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Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World
Tatterhood and Other Tales
These twenty-five traditional tales come from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. All the central characters are spirited females—decisive heroes of extraordinary courage, wit, and achievement who set out to determine their own fate. Some of their stories are comic, some adventurous, some eerie, and some magical. The Chicago Sun-Times "A sparkling gathering of traditional, yet little-known, tales from all parts of the globe. The female characters. . . manage to outsmart, outdo, and over-power the villains with nerves of steel, cunning minds, and disarming senses of humor."
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
January 18, 2019
Now as a general collection of global folk and fairy tales featuring strong and courageous women, Tatterwoood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World has been a truly lovely and wonderful (even magical) reading experience. For the sorry fact remains that in so very many folk and fairytales, female characters, even if they are seemingly the main protagonists, are far far too often ridiculously passive and often even rather silly, which can certainly and truly get rather annoying and frustrating (and indeed, and thankfully, ALL of the included stories in Tatterwood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World absolutely do avoid female, feminine inactiveness and apathy in their diverse main heroines).
However, and the above having all been said, I do have to admit that personally I have found both chief editor and compiler Ethel Johnston Phelps' Preface and her notes on the included tales also a wee bit lacking (at least sometimes sometimes). For while I actually do tend to agree with most of Phelps' feminist musings (especially regarding general female passiveness and how in most folktale collections that have been compiled by men, it is the stories of inactive and pliable women being rescued by courageous men that are the most well-known, the m most universally loved and appreciated, whilst tales of strongly courageous females and especially stories of them actively questing and rescuing afflicted, enchanted, kings, princes, knights and such are not nearly as well known and as universally promoted and celebrated), I do find it just a trifle problematic and realistically shortsighted how Ethel Johnston Phelps seemingly has some personal issues with the fact that even most traditional folktales about strong and independent heroines end with a traditional happily ever after marriage. I mean, if you analyse and approach traditional folk and fairy stories from a historical reality point of departure, marriage, a family and resulting children tended (in the past) to mean security, being able to thrive and to make ends meet as a couple (or in an extended family situation) and this at a time when especially single women often faced real and problematic hardships and often much suspicion.
Therefore, while Phelps might indeed be correct with her viewpoint that in today's world, marriage does not necessarily have to or even should be the no plus ultra of feminine happiness, in many traditional folk and fairy tales it definitely is this, and yes, even for strongly independent heroines, as marriage was historically and culturally (traditionally) deemed and seen as something both necessary and required (and in fact historically speaking, marriage did mean that both women and actually even men had a certain amount of surety and support both from the nuclear but also from the extended family). And furthermore, while I have generally found the included notes on the presented tales interesting and engaging enough enough, both personally and speaking as someone with an interest in folkloric research, I would definitely have much enjoyed and appreciated if Ethel Johnston Phelps had also included specific details on how the tales included in Tatterwoood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World had been retold (what has been added, what has been subtracted and the reasons why).
But indeed, my (very personal and minor) issues regarding some of the wording of Ethel Johnston Phelps' Preface (and that she has in her notes not really presented her retelling and adaptation methodology all that thoroughly) notwithstanding, I am still and gladly going to be rating Tatterhood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World with four solid stars, as the stories themselves have been absolutely wonderful and lovely to read (not to mention that Ethel Johnston Phelps also ALWAYS lists her literary and sometimes even known oral sources and yes indeed that she appreciatively has included at the back of Tatterhood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World a selection of additional strong women themed folktale books for further reading, although personally, I do kind of wish she had not included Paul Goble's Thew Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, considering that it is rather controversial now and seen by many Native Americans as being cultural misappropriation). Highly recommended (especially for parents, teachers, librarians etc. desiring read-aloud folk and fairytales with active and courageous heroines), and yes indeed, I am equally looking forward to reading the remaining feminist folktale compilations in this series (as aside from this here collection Tatterhood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World, there is also Kamala: Feminist Folktales from Around the World, Sea Girl: Feminist Folktales from Around the World, The Hunter Maiden: Feminist Folktales from Around the World and The Maid of the North: Feminist Folktales from Around the World).
