SHORT SHORT STORIES
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain)

1) Dan Keding is a collector of the mini-tale.

2) A couple of books by Anthony DeMello have sacred stories in them - no more than a page.

(Any more info on the above two references? JB)

3) 5-minute (or shorter) Irish stories at Conrad Bladey's site:
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~er719/blackbx.html

A few other good sources for this kind of material for younger audiences:

4) Crazy Gibberish: And Other Story Hour Stretches by Naomi Baltuck.

5) Fish with a Deep Sea Smile, The by Virginia Tashjian, 1974.

6) Just One More, by Jeanne B Hagendorff, 1969, JB Lippincott Co.

7) World of Nonsense by Carl Withers, 1968.

8) Juba This and Juba That by Virginia Tashjian, 1969, Little, Brown and Co.

9) Totline Teaching Tales ~ Short-Short Stories ~ Simple Stories For Young Children Plus Seasonal Activities by Jean Warren, Elizabeth S. McKinnon (Editor).

Some of these (#4 through #9) may be out of print, others have been recently reprinted (e.g., Juba This and Juba That and Crazy Gibberish: And Other Story Hour Stretches). You may always request them through interlibrary loan if your local library doesn't own them. Odds are, though, that these are on the shelves of many libraries because they are such treasure troves of good material.

10) Magic Minutes: Quick Read-Alouds for Every Day by Pat Nelson ISBN 0-87-287-996-8. It is offered through Libraries Unlimited at 1-800-237-6124. The index is divided by the months of the year so there are plenty of short stories and anecdotes and many are appropriate for various holidays throughout the year.

11) Heather Forest's books World Tales of Wisdom and Wonder. They both contain many very short story "bones" that can be elaborated or told very simply depending on your time and inclination. These stories are not just for children but can be for almost any age audience (as is true for so many folktales).

12) NOODLEHEAD STORIES: a page of published and online resources; including The Merry Men of Gotham; The Wise Men of Chelm; Tyl Ulinspeigel and The Mullah Nesreddin Hodja, with some additional info and links on Moritz Jagendorf, Isaac Singer and Shalom Aleichem, and Idries Shah. There are quite a few stories in the various sections of links, as well as plenty of background information.
http://www.eldrbarry.net/

13) The Classic Treasury of Aesop's Fables (Children's Illustrated Classics).

14) Any of the stories in Pleasant DeSpains collection, Twenty-Two Splendid Tales to Tell from Around the World (American Storytelling).There are two volumes.

15) Margaret Hamilton and Mitch Weiss have some great short stories in their Through the Grapevine: World Tales Kids Can Read & Tell book as well as their other text, Stories in My Pocket: Tales Kids Can Tell.

16) Fun and easy exercises to do with the children may be found on Dianne de Las Casas' website The Story Connection.
http://www.storyconnection.net/

17) Heather Forest's website:
Story Arts | Story Arts Online!
http://www.storyarts.org/

18) URL no longer valid.

19) The collections of Pleasant DeSpain.

20) The many collections by Shari Lewis, e.g., One-Minute Fairy Tales.
Response to above: Shari had a large collection of many "One Minute" stories, from bedtime stories to Greek myths. I scrounge the used bookstores for out-of-print copies. They are great to use with classes of "non-tellers" to get the bare bones of the story and get them into telling the story instead of reading it.
One-Minute Bible Stories
Shari Lewis Tells Her One Minute Greek Myths
One-Minute Bible Stories-Old Testament
One-Minute Bedtime Stories
One-Minute Christmas Stories
One Minute Bible Stories New Testament
One Minute Easter Stories
One-Minute Jewish Stories-P560387/2
One-Minute Stories of Great Americans
One-Minute Stories of Brothers and Sisters
Steve O. 9/4/06
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21) The World's Shortest Stories: Murder, Love, Horror, Suspense, All This and Much More in the Most Amazing Short Stories Ever Written, Each One Just 55 Words Long, a Coaster Book (TM) from Running Press, written by Steve Moss. 1998, 1995.

22) Websites for preschool or short stories:
http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/aesop/aesop1.html
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/fingerplayindex.htm

23) The Sad Tale of Tom the Catfish in From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs by Amy Cohn. Since it is a tall tale with lots of embroidered details, it can be as long or short as you wish. When there is time, I let the children help me decide what tricks the catfish learns, etc.

