Asian American Folktales


Book Description

Drawing upon the traditions of their native lands, Asian Americans have developed an extensive cultural tradition. At the heart of that tradition are some of the world's most colorful folktales. These reflect the traditional beliefs of the East, as they have been passed down among generations of Asian Americans. But they also reflect the struggles, successes, and experiences of Asian immigrants in the New World. Written expressly for students and general readers, this book is a fascinating introduction to Asian American folktales.This book gathers together a selection of more than 30 Asian American folktales and groups them in thematic sections on origins; heroes, heroines, villains, and fools; society and conflict; and the supernatural. These tales reflect the traditional beliefs of the East as well as the new experiences of Asians in America. Each tale is accompanied by a headnote, and the book closes with a selected, general bibliography. Students studying literature and language will learn much about these tales, while students in social studies and history courses will gain greater insight into the experiences and traditional beliefs of Asian Americans. The volume includes a healthy sampling of tales grouped in topical sections on origins; heroes, heroines, villains, and fools; society and conflict; and the supernatural.




Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife [3 volumes]


Book Description

This comprehensive compilation of entries documents the origins, transmissions, and transformations of Asian American folklore and folklife. Equally instructive and intriguing, the Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife provides an illuminating overview of Asian American folklore as a way of life. Surveying the histories, peoples, and cultures of numerous Asian American ethnic and cultural groups, the work covers everything from ancient Asian folklore, folktales, and folk practices that have been transmitted and transformed in America to new expressions of Asian American folklore and folktales unique to the Asian American historical and contemporary experiences. The encyclopedia's three comprehensive volumes cover an extraordinarily wide range of Asian American cultural and ethnic groups, as well as mixed-race and mixed-heritage Asian Americans. Each group section is introduced by a historical overview essay followed by short entries on topics such as ghosts and spirits, clothes and jewelry, arts and crafts, home decorations, family and community, religious practices, rituals, holidays, music, foodways, literature, traditional healing and medicine, and much, much more. Topics and theories are examined from crosscultural and interdisciplinary perspectives to add to the value of the work.




Asian Children's Favorite Stories


Book Description

**Winner of Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal** For thousands of years, children all over the world have listened to popular folktales. Each country has its own set of fascinating stories, and learning those from another part of the world is both entertaining and educational. Asian Children's Favorite Stories presents 7 Asian folktales from different countries--China, Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. The classic stories in this book include: Why Cats and Dogs Don't Get Along (Korea) Baka the Cow and Kalabaw the Water Buffalo (Philippines) How the Mousedeer Became a Judge (Indonesia) Liang and His Magic Brush (China) The Lucky Farmer Becomes King (Thailand) The Clever Rabbit and Numskull (India) The Crane's Gratitude (Japan) This multicultural children's book opens doors to other cultures and engages the imagination.







Folk Tales from Asia for Children Everywhere


Book Description

A multi-volume collection of traditional folk tales from various Asian countries selected, retold and illustrated by writers and artists from the individual countries.




Asian American Identities and Practices


Book Description

In Asian American Identities and Practices: Folkloric Expressions in Everyday Life Jonathan Lee and Kathleen Nadeau present the rich hybrid and cultural identities that many Asian American communities cultivate through folklore and its many manifestations in the context of dai...




Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends


Book Description

These stories offer us an introduction to the complex oral traditions of the varied civilizations of one of the world's most fascinating regions. Exotic, clever, and poignant, Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends invites you into a magically distinctive world. Originating from the far corners of the globe—China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia—these tales teach us about morality and mysticism in enchanting ways. Organized by universal folkloric themes, Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends features animal stories, tales of magical skill, explanations of how things came to be the way they are, delightful depictions of the clever and the foolish, ghosts and supernatural beings, and legends about heroes and gods. From "The Supernatural Crossbow," a Vietnamese tale, to the Malaysian story of "The Man in the Moon," each piece in this collection explores a self-contained, dreamlike universe that both delights and transports the reader. Shaped by the geographical and cultural influences of a people, these stories offer us an introduction to the complex oral traditions of the varied civilizations of one of the world's most fascinating regions.




Treasury of Chinese Folk Tales


Book Description

This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents Chinese fairy tales and other folk stories--providing insight into a rich literary culture. Treasury of Chinese Folk Tales is a wonderful collection of seven classic Chinese stories that make for great reading adventures. From the stories of Pan Gu and Nu Wo, creators of the world, to Bai Su-Tzin, a snake who took on human form and found true love, this mesmerizing book includes myths of creation, mortality and love. More than just a Chinese children's storybook, Treasury of Chinese Folk Tales also explores the historical impact and roots of each tale, inviting you and the children you love to enjoy the many layers of meaning contained within them fully. The included pronunciation guide, as well as information for further reading, makes this a perfect tool for educators, librarians and parents.




Eyes That Kiss in the Corners


Book Description

A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller · A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year · A School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 · Included in NPR’s 2021 Books We Love List · Featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, The Cut, and Book Riot · Golden Poppy Book Award Winner · Featured in Chicago Public Library’s Best Books of 2021 · 2021 Nerdy Award Winner · A Kirkus Children's Best Book of 2021 This lyrical, stunning picture book tells a story about learning to love and celebrate your Asian-shaped eyes, in the spirit of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and is a celebration of diversity. A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment. This powerful, poetic picture book will resonate with readers of all ages. "This tale of self-acceptance and respect for one’s roots is breathtaking.” —Kirkus (starred review) “A young girl finds beauty in her uniqueness.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “A lyrical celebration of her eyes, their shape, spirit, and legacy.” —Booklist (starred review) “A poignant testament to familial love and legacy.” —Publishers Weekly Plus don't miss the beautiful companion book from the same team: Eyes That Speak to the Stars.




Chinese Fairy Tales and Fantasies


Book Description

This collection of tales opens up a magical world far from our customary haunts. Ghost stories, romances, fables, and heroic sagas: the forms are familiar, but the characters we meet surprise us at every turn. For those who know and love the tales of the Grimms and Andersen, the universal themes of fairy tale literature emerge in these classic stories, but with a sophistication that is uniquely Chinese and altogether entrancing. With black-and-white drawings throughout Part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library