However, and the above having all been said, I do have to admit that personally I have found both chief editor and compiler Ethel Johnston Phelps' Preface and her notes on the included tales also a wee bit lacking (at least sometimes sometimes). For while I actually do tend to agree with most of Phelps' feminist musings (especially regarding general female passiveness and how in most folktale collections that have been compiled by men, it is the stories of inactive and pliable women being rescued by courageous men that are the most well-known, the m most universally loved and appreciated, whilst tales of strongly courageous females and especially stories of them actively questing and rescuing afflicted, enchanted, kings, princes, knights and such are not nearly as well known and as universally promoted and celebrated), I do find it just a trifle problematic and realistically shortsighted how Ethel Johnston Phelps seemingly has some personal issues with the fact that even most traditional folktales about strong and independent heroines end with a traditional happily ever after marriage. I mean, if you analyse and approach traditional folk and fairy stories from a historical reality point of departure, marriage, a family and resulting children tended (in the past) to mean security, being able to thrive and to make ends meet as a couple (or in an extended family situation) and this at a time when especially single women often faced real and problematic hardships and often much suspicion.
Therefore, while Phelps might indeed be correct with her viewpoint that in today's world, marriage does not necessarily have to or even should be the no plus ultra of feminine happiness, in many traditional folk and fairy tales it definitely is this, and yes, even for strongly independent heroines, as marriage was historically and culturally (traditionally) deemed and seen as something both necessary and required (and in fact historically speaking, marriage did mean that both women and actually even men had a certain amount of surety and support both from the nuclear but also from the extended family). And furthermore, while I have generally found the included notes on the presented tales interesting and engaging enough enough, both personally and speaking as someone with an interest in folkloric research, I would definitely have much enjoyed and appreciated if Ethel Johnston Phelps had also included specific details on how the tales included in Tatterwoood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World had been retold (what has been added, what has been subtracted and the reasons why).
But indeed, my (very personal and minor) issues regarding some of the wording of Ethel Johnston Phelps' Preface (and that she has in her notes not really presented her retelling and adaptation methodology all that thoroughly) notwithstanding, I am still and gladly going to be rating Tatterhood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World with four solid stars, as the stories themselves have been absolutely wonderful and lovely to read (not to mention that Ethel Johnston Phelps also ALWAYS lists her literary and sometimes even known oral sources and yes indeed that she appreciatively has included at the back of Tatterhood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World a selection of additional strong women themed folktale books for further reading, although personally, I do kind of wish she had not included Paul Goble's Thew Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, considering that it is rather controversial now and seen by many Native Americans as being cultural misappropriation). Highly recommended (especially for parents, teachers, librarians etc. desiring read-aloud folk and fairytales with active and courageous heroines), and yes indeed, I am equally looking forward to reading the remaining feminist folktale compilations in this series (as aside from this here collection Tatterhood: Feminist Folktales from Around the World, there is also Kamala: Feminist Folktales from Around the World, Sea Girl: Feminist Folktales from Around the World, The Hunter Maiden: Feminist Folktales from Around the World and The Maid of the North: Feminist Folktales from Around the World).
November 24, 2016
I have owned this book since I was a child. This book is full of tales from all over the world and is full of strong female characters. Though these stories may not be widely known to American children, they are thrilling and full of adventure. Full of strong heroines that young girls can look up to, nobody is waiting for a knight in shining armor.
I love this book because as you are reading it, you realize that this is unlike any other collection of tales. The women are strong and capable of doing amazing things.
This book is both traditional and not. The stories are traditional of other cultures, yet many girls aren't accustomed to strong female leads.
I could find this being used during social studies lessons of other cultures. It could also be an interesting lesson used to compare these to perhaps more "traditional stories" with the damsel in distress.
sources say that this book is for grades 7 and up, but I younger students would find these tales entertaining just as much as the older kids.
I love this book because as you are reading it, you realize that this is unlike any other collection of tales. The women are strong and capable of doing amazing things.
This book is both traditional and not. The stories are traditional of other cultures, yet many girls aren't accustomed to strong female leads.
I could find this being used during social studies lessons of other cultures. It could also be an interesting lesson used to compare these to perhaps more "traditional stories" with the damsel in distress.
sources say that this book is for grades 7 and up, but I younger students would find these tales entertaining just as much as the older kids.
April 23, 2022
This book was the beginning of my feminist awakening.
It was published in 1978, and I discovered it in the early 1980s on the children's section of my hometown library. I couldn't have been older than 10 or 12. I grew up in a very religious, very conservative, and very traditional home.