24) Wide Mouthed Frog.
The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A POP-UP BOOK by Keith Faulkner and Jonathan Lambert.
The Big Wide-mouthed Frog by Ana Martin Larranaga.
The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Rex Schneider.
The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Mimosa Publications.

25) Try to find the book Magic Minutes: Quick Read-Alouds for Every Day by Pat Nelson. It would be perfect for those "tell us one more" telling times. There are so many too choose from in this book but here is a quick short version of a longer tale from Africa:

The Two Friends
Once there were two men who were neighbors. They had been friends for years and prided themselves on never having argued. But then a trickster decided to
have some fun. He made a coat that was red on the right side and blue on the left side.
One morning both friends were in their fields working. The trickster walked by each one, showing a different side of his coat. At noon the friends met under
a tree to eat lunch. "Did you see that man who walked through our fields this morning?" asked one.
"Yup."
"He sure had a bright coat. What color was it?"
"Blue."
"Blue! It was red.
"Nonsense, ti wasn't red. It was blue."
"Man, you're a fool."
"You say you're my friend and yet you call me a fool."
The men started to fight, but their wives topped them The women found the trickster and his bright coat. When they told their husbands, the men became friends again, and I think they still are!

26) Here are some sites for religious humor:
http://www.javacasa.com/humor/
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/HumorHotline/
http://www.slinkycity.com/christian-humor.html
Mary Lee S.
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27) An oldie but a goodie
Use a ribbon in your hair
"I can't pay the rent" (high pitched voice)
Use the ribbon as a moustache
"You must pay the rent" (low villain voice)
Ribbon in hair
"I can't"
Ribbon as moustache
"You must"
Continue like this for a bit
Use ribbon as bow tie
"I'll pay the rent" (deep hero voice)
Ribbon in hair
"My hero" (high pitched voice)

You don't have to use a ribbon anything will do. A friend of mine turned it into a feminist statement by making the girl the hero to the bow tie that couldn't pay the rent. It's fun and great for participation.
Ann W 9/3/06
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Response: Yep, it is great fun! I've kept the children of our family busy with that story in restaurants -- paper napkins work quite well. I thought Sesame Street invented it, but then I saw the cook describing a melodrama in Westward the Women by Nancy Wilson Ross.
Westward the women: An anthology of western stories by women by J. Curley.
Westward the Women: An Anthology of Western Stories by Women by Vicki Piekarski.
Mary G. 9/3/06
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28) I'd recommend the same book to you that I just recommended to Karen:
Three-Minute Tales by Margaret Read MacDonald.
There are actually a number of stories in there that come in at less than a minute.
Chapter 11 is called Very Tiny Tales! Under 30 seconds!, but there are short little stories scattered throughout the book. Each title has an estimated telling time, so it's easy to look through and pick out some possibilities.
Peg 9/3/06
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29) There is a contest each year for the "Shortest Story" which must be told in 55 words or less. These are the Bare Bones of great stories to develop and turn into one- or two-minute "Tellings" of the story.I have two of the books published from these contests and they are fantastic for putting together short stories for interviews and segues. These books, The World's Shortest Stories: Murder, Love, Horror, Suspense, All This and Much More in the Most Amazing Short Stories Ever Written, Each One Just 55 Words Long, and The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death: Passion, Betrayal, Suspicion, Revenge, All This and More in a New Collection of Amazing Short Stories-Each One Just 55 Words Long, are published by Running Press in Philadelphia, and are edited by Moss and Daniels.I have found them at the discount "Book Warehouse" outlets in the Outlet Malls. Not many running around so if you see them grab a copy. Every storyteller needs these kinds of stories in their repertoire.
Steve O. 9/4/06
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30) And Hemingway's: "For sale - baby shoes - never used."
Skip M. 9/3/06
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31) As well one should also consider using the Irish tiads- not exactly stories but short knowledge....
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bj333/HomePage.triads.html

Ranns are also good and make good conclusions or pauses for thought and reflection
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bj333/HomePage.ranns.htmlThen there are sayings which also come in handy....
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bj333/HomePage.saids.html

