The Maid of the North

Rating:
Summary: Really Great
Review: I got this book as a little girl, along with another collection "Tatterhood", written and edited by the same people (I believe). This one stuck in my mind as being the most entertaining, although both were good.

The unique, although sparse, illustrations are very interesting and wonderful, not like any other drawings in children's book. Unlike "Tatterhood", the fact that these stories were about young girls really drew me, and was quite exciting. For parents with little girls interested in legends, fantasy, and faraway places, I'd definitely recommend buying this for your children and reading it aloud.

Rating:
Summary: Its not just for young girls!
Review: I got this book as a little girl, along with another collection "Tatterhood", written and edited by the same people (I believe). This one stuck in my mind as being the most entertaining, although both were good.

The unique, although sparse, illustrations are very interesting and wonderful, not like any other drawings in children's book. Unlike "Tatterhood", the fact that these stories were about young girls really drew me, and was quite exciting. For parents with little girls interested in legends, fantasy, and faraway places, I'd definitely recommend buying this for your children and reading it aloud.

Rating:
Summary: Its not just for young girls!
Review: I just love this book. And I was lucky enough to get a first edition in good shape. I haven't read folk-tales since I was a kid, and only just started because I needed to find one for a graduate class I am taking. These bite-size stories are perfect for bedtime reading because I can read a whole story and call it quits. No cliffhangers. And not only are the stories beautifully written, but they all portray the woman as being valuable for reasons other than beauty. Although this book is subtitled "feminist folk tales from around the world," I do not believe the book is just for young girls. Boys too should hear stories of powerful, smart women. In fact, they would probably be more interested in these stories than Cinderella and sleeping beauty.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Stories!
Review: I love this book. Ever since a family friend gave it to me several years ago, I often go back and read the stories over and over again because they are so enchanting. For once, the female characters balance out with the usual "heroic" male counterparts; No damsels in distress or cunning and villainous old hags here. The Maid of the North is not, however, preachy or boring in its feminism, but it subtley sends the message out to girls that females in folktales can be just as intelligent, fun and resourceful as the males. These engaging stories are perfect for readers of any age.

Rating:
Summary: Fairy Tales for Young Girls
Review: Phelps created two collections of tales featuring strong women to show that not all female heroines in folklore are passive victims of circumstance. This book was originally published in 1981 to answer the feminist attack against fairy tales that appeared in the 1970s. This collection pulls stories from several cultures and will be great for reading at bedtime. Included in the 21 tales are East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Duffy and the Devil, and The Old Woman and the Rice Cakes (from Japan). The tales are interesting enough to keep the attention of both adults and children. I also recommend Phelps' other collection, "Tatterhood."