Before this book, it had never dawned on me to question why there were fairy tales celebrating the bravery, resourcefulness, and abilities of boys....but not girls.
For reasons I could not articulate at the time, Tatterhood immediately replaced Cinderella as my favorite fairy tale.
And the first step to the path of questioning the world in which I lived had begun.
It was published in 1978, and I discovered it in the early 1980s on the children's section of my hometown library. I couldn't have been older than 10 or 12. I grew up in a very religious, very conservative, and very traditional home.
Before this book, it had never dawned on me to question why there were fairy tales celebrating the bravery, resourcefulness, and abilities of boys....but not girls.
For reasons I could not articulate at the time, Tatterhood immediately replaced Cinderella as my favorite fairy tale.
And the first step to the path of questioning the world in which I lived had begun.
October 31, 2018
This book was one of the ones I was most excited to read from my text set! The thought of a book filled with folktales from around the world, all centered on heroines sounded like a dream. There are 25 folktales in this collection, but only 8 of them have an accompanying illustration. So, if I were to read some of these to my students, I would either find my own illustrations, or even have my students create illustrations after reading them. Each tales is less than 10 pages long, so these would be very quick and easy reads if broken up into individual read alouds. I would recommend this book for older elementary students (2nd-5th grade), as there are little-to-no illustrations, and some of the tales have somewhat intense subject matter. However, the diversity of the stories’ origins (Norway, Africa, England, Sudan, Scotland, Native American, Japan, India, Ivory Coast, China, Russia, etc.) lends itself to some great integration opportunities with Social Studies. Overall, I love this book because it shows that the strength, cunning, and power of women has transcended cultures for centuries. I think these tales are a great retaliation to the “damsel in distress” view a lot of modern takes on fairytales have had.
October 4, 2015
These were absolutely lovely. It's a group of fairytales collected by a feminist press. Most of the main characters are female, and 99% of the female characters in the story are proactive, brave, inventive, resourceful. It's everything I never read when I was a kid, and nothing like the passive bland princesses in the Grimm fairytales, or in Perrault's fairy tales. This is also a very diverse collection, it has stories from not just the standard European sources, but also Chinese, Jewish, African, and more.
I knew it would be great from the very first story, when Tatterhood and her family are locked inside a dining room and she asks why and her mother the Queen is like "well, these trolls come every 7-8 years and ransack the place and there's nothing we can do except stay safe in here" and Tatterhood is like, well that's dumb I'm gonna go out there and make them leave, bye. Delightful, even more so with the end of her story where the message is that she dresses silly and rides a goat and carries a spoon because she wants to, and she could change her appearance but only for herself and because she wanted to, not to please anyone else. So much love.
I knew it would be great from the very first story, when Tatterhood and her family are locked inside a dining room and she asks why and her mother the Queen is like "well, these trolls come every 7-8 years and ransack the place and there's nothing we can do except stay safe in here" and Tatterhood is like, well that's dumb I'm gonna go out there and make them leave, bye. Delightful, even more so with the end of her story where the message is that she dresses silly and rides a goat and carries a spoon because she wants to, and she could change her appearance but only for herself and because she wanted to, not to please anyone else. So much love.
January 1, 2017
[Nerd note: The cover and page count in this listing don't match the copy I borrowed, but I ran into a couple of roadblocks correcting it, so I'm leaving it as is. There are 210 pages in my hardcover copy, the cover matches a "Kindle edition" that's not linked to this one, and the description reads "twelve folk tales" although there are thirteen included in the copy I've got.]
Tatterhood is a solid collection of 13 folktales, all of which feature female protagonists, told with a young audience in mind. A few of them aren't as compelling as the rest, but I think that's just because they're not my style. "Tatterhood," "Janet and Tamlin" (the one story I'd already heard), and "Kate Crackernuts" were my favorites.
These stories are written in a way that flows with that simple but compelling fairy tale magic that makes new stories feel old and familiar -- making this an excellent collection of stories for reading aloud at bedtime.
(three-and-a-half stars)
Tatterhood is a solid collection of 13 folktales, all of which feature female protagonists, told with a young audience in mind. A few of them aren't as compelling as the rest, but I think that's just because they're not my style. "Tatterhood," "Janet and Tamlin" (the one story I'd already heard), and "Kate Crackernuts" were my favorites.