Curses can come out of the mouths of any character at any time so they can assist....
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~bj333/HomePage.curses.html
Conrad B. 9/3/06
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32) There was also an anthology of 50 Short Science Fiction Tales by Isaac Asimov and Groff Conklin many years ago....
Skip M. 9/3/06
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33) And oh, I had forgotten about FEGHOOTS!!
http://www.dowse.com/articles/Feghoot-article.html
(does some research)
oh my look what I found...
http://www.awpi.com/Combs/Shaggy/index.html
Skip M. 9/4/06
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34) I happened to be paging through Jane Yolen's Favorite Folktales from Around the World (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) today. There are a number of very short tales in that collection.
Charles K. 9/4/06
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35) Well, we used to play this game:
Child: Tell me a story.
Tired parent: Okay. You can have three things in it.
Child: OK. A dog. And a ball. And a princess.
Parent: Once there was a princess who threw the ball for her dog all day and all day. Until one day she threw it so hard and so far that the dog went after it and never came back. The end.
Child: Nooooo!
Tired parent: OK. The dog came back so tired and so worn out that she never had to throw a ball for him again.
The end.And so on. The kids volunteer what they want in the story, the teller terminates said story ASAP. For some reason they found this endlessly engrossing, even though the stories were deliberately designed to discourage any more requests.....
Kimberley K. 9/5/06
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36) This is a routine done by Redd Foxx many years ago. Although his material is definitely for adults only this one is not really offensive.

This is how to make a story by dropping one word from a simple sentence each time.
Oh George, let's not park.
Oh George, let's not.
Oh George let's!
Oh George.
Oh!
Another:
There was a king who had three daughters.
They all lived in a basin of water.
The basin bended, my story had ended.
If the basin had been stronger,
My story would be longer.
Joe W. 9/7/06
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37) Revise to
Oh Granny, let's not tell stories!
Oh Granny, let's not tell!
Granny, let's not tell!
Granny, let's tell!
Granny, tell!
Tell!
Granny Sue 9/7/06
ªªªªª

38) I sometimes tell one that someone posted here years ago:
The last man in the world sat alone in his room, when a knock sounded on his door.
I usually add:
It was the last woman in the world. "Hi, Handsome!"
Granny Sue 9/7/06
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Response: Yes, I heard this one but that could be the last woman knocking: "The last person in the world, sat alone in a room when there was a knock on the door." is a lot creepier.
Marcia G. 9/8/06
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39) To add to this excellent compilation: Margaret Read MacDonald's new book: Five Minute Tales: More Stories to Read and Tell When Time is Short.
Book Description
As a companion to her award-winning story collection Three Minute Tales, Margaret Read MacDonald has compiled another delightful collection of entertaining stories from around the world to read or tell on any occasion.
Judy S. 1/17/09
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40) Query:If you had only five minutes to tell your best/favorite story, what would you choose for an adult audience?
Karen C. 10/22/07
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Response: Probably Rabbit and the Moon
http://tellatale.eu/tales_rabbit_moon.html

But Tale of a Tailor
http://tellatale.eu/tales_tale_tailor.html
is also good as a lighter tale - and you can still have three minutes for something else.
Richard M. Germany 10/22/07
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Response: I'd choose a light story of laughter. I tell of an experience at a movie theatre with my family. by the time it's over, the audiance knows they've been had and are usually laughing hysterically.
Bones:
Take the family to movies. Don't remember movie because Old man and his dog in front row of movie theatre movie and becomes a distraction. Dog gets into the movie. Barks at hero. Snarls at villan, whimpers at romance. As we leave. I say to him "You're dog's amazing, he seemed to completely
know what was on screen, and really seemed to enjoy it." Old man says "Yeah, it is amazing.. ...... bcause he hated the book."
It's four minutes when I tell it.
Storyteller John 10/22/07
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Response: I like to tell the story of the Naked Truth and Story.
Judith W. 10/22/07
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Response: One of my favorites is Filling the House, with my husband providing the music for the final part. It seems to bring a smile to those listening.
Maurine N.O. 10/22/07
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Response: The Magic Pear Tree (Little Celebration) by Cheryl Stroud -- it's got great images, it's thought provoking.
Janet M. 10/22/07
Version by Alida Gersie:
http://spiritoftrees.org/folktales/gersie/magic_pear_tree.html
Karen C. 10/22/07
Response: The Magic Pomegranate is a different story in Ready-To-Tell Tales (American Storytelling) by David Holt and Bill Mooney.
Version of a similar story by Peninnah Schram.
The Magic Pomegranate (On My Own Folklore)
Carol C. 10/23/0
Response: I see Karen has already given you the URL for Alida Gersie's version on "The Spirit of Trees". There is a list at the end of the story of some of the other sources. there is another version at
http://www.soupsong.com/fpear2.html
It is found in many places, I think I read it in Parabola as well.

