African American Phase II

Norton’s PHASE II: Folktales

    Haley, G.E. (1970). A story, a story: an African tale. New York: Atheneum.
Recounts how most African folk tales came to be called "Spider Stories." Gr. K-2

    Hamilton, V. (1985). The people could fly: American Black folktales.New York: Knopf: Distributed by Random House.
Retold Afro-American folktales of animals, fantasy, the supernatural, and desire for freedom, born of the sorrow of the slaves, but passed on in hope. Gr. 4-9

    Lester, J. (1994). John Henry. New York: Dial Books.
Retells the life of the legendary African American hero who raced against a steam drill to cut through a mountain. Gr. PreK-up

    McKissack, P. (1986). Flossie & the fox. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
A wily fox, notorious for stealing eggs, meets his match when he encounters a bold little girl in the woods who insists upon proof that he is a fox before she will be frightened. Gr. Pre-3

    San Souci, R. D. (1989). The talking eggs: a folktale from the American South. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
A Southern folktale in which kind Blanche, following the instructions of an old witch, gains riches, while her greedy sister makes fun of the old woman and is duly rewarded. Coretta Scott King award : 1990. Gr. Pre-3

    Steptoe, J. (1987). Mufaro's beautiful daughters: An African tale. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.
Mufaro's two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet, go before the king, who is choosing a wife. Gr. K-3