These stories are written in a way that flows with that simple but compelling fairy tale magic that makes new stories feel old and familiar -- making this an excellent collection of stories for reading aloud at bedtime.
(three-and-a-half stars)
April 1, 2016
One of my absolute favorite short story/ multicultural fairy tale books as a child.
July 6, 2021
Fairy tales where the heroine takes an active role! First published by The Feminist Press in 1978. I should re-read this one.
January 15, 2024
Folktales where females don’t sit around patiently waiting for the prince?!?! Yes, please!
June 2, 2021
Tatterhood is a pretty good mix of folk tales from around the world starring female heroes. I particularly liked the titular "Tatterhood" (about a terrible, unladylike older twin who saves her younger twin from an unfortunate magical encounter, along the way meeting a potential spouse accepting of who she is), "Janet and Tamlin" (about a lord's daughter who saves her lover from the Queen of Elfland so they can marry), and "Clever Manka" (about a mayor's wife who gets her husband's respect by making a point of how clever she is).
While the editor does try to collect on-theme tales from many different areas of the world, there was clearly limited success; most of these tales - eight of thirteen, by my count - are from somewhere around Europe (two celtic, two from Scotland, one from northern England, two from Norway, and one central european). Of the remaining, three tales are from Africa, one is from Japan, and one is Native American. As the editor points out in the preface, however, part of the problem with folktales is that many are lost likely lost because they were never recorded, were altered by the largely white, educated, wealthy men doing the recording in the eighteenth to twentieth centuries, and/or storytellers may have deliberately altered tales told for that largely white, educated, wealthy male audience based on what the teller thought they wanted to hear. For example, there is documentation that black South African storytellers, largely women, "feared ridicule if they told their tales to whites" (Preface, xviii) and that poor, rural women in various areas of Europe refused or were unwilling to speak with folklorists, also fearing ridicule (Preface, xvii). As pointed out by the editor, this undoubtedly has an effect on the collective pool of stories that have made it into the twenty-first century. While I am a little disappointed there isn't a wider variety of stories collected here, the ones that are collected in this volume are excellent.
I think one of the things I liked best about Tatterhood are the rich and detailed Preface and Notes sections. These sections give explanation and context for folktales on a whole and for these stories in particular which I very much enjoyed and appreciated. Since the oral folk tradition stretches back potentially thousands of years, understanding what words mean (even things as simple as a 'kirtle' being a type of skirt worn in the middle ages) and what beings are (that 'white ladies' were early pagan deities who made fertile the land and livestock; that a kow - pronounced 'coo,' by the way; I never would have guessed either - is a hobgoblin) go a long way to making the tales understandable and, thus, enjoyable. While some parts of the book clearly have older children or adults in mind (such as the Introduction, Preface, and Notes), the stories are retold in such a way that makes them understandable and appropriate for most children of a reading age. This is a book that I would recommend to or give as a gift to a child of elementary school age or older.
While the editor does try to collect on-theme tales from many different areas of the world, there was clearly limited success; most of these tales - eight of thirteen, by my count - are from somewhere around Europe (two celtic, two from Scotland, one from northern England, two from Norway, and one central european). Of the remaining, three tales are from Africa, one is from Japan, and one is Native American. As the editor points out in the preface, however, part of the problem with folktales is that many are lost likely lost because they were never recorded, were altered by the largely white, educated, wealthy men doing the recording in the eighteenth to twentieth centuries, and/or storytellers may have deliberately altered tales told for that largely white, educated, wealthy male audience based on what the teller thought they wanted to hear. For example, there is documentation that black South African storytellers, largely women, "feared ridicule if they told their tales to whites" (Preface, xviii) and that poor, rural women in various areas of Europe refused or were unwilling to speak with folklorists, also fearing ridicule (Preface, xvii). As pointed out by the editor, this undoubtedly has an effect on the collective pool of stories that have made it into the twenty-first century. While I am a little disappointed there isn't a wider variety of stories collected here, the ones that are collected in this volume are excellent.