I am not familiar with The Magic Pomegranate -- it would have to be a bit different just due to the differences between eating a pear and a
pomegranate. I like the magic pear tree because it is beautiful to watch the pear tree grow and bloom (in my mind's eye) and because it stands alone or, if you want to, you can use it to start a discussion about greed, or
thics, or whatever you want to. I'm going to check out Ready-To-Tell Tales (American Storytelling)
Janet M. 10/23/07
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Response: I have several five-minute tales on my blog, now that I think about it.
There's a version of the The Golden Axe and Other Folk Tales of Compassion and Greed that I posted this weekend. It's a good little tale if you want one with an obvious moral that also fun to tell.
Jack's Hunting Story is one of the shortest tall tales I know.
And then there's the One Grain of Wheat Jack tale that I think I posted here before.

The hunting story is funny, and the other is one of those endless tales that can last as long as you want it to. Jack is great for almost any audience.

I have a couple 5-minute West Virginia ghost stories that are good for an adult audience. Many of the "true" ghost stories are quite short.
I often fill a short spot like that with a ballad, because they tell such powerful stories.
Granny Sue 10/22/07
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Response: Either One Wish or the Heaven and Hell parable probably...
Mary G. 10/22/07
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Response: Here's a less than 3-minute story I often use to end stories of World War II. It was posted here on storytell a while ago!
" Here is an easy-to-hear story from Germany WWII: My aunt knew a lady, Ilsa, who was a teen at the end of WWII. Her town was abandoned by the German army as the Russian and American armies approached from either side. There were only women left in her neighborhood and they were all gathered in a cellar awaiting their fates. They were terrified. They had heard many horror stories of Germans tortured by Russians and Americans and did not even know which conqueror to hope for. They heard the army trucks overhead and heard shooting. In the cellar, someone blew out the candle. Nearly everyone stopped breathing. They heard the front door broken open and boots on the floor above. Ilsa's grandmother, the matriarch of this little group, drew a great breath and whispered, "I am not going to wait here to die in the dark." She relit the candle and started climbing the stairs to the house singing "A Mighty Fortress is our God". (in German, of course, it was written by Martin Luther.) As she pushed up the door into the house, there was brief silence above then a baritone voice started singing with her, in English. As Ilsa said decades later from her home in America, "We all rushed upstairs with tears of relief, for we knew anyone singing that song with us could not be torturers. It was the American army and my best memories of them is sharing their laughter, their songs and their chocolate."
This story reminds me there were just plain people on both sides.
Cathryn F."
Kate D. 10/22/07
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Response: I've used the bit I wrote for that funny pun that's been tossed about in cyber space for the last year or so. Here 'tis.
Mick Jagger was walking through the forest one day when he came upon a raggedy old woman.
The old woman raised her hand and said, "Oh, Mick. Can you spare some food for a poor old woman? I'm so hungry. I haven't eaten in three days."Now Mick was not in a good mood. He'd had a fight with his drummer, been struck with laryngitis, and had just been made aware of another paternity suit against him. He'd taken this walk to find a little peace and quiet, a little tranquility.
"Look," he croaked. "You Can't Always Get What You Want. Right now, everybody wants something from me. I don't have anything for you. I don't have anything for anybody. If you want food, you ought to head to town, not hang out here in the woods. Now bug off."
And with that, he walked on. It just so happened that that old woman was a witch. She didn't have much patience with anyone who had a Heart of Stone.
"Nothing for me?" she repeated. "Well, I just may have a little something for you. But Time . Is On My Side. Yes It Is. You'll get yours soon enough."
Now, that old witch could have had her revenge on Mick right then if she'd wanted to, but she enjoyed a good joke as much as the next hag. So instead of casting a spell on him, she cooked up something for his offspring instead.
Sure enough, it wasn't too long before Mick's girlfriend had another bun in the oven, so to speak. And when that little fellow was born, it was, indeed, a frog. A cute frog, but a frog just the same.
"What do you think?" asked the mother as she cuddled the little green creature.
"I don't know," said Mick. "I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. I've got Mixed Emotions. How in the heck could I have fathered a frog?" and he looked suspiciously at the mother who looked suspiciously at Mick's lips.
