The Chinese Mirror retold by Mirra Ginsburg

 illustrated by Margot Zemack

Folk Literature, Multicultural Fiction

This retelling of the Korean folk tale, The Chinese Mirror, tells the story of the first mirror in which a Korean village had ever come in contact. One villager journeys all the way to China and stumbles upon a strange new circular object he has never before seen. He looks into the mirror and sees a man's face looking back at him, he is amazed and buys the strange object immediately.  The man loves his new purchase and delights in looking into the mirror, however, he hides the mirror from everyone because he is afraid it will lose its magic. The man's young wife sees him hiding something and one day finds the mirror in his trunk.  The young wife is distressed because she sees a young beautiful woman staring back. The young wife is afraid her husband is being unfaithful to her.  She takes the mirror to her in-laws and they see other people in the mirror, an old woman and the neighbor's grandpa.  Each villager takes a look into the mirror and believes there to be another person staring back.  Eventually the mirror is shattered into a million pieces, and so are the people they saw in the mirror. This book is a great read for students because the text is not overwhelming and the pictures do a great job of complementing the text which allows readers to visualize what the characters are experiencing. I would use this book in my classroom as a multicultural piece of literature.  In my classroom library I plan on having a section of books that are specifically divided into different literature from around the world.  I plan on having a "traveling section" in which my students can go and select a book from a particular country in order to learn a little more about different nations of the world.  

Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk 

an Irish tale told and illustrated by Gerald McDermott

Folk Literature, Multicultural Fiction

This Irish tale tells the story of Tim O'Toole and his wife, Kate.  The story begins with describing the extent of poverty that this couple is experiencing and how Kate demands that her husband go and find some work.  Tim eventually goes out to find some work when he luckily finds a group of little people and demands their treasure.  The little people tell Tim to go home with his treasure, but he ends up staying with the McGoon family for the night. The McGoons trick poor Tim by switching his golden egg laying goose with one of their own. Tim is astonished when he realizes his goose does not lay golden eggs. He finds the little people and angrily demands their treasure, they again tell him to go directly home. However, Tim once again stays at the McGoons home and is tricked by them a second time. The following day the little people tell Tim of the evil McGoons and how he should have listened to them by going directly home. The little people raid the McGoons house and Tim is given is treasure back.  The end of the story closes with the O'Toole family resting happily with their treasure.  I would use this book in my classroom as a piece of folk literature.  Children enjoy stories where the main character is given opportunity for fortune, especially when the characters do not have much. This story is exciting for many young readers because it includes mystical tales of little people and a golden egg laying goose.  The illustrations are vivid and allow children to really put themselves into the story.  Furthermore, this story offers a great lesson to teach children: to always listen to directions. The little people again and again tell Tim to go directly home and he continually goes to stay the McGoons who end up tricking him.  I would certainly place this book in my classroom library.  

Mike Fink 

retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Folk Literature

This retelling of the tall tale, Mike Fink, is quite an exciting and captivating story.  The illustrations coupled with the text give readers a clear picture of the elaborate tale of this rugged American frontiersman.  The tale tells the story of Mike Fink who is a strong and superhuman boy who sets out to become a Keelboatman. Keelboatmen were cargo men notoriously known for their strength and rowdiness.  This tall tale like every tall tale, is larger than life and tells stories of impossible occurrences, such as Mike being "hurled hundreds of miles into the heart of the Rocky Mountains." I would use this piece of literature to integrate literature with social studies in the classroom.  Tall tales are great ways for children to become familiar with historical events through an over-the-top fictional story.  Tall tales also allow children to use their imagination by allowing them to think about the impossible.  Yet another way I could use tall tales in the classroom is to use it as a platform for descriptive and creative writing.  I may have students read Mike Fink and then have them write their own tall tale to explain a historical event.