From: Mary Ann Scheuer <greatkidbooks_at_gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:35:03 -0700

I agree with many others who have written that folktales are still enjoyed by many children. One of the interesting things to note is that many of the picture book retellings require substantial reading or listening comprehension. Many 2nd and 3rd graders seem in a rush to get to chapter books, and so these more substantial picture books can be overlooked.

I am really enjoying listening to *The Thirteenth Princess*, by Diane Zahler (HarperCollins, 2010). It's a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses tale, and has captivated us. The audio production is wonderful. It's a twist, in the sense that it adds a 13th princess as the main character and narrator. But beyond that, it seems more to be flushing out the original story. I am enjoying the main character's voice, the suspense and the magic. My kindergartner and 3rd grader are enchanted.

Mary Ann Scheuer Redwood Day School, Oakland, CA Great Kid Books http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com
Received on Thu 18 Mar 2010 09:35:03 AM CDT