DNA testing proved that Mick was, indeed, the father.
"Don't take it so hard," the girlfriend protested. "He's going to be a lot easier to take care of, the food is cheap, and you won't have to pay for swimming lessons."
They decided to name the frog Jumping Jack Flash, and called it Jack for short.
The frog kept a low profile. As he grew older, he realized he was a little different from the rest of his siblings and he didn't want to make any trouble. Sometimes though, Mick would feel sorry for him being left out and all and put him in his pocket, and let him go with him on errands or travel around with the band.
One day, while out with his famous father, he went with him to the bank. Mick had known the bank manager for a long time, and this time he took Jack out of his pocket and introduced him. The manager was quite surprised when Jack began talking, but after several more visits, he got used to the frog child and took it all in stride.
Now Jumping Jack Flash worked hard for the company. He wrote lyrics, the most famous of which was, "Hey, You, Get Off of My Pad," he carried messages, and helped keep the schedule up to date. After a few years of this, he was worn out and decided he needed a vacation. But he was going to need some money.
First, he had his dad write him a note, which he had notarized, saying that he was, indeed, his son. Then, note in hand, Jack hopped to the bank.
At the bank, he looked around and found the nicest looking teller there. Her name plate read, "Patty Black." Jack hopped over to her window and said, "Hello there. I need a loan."
Patty Black was a little surprised to meet a talking frog, but she had been well trained in bankdom.
"Yes, sir. And how much would you be wanting to borrow?"
"Well," said Jack. I'm going on a long vacation, and I'm really going to do it up right. I figure about £350,000 will do me."
"That's a lot of money," said Patty Black, taken aback.
"Look," said Jack, "I know the manager here, and," here he gave her the note, "as you can see here, Mick Jagger is my dad. So there shouldn't be a problem."
Patty Black looked at the note. Then she looked at the frog. She said, "A loan of this size will require some collateral. What do you have for collateral?"
The frog thought a minute, reached into his pocket, and brought out a small, pink, china elephant. He put it on the counter.
Patty Black picked up the elephant and looked at it. Then she picked up the note, and said, "Excuse me a minute. I need to see the manager."
She entered the manager's office and said, "There's a frog out there who wants to borrow £350,000. He says he knows you. He also says he's Mick Jagger's son." And she gave him the note. "When I asked for collateral, he gave me this." And she showed him the elephant. "What in the heck is this?"
The manager looked at the note, he looked out into the bank, and then he looked at the elephant.
"It's a knickknack, Patty Black, give the frog a loan. His old man's a Rolling Stone."
Pat N. 10/23/07
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Response: I'm surprised no one has suggested it yet, but the Hodja stories and Aesop's Fables are excellent for creating five-minute stories. You can find them on the web by typing Hodja Stories and Aesop's Fables.
Tim M. 10/23/07
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Response: I think 5-minute stories are an essential part of our repertoires:
• Tellers need short stories to fill in gaps.
• Producers of olios will risk a new/untried/unknown teller for a 5-minute story sooner than risking a longer slot.
• Reporters want a short story when interviewing about an upcoming storytelling event.
• Adult audiences, accustomed to the stand-up comedy format, can be softened up with 1-2 short tales & then be ready for a longer one, back to a shortie, then a longer one, etc.
• Showcase concerts (whether or not titled 'showcase') increasingly lean to choosing shorter pieces because more people get to tell.
• It's one measure of talent and expertise: someone who can deliver an honest, polished story with clear images in 5 minutes probably has the skill to handle a longer slot.
Yvonne H. 10/24/07
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41) More collections of short stories for children and young adults:
• Beatrix Potter Complete Tales R/I, Beatrix Potter collection.
Book Description
This complete and unabridged collection contains all 23 of Beatrix Potter’s Tales in one deluxe volume with all their original illustrations. The stories are arranged in the order in which they were first published so they may be read in their proper sequence. A special section at the end of this volume contains four additional works by Beatrix Potter that were not published during her lifetime. Beautifully reissued with a newly designed slipcase and jacket—a truly stunning gift.
•••••
• Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss, a Dr. Seuss collection.
Book Description