I think one of the things I liked best about Tatterhood are the rich and detailed Preface and Notes sections. These sections give explanation and context for folktales on a whole and for these stories in particular which I very much enjoyed and appreciated. Since the oral folk tradition stretches back potentially thousands of years, understanding what words mean (even things as simple as a 'kirtle' being a type of skirt worn in the middle ages) and what beings are (that 'white ladies' were early pagan deities who made fertile the land and livestock; that a kow - pronounced 'coo,' by the way; I never would have guessed either - is a hobgoblin) go a long way to making the tales understandable and, thus, enjoyable. While some parts of the book clearly have older children or adults in mind (such as the Introduction, Preface, and Notes), the stories are retold in such a way that makes them understandable and appropriate for most children of a reading age. This is a book that I would recommend to or give as a gift to a child of elementary school age or older.
July 21, 2017
Tatterhood is born riding a goat and waving a wooden spoon because her mother the queen disobeyed the witch who allowed her to conceive, but her twin sister is sweet and fair. Tatterhood, who always looks tattered, goes on a journey to find the troll who traded her sister’s head for a cow’s and defeats him. She meets a prince who asks why she dresses as she does and rides a goat. She immediately turns the goat to a horse, her tatters to finery, and her spoon into a wand. She and the prince live happily ever after.
“Tatterhood,” a Norwegian tale, is the first of 25 folk tales of brave, smart, and strong girls and women from collected, edited, and adapted from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Russia by Ethel Johnston Phelps with a few grayscale illustrations by Pamela Baldwin Ford. Each tale gives the flavor of the region it originates from, and Phelps includes notes on the stories’ themes and each story’s origins. This volume is a necessary addition to any library.
“Tatterhood,” a Norwegian tale, is the first of 25 folk tales of brave, smart, and strong girls and women from collected, edited, and adapted from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Russia by Ethel Johnston Phelps with a few grayscale illustrations by Pamela Baldwin Ford. Each tale gives the flavor of the region it originates from, and Phelps includes notes on the stories’ themes and each story’s origins. This volume is a necessary addition to any library.
May 31, 2018
More like 3.5 starts, to be honest. This was a pretty good book, I read it in one evening. It's a small collection of old fairy tales with a more feminist bent to them, and that part I really enjoyed. A couple of the tales were really bizarre, but most had good messages if you're into the whole "looking for a deeper meaning" thing or something that is a good teaching/learning opportunity with your children. There's also a section in the end that spells out some of those deeper meanings a bit, and at the end of each of the fairy tales themselves was a small paragraph explaining where that fairy tale came from and backstory or history needed. In the case of words likely unfamiliar to English readers (such as the tales that are written in Scots) they include a footnote explaining what it means. So while it's not the best collection of fairy tales I've ever seen, and not all the fairy tales are that great, I'd still recommend reading it just for the feminist aspect, especially if you are raising young girls.
April 16, 2016
The stories themselves are great, and also not ones I had read before. However, I found many of the retellings somewhat lackluster, and I was also disappointed by how skewed it was towards European folktales, especially those from the British Isles. For better or worse (and I'm going to pretty confidently go with for worse) Americans have access to a better kept catalogue of European folktales than of folktales from anywhere else in the world, and this was even more evident thirty years ago. While I can understand why this may have hindered Phelps, I expected a book from the Feminist Press to do a better job at presenting stories from all over the globe.
In the end, my lack of excitement over Tatterhood is partly because by the time I was able to read, other feminist collections had grown from what Phelps started. I am grateful for Tatterhood, but it will never hold the same place in my heart that it holds for so many for whom it was the first of its kind.
In the end, my lack of excitement over Tatterhood is partly because by the time I was able to read, other feminist collections had grown from what Phelps started. I am grateful for Tatterhood, but it will never hold the same place in my heart that it holds for so many for whom it was the first of its kind.
