Filipino Children's Favorite Stories

November 1, 2001
Gr 3-6-A compilation of 13 short folktales, many of them classics of the Filipino culture. Many of the themes are universal in nature. Tales of greed and laziness and their consequences, nature's ways, family love and loyalty, and humorous trickster tales are all included. Many of the selections have counterparts from other cultures. "The Deer and the Snail" is a "Tortoise and the Hare" variant, and children will recognize "The Prince's Bride" as "Beauty and the Beast" with a twist. Others are quite different, such as "Why Mosquitoes Buzz Around Our Ears," which is surprisingly unlike the well-known African tale. "The Battle of the Sea and Sky" is a particularly nice telling of the creation of the Philippine Islands. Each story is accompanied by de Leon's ink-and-watercolor illustrations. The artist has subtly paid tribute to the diversity of the islands by using a variety of styles in the costume, suggestive of the different regions. A lovely addition to folklore collections.-Roxanne Burg, Thousand Oaks Library, CA

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2001
Gr. 3-6. Romulo, who was born in the Philippines, retells 14 traditional myths and folktales with engaging fluency, mixing variants of stories likely to be familiar to younger American readers with lesser-known creation myths and teaching tales. The collection is threaded with common themes: hot-tempered gods making regrettable decisions; the small and weak banding together to humble ("The Deer and the Snail"), outwit ("The Battle of Sea and Sky"), or even kill the large and powerful ("The Terrible Giant"). There's also a story about the dangers of greed ("Feast of Gold"): when everything in their home turns to gold, a couple become so engrossed in their fortune that they die of starvation and pride. Joanne De Leon's many illustrations depict gracefully posed figures in traditional peasant or festival dress, supernatural beings (including one covered in spectacular tattoos) who look human, and anthropomorphic but recognizable wildlife. Romulo does not cite specific sources, but she closes with a brief, current bibliography. Equally appealing for pleasure or purpose reading, this should be a popular addition to school and public libraries alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2002
This collection includes Filipino fables, pourquoi tales, and legends. The thirteen stories reflect the richness of Filipino culture, with indigenous, Spanish, and some American strands woven into the tellings. The lighthearted illustrations are occasionally awkward, and the retellings lack finesse. However, considering the dearth of Filipino folklore books for children, libraries may want this one in their collections. Bib.

(Copyright 2002 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)