From his very first book to his very last book, here in one big volume are 13 classic Dr. Seuss stories, everyone’s favorites. All of the words and virtually all of the illustrations are included. Each story is prefaced by a short essay by someone whose life was changed by Dr. Seuss or who is simply an unabashed admirer. Also included are photographs of Dr. Seuss, memorabilia, and original sketches from his books. The stories included are: And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, Horton Hears a Who!, McElligot’s Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, Happy Birthday to You!, Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book, Yertle the Turtle, The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lorax, The Sneetches, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) was born March 2, 1904, and died September 25, 1991.
With introductory essays to each story by:
Barbara Bader, Author and Critic
Stan and Jan Berenstain, Creators of The Berenstain Bears
Audrey Geisel, Widow of Dr. Seuss
Peter Glassman, Children’s Bookseller
Starr LaTronica, Children’s Librarian
John Lithgow, Actor and Children’s Book Author
Barbara Mason, Kindergarten Teacher
Richard H. Minear, Author of Dr. Seuss Goes to War
Christopher Paolini, Author of Eragon
Charles D. Cohen, Author of The Seuss, the Whole Seuss, and
Nothing but the Seuss
Pete Seeger, Folksinger
Christopher Cerf, TV Writer, Composer, and Producer
Lane Smith, Children’s Book Illustator
•••••
• The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud.
Amazon.com
Believe it or not, 44 complete read-aloud classics and future classics--from Goodnight Moon to Stellaluna--are packed in this remarkably svelte, positively historic anthology. Flipping through the 308 pages of The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury is like browsing a photo album of beloved friends and family. The familiar faces of Curious George and Ferdinand the Bull peer earnestly from the pages, and scenes from Madeline and Millions of Cats resonate as if you just experienced them yesterday. Think of the advantages of carrying this book on a vacation instead of a suitcase of single titles! (Your kids can always revisit their dog-eared hardcovers when they get home.)
This impressive collection of concept books, wordless books, picture books, and read-aloud stories was artfully compiled by longtime children's book editor and publisher Janet Schulman. Stories are coded red, blue, and green to designate age groupings from baby/toddler books such as Whose Mouse Are You?, through preschool books such as Where the Wild Things Are, to longer stories for ages 5 and older such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. The reason the book isn't bigger than Babar is because many of the illustrations from each story were reduced or removed to fit the anthology's format. (Leo Lionni's Swimmy, for example, takes up 5 pages total, compared to its original 29 pages.) Brief biographical notes that are surprisingly quirky shine a little light on the 62 authors and illustrators, and an index helps, too, for the child who likes one story best. We love the idea of being within easy reach of a Star-Belly Sneetch, a William Steig donkey, and a Sendak monster at all times, and we're sure your little bookworms will, too.
•••••
• Snoozers : 7 Short Short Bedtime Stories for Lively Little Kids by Sandra Boynton.
Book Description
Snoozy Choosers Choose Snoozers
Here are seven different Boynton bedtime stories for little listeners. Guided by the colorful picture tabs, children can find whichever story they want to hear. And the next one. And then this one. Okay, now this one. And now this one. Ooo, and this. Oh, please, just ONEmore?
•••••
• A Hatful of Seuss: Five Favorite Dr. Seuss Stories.
Amazon.com
This collection of five complete, illustrated Dr. Seuss classics is a "hatful," but you'd have to have a Cat-in-the-Hat-sized chapeau to contain all the treasures in this hefty book. Within its pages you'll find Theodor Seuss Geisel's exuberant creations Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1949), If I Ran the Zoo (1950), Horton Hears a Who! (1954), The Sneetches and Other Stories (1961), and Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book (1962). In Bartholomew and the Oobleck, a non-rhyming Seuss story, prepare for an eyeful of green goo. In If I Ran the Zoo, young Gerald McGrew decides he would make a few changes if he ran the zoo--including the acquisition of more unusual beasts (such as an Elephant-Cat) from places "quite out-of-the-way." In addition to the potentially unsettling concept of traversing continents in search of wild beasts to trap and cage, there are a couple of dated references that parents may want to preview before reading to kids. For example, McGrew proclaims, "I'll hunt in the mountains of Zomba-ma-Tant/With helpers who all wear their eyes at a slant,/And capture a fine fluffy bird called the Bustard/Who only eats custard with sauce made of mustard."