April 13, 2020
1. Chapeuzinho Esfarrapado: 4,8 estrelas
2. Unanana e o elefante: 3,3 estrelas
3. O kow de Hedley: 3,5 estrelas
4. O que aconteceu com seis esposas que comeram cebola: 3 estrelas
5. O príncipe e seus três destinos: 3 estrelas
6. Janet e Tamlin: 3 estrelas
7. A lagarta gigante: 3,5 estrelas
8. Kate Quebra-Nozes: 4,5 estrelas
9. A filha do lorde e o filho do ferreiro: 5 estrelas
10. Kupti e Imani: 3,5 estrelas
11. Três mulheres fortes: 5 estrelas (amei muito!)
12. Manka, a esperta: 5 estrelas
13. O menestrel e seu alaúde: 3,7 estrelas
14. A lebre perseguida: 4 estrelas (gostei muito desse também)
15. Kamala e os sete ladrões: 3,9 estrelas
16. O Touro Negro da Noruega: 3,8 estrelas
17. A lenda de Knockmany: 3,1 estrelas
18. A jovem chefe de família: 4 estrelas
19. O pastor de Myddvai e a Dama do Lago: 3,2 estrelas
20. A noiva do lorde: 5 estrelas (este aqui é maravilhoso, ri horrores e tb adoro gente esperta!)
21. O Lago da Gansa Selvagem: 3,6 estrelas
22. O cervo encantado: 3,1 estrelas
23. Bucca Dhu e Bucca Gwidden: 4 estrelas (este também é maravilhoso, adoro quando sentem um gosto do próprio veneno ksksk)
24. A Grande Mestra: 3,4 estrelas
25. Em busca do lago mágico: 4,9 estrelas
Na verdade eu li do menor conto para o maior, o que ajudou a agilizar bastante a leitura, mas sinto que teria sido melhor se fosse separado pelos temas que discutem na parte das observações sobre os contos, teria mais unidade, o que claro que é difícil nesse caso, mas enfim.
2. Unanana e o elefante: 3,3 estrelas
3. O kow de Hedley: 3,5 estrelas
4. O que aconteceu com seis esposas que comeram cebola: 3 estrelas
5. O príncipe e seus três destinos: 3 estrelas
6. Janet e Tamlin: 3 estrelas
7. A lagarta gigante: 3,5 estrelas
8. Kate Quebra-Nozes: 4,5 estrelas
9. A filha do lorde e o filho do ferreiro: 5 estrelas
10. Kupti e Imani: 3,5 estrelas
11. Três mulheres fortes: 5 estrelas (amei muito!)
12. Manka, a esperta: 5 estrelas
13. O menestrel e seu alaúde: 3,7 estrelas
14. A lebre perseguida: 4 estrelas (gostei muito desse também)
15. Kamala e os sete ladrões: 3,9 estrelas
16. O Touro Negro da Noruega: 3,8 estrelas
17. A lenda de Knockmany: 3,1 estrelas
18. A jovem chefe de família: 4 estrelas
19. O pastor de Myddvai e a Dama do Lago: 3,2 estrelas
20. A noiva do lorde: 5 estrelas (este aqui é maravilhoso, ri horrores e tb adoro gente esperta!)
21. O Lago da Gansa Selvagem: 3,6 estrelas
22. O cervo encantado: 3,1 estrelas
23. Bucca Dhu e Bucca Gwidden: 4 estrelas (este também é maravilhoso, adoro quando sentem um gosto do próprio veneno ksksk)
24. A Grande Mestra: 3,4 estrelas
25. Em busca do lago mágico: 4,9 estrelas
Na verdade eu li do menor conto para o maior, o que ajudou a agilizar bastante a leitura, mas sinto que teria sido melhor se fosse separado pelos temas que discutem na parte das observações sobre os contos, teria mais unidade, o que claro que é difícil nesse caso, mas enfim.
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April 13, 2024Pull quote/note
From "Clever Manka":
"The shepherd was unwilling to tell, but finally he confessed that the answers came from his daughter Manka. The burgomaster became very interested in the cleverness of Manka, and he sent his housekeeper for ten eggs and gave them to the shepherd.
'Take these eggs to Manka and tell her to have them hatched by tomorrow and bring me the chicks,' said he.
The shepherd went home and gave Manka the eggs and the message. Manka laughed and said, 'Take a handful of corn and bring it back to the burgomaster with this message,
"My daughter says if you plant this corn, grow it, and have it harvested by tomorrow, she will bring you the ten chicks to feed on your ripe grain."'
When the burgomaster heard this answer, he laughed heartily. 'That's a very clever daughter you have! I'd like to meet her. Tell her to come to see me, but she must come neither by day nor by night, neither riding nor walking, neither dressed nor undressed.'
