Stories of Hope and Spirit: Folktales from Eastern Europe

By Dan Keding

Book Overview

Winner of Anne Izard Storyteller's Choice Award & Storytelling World Award

Throughout history, Eastern Europe has been a battlefield, a crossroads, a place of conflict, and a place of resolution. The folk stories in this collection reflect the region's diversity. Each presents a challenge and models the strength, wit, hope, and courage necessary to overcome them.

They include: "The Three Brothers and the Pot of Gold" from Moldavia when the brothers discover something more precious than treasure; "Nail Soup" from Croatia shows how a small contribution from each community member can blend to create a masterpiece; and in "Strawberries in Winter" from Slovakia, the seasons of the year come to the rescue of an eastern European Cinderella mistreated by her stepmother.

These stories are of Slavic origin, from the Baltic to the Balkans. In today's time of global unease and anxiety, these ancient tales of hope and spirit in times of occupation and uncertainty resonate strongly.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874837278
• ISBN13: 9780874837278
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: August House Publishers
• Length: 77 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.2" x 10.4"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A wonderfully presented anthology of thirteen folktales

Compiled and edited by musician, storyteller, and recording artist Dan Keding, Stories Of Hope And Spirit: Folktales From Eastern Europe is a wonderfully presented and enthusiastically recommended anthology of thirteen folktales drawn from the countries and cultures of eastern Europe. The include: The Best Wish (Croatia); The Most Precious Gift (Turkey/Croatia); The First Story (Republic of Georgia); The King's Ears (Serbia); Strawberries in Winter (Slovakia); The Prince Who Married a Frog (Croatia); The Three Brothers and the Pot of Gold (Moldavia); One Man's Trouble (Latvia); The Enhanced Princess (Russia); The Old Traveler (Estonia); How the Rich Man Learned a Lesson (Chechnia); and Nail Soup (Croatia). In addition to an informative Introduction, Stories Of Hope And Spirit is also enhanced with the inclusion of "Telling the Stories" and a bibliography.

Lovely

What a great collection. My kids love it. The stories are so rich and vivid.