As for the rest of this delightful collection, Horton Hears a Who! is a tale that teaches us "a person's a person, no matter how small." And of course, you may remember the Star-Belly Sneetches, the "snooty old smarties" who pranced antagonistically in front of the Plain-Belly Sneetches, or Mrs. McCave who had 23 sons and named them all Dave. Finally, Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book is about the snortiest snorers, the curious sleepwalking Crandalls, World-Champion Sleep-Talkers, and other somnambulant types--a perfect bedtime finale to a book that could keep youngsters entertained all night. (All ages)
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• Mouse Tales (I Can Read Book 2) by Arnold Lobel.
Book Description
Seven mouse boys lie awake one night...And they ask their Papa to tell them a story. Papa does better than that -- he tells them seven stories, one for each boy.
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• Richard Scarry's Bedtime Stories (Pictureback(R)) by Richard Scarry.
Book Description
Illus. in full color. Five funny tales featuring Lowly Worm, Huckle Cat, Bananas Gorilla, and the rest of Scarry's memorable menagerie are collected in a sleepytime anthology.
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• Nicholas by Reve Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempe.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6–This classic book about a mischievous schoolboy and his friends, originally published in French in 1959, is now available in English. The expertly translated text is enlivened by artwork by a New Yorker cartoonist to create the unforgettable milieu of Nicholas and his rowdy friends. A collection of 19 escapades, the stories introduce the protagonist and his cohorts as they wreak havoc out of simple, everyday situations at school, on the playground, and at home. Pestering the substitute teacher, trying to adopt a lost dog, and quarreling over soccer positions (only to find there isn't even a ball) make for hilarious and timeless anecdotes that will have readers giggling. Adults will also appreciate Nicholas's childlike perception of each troublesome situation through his comments at the end of each adventure. These charming vignettes beg to be shared aloud in a classroom or library setting. A delightful choice for spicing up middle-grade collections and for exposing kids to stories from abroad.
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• Cautionary Tales for Children by Edward Gorey and Hilaire Belloc.
Book Description
Known as a central figure in English literature, Hilaire Belloc produced a number of stunning, funny, and clever admonishments for children. The tales in this volume, illustrated by the inimitable Edward Gorey, contain instructive lessons for almost everyone.
For those children prone to wandering off from their caretakers, there is the story of a certain young Jim, "who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion." Those known to stretch the truth will hardly be comforted by the tale of Matilda, "who told lies and was burned to death." And as for those of us--and our children--who tend to the vainglorious, there is the sobering tale of Godolphin Horne, "who was cursed with the sin of pride and became a boot-black."
Witty, brilliant, and strikingly irreverent.
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• M Is for Magic by Neil Gaiman.
Book Description
Stories to delight, enchant, and surprise you.
Bestselling author and master storyteller Neil Gaiman here presents a breathtaking collection of tales that may chill or amuse readers—but always embrace the unexpected:
A teenage boy who has trouble talking to girls finds himself at a rather unusual party.
A sinister jack-in-the-box haunts the lives of the children who owned it.
A boy raised in a graveyard makes a discovery and confronts the much more troubling world of the living.
A stray cat fights a nightly battle to protect his adopted family from a terrible evil.
These eleven stories illuminate the real and the fantastic, and will be welcomed with great joy by Neil Gaiman's many fans as well as by readers coming to his work for the first time.
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• Big Book of The Berenstain Bears (Berenstain Bears (Random House Hardcover)) by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
Book Description
THE BERENSTAIN BEARS' First Time Books are all about new experiences children encounter in their early years. With good-natured wisdom, love, and gentle humor, these books ease the way for kids - and their parents - through these first times. Collected in this treasury are: The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor, The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room, The Berestain Bears in the Dark, The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter, and The Berenstain Bears' New Baby.
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• Fireside Stories: Tales for a Winter's Eve by Caitlin Matthews and Helen Cann.
Book Description
