at people, so if you will be our friend, we can laugh together and they laughed together. And when they saw giraffe, pulling down branches for smaller giraffes to eat, they went over to where he was standing and young monkey said, "My mother said that to have a friend you must be a friend. I am a monkey and I can climb out on the highest limb and weigh it down to where you with your long neck can reach them and pull them down for smaller giraffes. I want to be your friend; I want you to be my friend. Let's all be friends to everyone." Then young owl came to young monkey and said, "I have heard you say such wise things; let's be friends. Some of the wise things you said are: To have a friend, you must be a friend. It is better to laugh with people, than at people. Not all good endings have good beginnings. Where did you learn such wisdom? Where did you acquire such wisdom? Will you share with us?" Young monkey said, "They were gifts of my mother; she gave them before I came to school. Yes, I share them with you. She is with me as long as I remember her," said young Monkey. With that memory and the memories of all his new friends he returned home from school that day, which had a morning not like this morning.
Wayfarer Tomm 3/22/04

19) There's a story called Six Friends on the Whootie Owl site.
http://www.storiestogrowby.com/stories/six_friends_tibet.html

In Margaret Read MacDonald's Peace Tales there are stories about friendship: A Blind Man Catches a Bird (from Zimbabwe), Two Foxes ( from Appalachia), How Friendship Began Among the Birds (from Burma).
(see also http://www.story-lovers.com/listsblindmancatchesbird.html )
Judy S. 3/22/04

20) You could also try two books by Diane Wolkstein: Little Mouse's Painting (friendship and art in the eyes of the beholder) and Step by Step (a/k/a The Visit), the latter more suitable for the wee folks. Definitely get a look at Banza, The: A Haitian Story (Reading Rainbow Book)... see how a friendship between a goat and a tiger (yes) can have its advantages.
Philip D.

21) One of the sweetest tales about friendship is a small folktale from India, part of the Jataka tales, about a dog and an elephant. It is on "four-legged tales". I do not know if you have a copy, but it is basically, about the time the buddha was born as an elephant of a great king.

He had a golden stable and golden plates, etc.. he was painted and adorned for ceremonies, but he was lonely. a starving puppy wandered into the stable and the elephant pitying the dog pushed his golden plate of food and water to the dog. the puppy ate and then fell asleep on the large foot of the elephant. awake the dog and the elephant became friends. riding on the elephant's back. but the stable keeper sold the dog to a merchant unaware that animals could be friends. the elephant became sad and refused to go out into festivals, etc.. at last a doctor announced that his heart was broken off the loss of a friend and the merchant told what had happened. The king made a decress. frightened, the merchant let the dog loose and it found its way back to the stable. their reunion was great. the dog then became the royal friend of the elephant and rode on his own gold little saddle through processions and it became well known that friendship is one of the most valuable assets of all creatures and even animals can be the best of friends.

Please use this one and all and make sure to say that it is my retelling of an ancient Jataka tale (one of the many lives of the buddha. these tales were the precursors of the Aesops's fables and can also often be found in Kalila and Dimna, the great Arabic conversation between many animals filled with tales. they are not as moralistic as the aesop fables and often occur in a very interesting context)
Laura Simms 4/1/04

ADDED: Here is the tale online. The Baldwin Project: More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt
http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=babbitt&book=morejataka&story=elephant

There are also a number of Jakata tales at this site as well. If you go to the stories section The Baldwin Project...Bringing Yesterday's Classics to Today's Children http://www.mainlesson.com/showstoriesbytitle.php you will open a portal to 2705 stories in all genres. A wonderful site, one of my favorites
Karen C. 4/1/04

22) Quotations
• Teach your mouth to speak what is in your heart.
- Abba Poemen in Desert Wisdom, translated by Yushi Nomura

• Open your arms if you want to be held
- Rumi

• In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Meg G.

23) I use The Friendship Garden from one of Pleasant Despains books.
Ellouise S. 11/11/08

24) A short tale that would fit would be The Difference Between Heaven and Hell.
http://www.story-lovers.com/listsheavenandhell.html
Karen C. 11/11/08

25) First historical concepts
Ancient India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece
The lives of Manu, Rama, Zarathustra, Gilgamesh, Khufu, Buddha and Orpheus

From another Waldorf school newsletter see this note:
Grade Five 
Ancient civilizations are a part of the Fifth Grade curriculum, so our class will be presenting a play based on the Epic 
of Gilgamesh, a tale of friendship from the people of ancient Mesopotamia. Humankind’s oldest known written 
story.
(see above under Books Ages 9-12 for several sources of Gilgamesh, including a play).
Judy S. 11/11/08

26) Many years ago, when many of y'all were still in short trousers and pinafores, I dutifully bought a used paperback copy of The Epic of Gilgamesh by N. K. Sandars (1960). The cover is deeply indented with the mark of a hot coffee cup. I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. The "translation" is shallow, diluted, aenemic, dull. I never got more than a few pages into it after several attempts. Neither did the original purchaser of the book, if I interpret the coffee cup indentation aright. That's why he sold it.

I looked at a clip of David Novak's performance at
http://www.novateller.com/storytellingactor.html
as suggested by Meg. He really makes it come alive.

A Youtube piece has someone reading the epic. I compared that with the Sandars' version and understood why I was disappointed with it. And I also found lots of recent adaptations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptations_of_the_Epic_of_Gilgamesh

However, I'm not convinced it's right for this project. Does anyone know a a source for a reliable translation so I can make an informed decision? I don't have time to learn Sumerian in the next week.
•••••

(This web page updated 3/19/05; 1/23/06; 11/12/08)