African-American Folktales for Young Readers: Including Favorite Stories from Popular African and African-American Storytellers

American Storytelling

by Richard Alan Young (Editor), Judy Dockrey Young (Editor), Rex Ellis (Introduction)

A collection of folktales from the African-American oral tradition, presented as they have been told by professional black storytellers from Rhode Island to Oklahoma.

Genres: Folklore, African American, Mythology, Folk Tales, Childrens

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1993

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of thirty-one folktales from the African-American tradition, edited by Richard Alan Young and Judy Dockrey Young, and taken from the work of storytellers and teachers around the country, this volume is divided into seven thematic sections: Young Heroes and Heroines / Animal Fables / Trickster Stories / Parables About People / Bigger Than Life / In the Park and in the Dark / and Brother Rabbit Today.

Here the reader will encounter tales that are little changed from their original African iterations, and tales that have been transformed by the experiences of African-Americans on this continent. Each selection includes a brief introduction explaining the specific origin and history of the tale, as well as specifying which storyteller (listed at the back) was responsible for its inclusion.

I particularly enjoyed: The Sizimweh, in which a young boy rescues a group of girls from a terrible monster by putting them in his drum, as it reminded me of Verna Aardema's picture book, Bimwili and the Zimwi , in which she tells a very similar tale. Also of note was Anansi and the Turtle, a clear parallel to Aesop's fable of The Fox and the Crane. I relished the Tall Tales (Bigger Than Life) and the Scary Stories (In the Park and In the Dark), which reminded me of the collections I used to read as a girl - books like Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark .

In short: an enjoyable introductory collection, suitable for young (or old) readers interested in exploring a very rich area of American folklore. My pleasure in reading was enhanced by the black and white illustrations of Kenneth Harris, who is, oddly enough, only credited on the colophon.

[Liam Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book to read over the Labor Day Holiday weekend. On Sunday I cooked liver, bacon, & onions. Then one of the final stories was that infamous Johnny and the Liver. Where Johnny is haunted by a man whose liver he takes to bring home to his parents for dinner. Gross!

Many of the tales are aetiological or toponymic - reasons for why something is the way it is or a why a place has a certain name.

[Dietrich West-Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories for young people. Easy reader for students grade 5-7. Excellent introduction for each section and story.

[Tots R · Rating 4 out of 5]

African-American Folktales for Young Readers: Including Favorite Stories from Popular African and African-American Storytellers (American Storytelling) by Richard Alan Young
I love to use this book to plan activities for my daycare especially during black history month. This book is a little advance for young children under four but I make the activity fun and creative to allow them to follow the folktales. It is very important that we incorporate culture and diversity in daycares to allow children to learn that we are all different. I express to my children all the time that we are all different and some special way. Favorite African Folktales is a cause for celebration, landmark work that gathers in one volume many of Africa's most cherished folktales. This wonderful book introduces children and adults alike to the magical world of African fairy tales and creation myths, a treasure for everyone in the family. We do activities with after reading these folktales such as having my children to color a picture of Martin Luther King. Then have children draw a big picture of a cloud on the construction paper. Next, cut the cloud out and glue cotton balls all over it. Then cut out the picture of Martin Luther King. After that use the hold puncher to punch two holes at the bottom of the cloud and two holes at the top of the Martin Luther King picture.