Drawn from countries and cultures around the world, these wonderful wintry stories express the magnificence of the season. From a group of courageous Russian animals to a legend about a bag of warmth that can keep winter away forever, these cozy stories will keep out the winter chill.
Review
Winter is a special time for telling stories, notes Matthews in her chatty introduction, a time to gather around the fire together during long, cold nights. The eight traditional tales she gathers here from snowy places such as Russia, Canada, Scotland, and Austria are perfect for sharing. In Babushka, a grandmother follows the Three Kings, but she misses the Christ child. She still journeys every Christmas, leaving gifts for every child, just in case. In a Jewish tale, a brave boy saves nine trees by joining with them in the icy storm to make up the holy prayer circle (minyan) of 10. A story from the Slavey Indians is about the return of the sun. The retellings, exciting and cozy for reading aloud, are framed by elaborate, wide borders that evoke the traditional settings, and the accompanying watercolor-and-mixed-media illustrations show the different characters in a variety of winter landscapes. -Hazel Rochman --Booklist, December 2007
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• Thomas & Friends: Thomas' Read Along Storybook (Thomas & Friends) by W. Rev Awdry and Tommy Stubbs.
Book Description
FOUR THOMAS & FRIENDS picture books bound into one handsome hardcover gift edition with a read-along CD? What a perfect idea! The
collection includes Thomas and Toby, Thomas Gets His Own Branch Line, Thomas and the Castle, and Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Thomas fans and their parents will enjoy reading along with these four titles, which were originally published in separate hardcovers.
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• Best Shorts: Favorite Stories for Sharing (Best Shorts) by Katherine Paterson, Avi, Carolyn Shute and Chris Raschka.
Book Description
Newbery Medal-winning author Avi has selected short stories from the past and present in this entertaining collection for young readers. And whether you begin by reading alone or reading aloud, these stories are some of the very best to share. Featuring loyal pets, rogue waves, ghosts who use cell phones, and young people caught up in events beyond their control, these stories are written by some of the most entertaining and esteemed authors of childrens literature. They will have you savoring a quiet moment by yourself, talking during dinnertime with your family, and laughing in class with your friends. Though it may take only a few minutes to read, a terrific short story can take you on a long journey. Are you ready for the trip?
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• Guys Write for Guys Read by Jon Scieszka.
Book Description
What is a typical guy moment, anyhow? Daniel Pinkwater remembers the disappointment of meeting his Lone Star Ranger hero up close and personal. Gordon Korman relishes the goofy ultra violence of the old Looney Tunes cartoons. Stephen King realizes that having your two hundred- pound babysitter fart on your five-year-old head prepares you for any literary criticism. And that's just a sampling from Guys Write for Guys Read, a fast-paced, high energy collection of short works: stories, essays, columns, cartoons, anecdotes, and artwork by today's most popular writers and illustrators. Guys Write will feature work from Brian Jacques, Jerry Spinelli, Chris Crutcher, Mo Willems, Chris Van Allsburg, Matt Groening, Neil Gaiman, the editors and columnists from Sports Illustrated, The Onion and Esquire magazines, and more. Selected by voters at the Guys Read Web site and compiled by Jon Scieszka, this wide-ranging collection of authors and illustrators shows that guys do read . . . and will read more if given things they enjoy reading. (Grades 5-9)
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• The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron and Ann Strugnell (illus).
Book Description
Julian is a quick fibber and a wishful thinker. And he is great at telling stories. He can make people—especially his younger brother, Huey—believe just about anything. Like the story about the cats that come in the mail. Or the fig leaves that make you grow tall if you eat them off the tree. But some stories can lead to a heap of trouble, and that's exactly where Julian and Huey end up! Ages 4-8.
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• Sixteen: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults by Donald R. Gallo.
Book Description
Here are sixteen representative stories for the eighties, written especially for this collection by today's best-known writers for teenagers. Their impressions radiate through an emotional prism of hope and hate, love and death, despair and joy, in a diverse yet strikingly unified collection. Young adults.
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(This web page updated 1/24/05; 9/4/06; 9/7/06; 1/17/08)