Around The World in Eighty Tales

Publisher: Kingfisher Books

Written by: Saviour Pirotta

Hard back: 176 pages

ISBN-10: 075345999X
ISBN-13: 978-0753459997

Product Dimensions: 30.2 x 25.4 x 2 cm

" This richly illustrated book takes readers on a journey across six continents, with entertaining folktales from eighty different storytelling traditions. An excellent introduction to foreign countries, these beautifully told stories are perfect for reading aloud and encouraging children to learn about different cultures and other parts of the world. From a dragon princess in China to a clever peddler in Morocco, children will meet wonderful characters as they travel story-by-story around the globe. An ideal gift, this deluxe volume is a joyous celebration of the world's wonderful diversity."

The book needed a large world map to illustrate the endpapers. It was fun to create, with all the little animal figures, buildings and landmarks, ranging over the six continents. This particular image was painted on graph paper.

'The More the Merrier': "That night they came across a house in the woods . They peeped in through the window and saw a gang of thieves sitting around a table counting gold."

Each continent chapter also needed an introduction image, which had to contain some of the characters and locations from the coming chapter. Each continent also needed a long decorative illustration running across the top of every page.

' Three Birds ': "From a cage inside her tent the old woman took three birds: a pigeon , a crow and a partridge. ' Fly high, my dears, ' she said, setting them free one by one. 'Come back and tell your grandmother what you see on the other side of the hills.'" .

'The Crocodile Bridge': "Before the king of the crocodiles realised he'd been tricked, the hare had crossed the channel on the backs of the crocodiles and was safely on the mainland."