Manka smiled when she received this message." (111) truly it brought me joy to imagine the shepherd shuttling between the burgomaster and Manka, rolling his eyes as they giggled at each message and came up with a new riddle
July 31, 2017
This wasn't as good as I expected. Out of the 25 tales, I only liked 7:
Kamala and the Seven Thieves, The Young Head of the Family, The Legend of Knockmany, Kupti and Imani, The Lute Player, Clever Manka, and The Shepherd of Myddvai and the Lake Maiden.
The author's other book The Maid of the North, has some good stories too. But both books are not as strong as I would like. Though both are better than the Yolen book of feminist tales, which really didn't have any that I liked very much... I was hoping to find one book that I could give to my niece, but really none of them worth giving... I will just have to create my own collection...
Kamala and the Seven Thieves, The Young Head of the Family, The Legend of Knockmany, Kupti and Imani, The Lute Player, Clever Manka, and The Shepherd of Myddvai and the Lake Maiden.
The author's other book The Maid of the North, has some good stories too. But both books are not as strong as I would like. Though both are better than the Yolen book of feminist tales, which really didn't have any that I liked very much... I was hoping to find one book that I could give to my niece, but really none of them worth giving... I will just have to create my own collection...
December 7, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. While it's nice to read stories where the woman is the protagonist, some of the stories were just sheer nonsense. I know some of these stories are old, but some of them have some of the strangest and most wtf plot elements. Perhaps it's my cynical eye, but the stories were a real hit and miss. A couple of them were actually quite clever, so this book gets 3.5 stars.
December 22, 2017
My aunt got this for me when I was just a baby. I’m glad that I had this book growing up. It provided different perspectives whilst I was being brought up in a traditional Catholic environment. Pretty sure my dad would’ve burnt the book, if he could’ve foreseen it would give his little girl the crazy notion that she didn’t have to be meek and obedient to have value.
January 3, 2020
A delightful collection of folktales. Stories of strong women taking on the world and making waves. I read a few to my boys and they loved hearing about people fighting monster and saving the day. They laughed and laughed about the 6 wives who loved onions. This was such a fun read for me alone and to read with my boys.
August 18, 2020
Essential reading for all children, no matter their gender or gender expression.
Tatterhood is the standout story. I don't know how many times I read it to my kids. My son & daughter (both cis-gender,) spent many happy hours as children rampaging around the house with wooden spoons, whacking imaginary trolls.
Tatterhood is the standout story. I don't know how many times I read it to my kids. My son & daughter (both cis-gender,) spent many happy hours as children rampaging around the house with wooden spoons, whacking imaginary trolls.
December 3, 2017
I wish I was introduced to this book well before taking a college course in my 30's. These females don't sit idly by waiting for a prince to save them. A quick read (thankfully for my class!) and at times funny, and most definitely thought provoking.
May 6, 2019
It was perfectly enjoyable reading for an afternoon when I did not want to think, but I've read several of these in other formats already where I enjoyed them more. I appreciated the global nature of the collection though.
June 5, 2019
An assortment of folk tales featuring strong, clever, female protagonists who take the initiative when facing obstacles. A refreshing change from traditional fairy tale collections.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Probably.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Probably.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
October 25, 2021
It’s great these stories exist and are gathered in a book you can find. However, they are not tremendous fun to read and I don’t think they’d hold the attention of my kids. We’re not a traditional fairytale family, so that might be the issue.
December 31, 2021
I liked the book over all but the retellings are written a bit lackluster and are often very strange.
It gives you what sometimes seems like a basic summary rather than a beautiful story.
The preface and notes along the way are good though.
It gives you what sometimes seems like a basic summary rather than a beautiful story.
The preface and notes along the way are good though.
January 31, 2023
Fascinating look into damsels not in so much distress tales from around the world. And though it’s probably very cliched, the titular tale was probably my favorite. Modern day women could use some Tatterhood inspiration.
October 1, 2024
Short folk tales / fairy tales from different cultures, although many did seem from the UK. The unique thing about these fables is the women are all capable persons. Great for reading with your child!
May 20, 2017
Great collection of positive stories.
October 15, 2017
One of the best folktale collections I have
December 7, 2017
such a breath of fresh air when it comes to folk story telling.
empowering women characters.
the book is worth the purchase just for the story of Tatterhood although you will enjoy many more too
empowering women characters.
the book is worth the purchase just for the story of Tatterhood although you will enjoy many more too
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