American Bookseller - Pick of the List
The range and mastery evidenced in the stories selected by Richard and Judy Dockrey Young--veteran storytellers and teachers in their own right--is due in large part to the fact that they include so many favorite stories of acclaimed African and African-American storytellers. Designed to entice even the most reluctant reader, these stories are not only fun to read, but are bound to be repeated and shared.
The seven sections - Young Heroes and Heroines, Animal Fables, Trickster Stories, Parables About People, Bigger Than Life, In the Park and in the Dark, and Brother Rabbit Today - are introduced by brief topical essays and include individual story notes to further enhance both the learning and the enjoyment of these stories.
In his introduction to African-American Folktales, Dr. Rex Ellis underscores the multicultural opportunity afforded by this collection: "They are stories that continue to be told by African Americans because...they transcend color and culture. They are stories that represent our common experience."