by Joan Suyenaga (Author) Salim Martowiredjo (Illustrator)
Indonesian Children's Favorite Stories contains a charming selection of traditional tales from the rich store of Indonesian lore and legends.
These beautifully illustrated stories, retold for an international audience, provide children with insight into the traditional culture, beliefs and physical landscape of Indonesia. This book is aimed at children in the five to ten age group, but readers of all ages, young and old, will find much to enjoy within these pages.
Featured Indonesian stories include: The Magic Headcloth, in which a wise and clever young man outwits a cruel and greedy king; The Woodcarver's True Love, a story about a pure heart and the real meaning of love; The Caterpillar Story, how, because of kindness and honor, a chain of unlikely events ended in true happiness; And many more! Set in tropical rainforests, on balmy beaches, and in the remote highlands of the Indonesian islands, this multicultural children's book offers a taste of how universal values of bravery, cleverness, true love, kindness and loyalty are transmitted to Indonesian children. It makes a perfect new addition for story time or bedtime reading. Astute princesses, resourceful villagers and daring travelers appear throughout this vast archipelago to tell their stories and charm readers of all ages.
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Gr 2-6--A bright and redesigned cover adorns this reissue of a 2005 title. Its eight stories dramatize, in Suyenaga's words, "honesty, determination, cleverness, patience, and bravery." The stories have a wide thematic range. One tale celebrates love not measured by material value. In another, a headcloth magically defeats a greedy king, while one story shows a poor but lucky boy finding success through the help of a kind chief. Stories have narrative similarities to "Beauty and the Beast," "Rapunzel," and Atalanta of Greek mythology; there are strong girls and steadfast boys. Some details are unexplained. Cucumbers and watermelons grown by one hero are inexplicably impervious to blades, and a bloody buffalo legend rests on a couple of improbabilities. But overall, the tales are effectively retold and emotionally resonant. Although these stories are lengthy for group reading, good pacing makes them well suited to one-on-one sharing. Neon color-and-line illustrations flow across spreads, engagingly depicting the landscape, people, the cultural milieu--and one huge hideous demon in close-up. VERDICT A delightful introduction to the archipelago's rich and varied culture.--Patricia D. Lothrop, formerly of St. George's School, Newport, RI
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