This work is designed as a collection for storytellers to use in searching for new material to tell. Sherman has here a sizable compilation of 231 folktales. She appears to have slightly retold each tale, condensing a bit in some cases. Two sources are given for most tales, so storytellers can consult her original sources as well.
The tales are sorted into “Wonder Tales,” “Hero Tales,” “Tales of Kindness Repaid and Hope and Redemption,” and “Tales of Wise and Foolish People.” Tellers and educators will find her collections of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Cinderella and Cinderlad” tales especially useful. Included are twenty-five instances of “The Transformed Female” and twenty-two instances of “The Transformed Male.” Sixteen “Cinderella” tales are included, and two “Cinderlad.” Interesting also is a section of eleven variants of “The Transformation Chase.” Each section is introduced with a brief note about the tale type.
Thirty-two pages of color illustrations show, for the most part, illustration from early folktale editions.
This collection contains a number of tales which will meet the eye of the storyteller here for the first time. The author’s research in compiling these tales seems extensive.
Storytellers may find this a useful compendium. Folklorists will be disappointed that, though some attempt is made to briefly discuss the tales, comparative notes and motif and type numbers are not provided.
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[Review length: 225 words • Review posted on January 19, 2010]