Reviews
Transcends Age, Time and Culture, Superb Audio Story Telling - Review Updated With Links To 2 More In The Series
This review refers to "Tell Me A Story: Timeless Folktales from Around The World"(CD)
So, one of the really cool things about writing reviews at Amazon is that every once in a while, I will receive a book from an Author or publisher in hopes of a review. I don't review every single one I receive, but every once in a while I get one that I not only can't wait to share with Amazon book shoppers, but as in this case, one that I can share with my entire family. I received this one from producer of this fine CD, Amy Friedman, and I'd like to say thanks so much, for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I took this one with me on my errands outing the other day, and popped it in my CD player. First off all I became so enthralled with these marvelous stories that I was glad I was alone and didn't have anyone with me chit chatting as I listened.Although I am sure any listener would be under it's spell as well. The other thing is that my errands took much longer then anticipated as at each stop, I couldn't get out of my car until I finished the story I was listening to.
The title says much about this book. The readers are professional), will tell you the stories and you cannot help but to fall into a trance by their lulling and often animated voices. These great folktales take place in all different parts of the world and the readers capture the personalities of the people or animals, the accents, the fun and the lessons learned exquisitely. The stories each are not only a joy to listen to, but will leave you with some kind of moral or life lesson learned in a entertaining way. These tales transcend age and time, and offer a glimpse into various countries and cultures that will leave the reader a little more enriched.
There are 8 tales ranging from about 5 to 13 minutes. Well over an hour to get lost in. Although this is classified as a children's book. I have to say that whatever your age, you will enjoy these stories. I even think, the very young will get something out of these tales. Only one,"The Boatman's Howling Daughter", an American folktale may not be suitable for the very very young, as there is some violence(think something akin to Peter Pan and the Pirates). Among some of the other tales, I really enjoyed "A`Sense of Theft". A delightful tale of a poor woman on trial for "stealing" the wonderful smells from the Baker's shop. How will the judge handle this case. Also included is "Rabbit on the Moon", an excellent learning lesson, "The Selkie Bride", what will we do for love?, "Anansi and Turtle's Feast", "Searching For Fear", "The Clever Girl", and "Two Frogs From Japan", a tale that might make one think about where to find happiness.
The CD quality itself is excellent, with some great music to set the mood of the tales as well. It includes a booklet, with story synopsis and great illustrations and bios of the narrators.
Highly recommended. Take it in your car the next time you are chauffeuring the kids around. For once, the ride will be peaceful as the kids(and you), get swept away to far away lands and olden times. Makes a great gift as well, one that could be passed down from generation to generation, that is if anyone can actually part with it.
Hopefully this will be the start of a long line of the CDs, with more lovely tales to come....Enjoy the read.....Laurie
Reviewer's Update 12/22/09 - As you can see by the other reviews, I am not alone in my rave review of this fabulous children's CD, and I am happy to report that my hope that this one would be the start of a series has come true. There are 2 more CDs in this series now available and I would recommend them as enthusiastically as I do this one.See my reviews for themes and details of the new ones. Here are the links: Tell Me A Story 2: Animal Magic andTell Me A Story 3: Women of Wonder
also recommended:Side By Side: poems to read together
Collection of Multicultural Folktales - Audiobook
"Tell Me a Story" is a beautiful gift to the world. This playful journey includes beautiful, classic multicultural folktales from around the world. They include:
A Sense of Theft - A woman falls in love with baked goods and a baker accuses her of stealing the warm scent of baked bread.
Anansi and Turtle's Feast - A story of two friends who visit each other's homes for dinner.
The Selkie Bride - A Scottish fisherman falls in love with a seal woman who he discovers on the shore.
Searching for Fear - A tale of a raccoon who is fearless and goes on a journey to find out what it feels like to be afraid.
Two Frogs from Japan - A tale adapted from an original Japanese Folktale.
The Clever Girl - A tale adapted from a Czechoslovakian folktale called Clever Manka.
The Rabbit on the Moon - An Indian story from the Jataka Tales.
The Boatman's Howling Daughter - A girl with seven pet bear cubs goes on an adventure and escapes from danger.
The stories are read by Lori Ada Jaroslow, Rick Hall, Lauren Tom, Charlayne Wood-ard, Jack McGee, William Thomas, Poppy Champlin and Kathleen Wilhoite. The titles are adorably read by Eva Hall and Ruthie Hall giving this CD an angelic quality.
Each story has its own personality, humor and wit. The stories are carefully performed and are beautifully written in a way that begs for them to be read to an audience of eager listeners. You can almost imagine these tales being told around a campfire.
I especially loved the story of the raccoons and the story of the Selkie woman is quite beautiful. Pianist Laura Hall weaves her musical magic through the stories to enhance the exciting stories with an ethereal beauty. This is a CD for any age and can be enjoyed in the afternoon, evening or anytime you need to escape from the world.
A Rare Discovery!
~The Rebecca Review
Wonderful
Wonderful and hypnotic is what I would call this. The first story I played for my two girls (6 and 8) in the car on the way to school. It was the first time they ever made it the whole ride in total silence. After just the FIRST story, they begged for me to play it again, but it was time for school. When I picked them up, they asked right away. So So this is what we have done the last three days; listen to a new story on the way to school. I'm only on the third, The Selkie Bride. My oldest daughter rushed into school and immediately began telling the tale to the first friend she ran into.
I can't say enough good about this. The children are captivated and it provides great discussion topics, for example, after the SECOND time we listened to A Sense of Theft, I asked my daughters what they think the judge felt about the case against Zena. I, myself, had to run errands today and listened to the rest of the tales. The depth, the humor, the underlying celebration of the human spirit, all in such clever packages is something I will always enjoy bringing to my children.
Books
