July 7 – 11, 2008
Summaries of Five
Stories from
More Ready-To-Tell
Tales from Around the World
ÒThe Barking
MouseÓ
A Folktale from Cuba
Antonio Sacre
A mice family was on a picnic.
After lunch, the brother and sister went off to play with a warning from their
mother to beware of the cat behind the fence. The brother and sister find the
cat and, disregarding the warning, start taunting it. Although the mice thought
they were safe with a fence, the cat eventually jumped the fence and chased the
brother and sister to their Mama and Papa. Papa Mouse said that he would
protect the family from being eaten by the cat. But when the cat landed in the
middle of the picnic, Papa and the children jumped behind Mama for protection.
Mama drew herself up and in her biggest voice barked like a dog. The cat got
scared and ran away. Once they were home safe and sound, Mama told her family
Òit pays to speak another languageÓ.
Being a first-generation American,
I identified with this story as my mother always told me, and my siblings, that
it is important to speak at least one other language. The story also shows
young children the strength of the family and that Mama will risk anything to
protect her family, even ludicrously barking like a dog. There is even comic
relief when Pap Mouse, the stereotypical Latin male, boasted that he would
protect the family. But when push comes to shove, it is the Latin woman, Mama
Mouse, who actually gets the job done.
ÒHow Hare Drank Boiling Water and Married the Beautiful
PrincessÓ
A Folktale from Benin
Raouf Mama
There were too many eligible
suitors to wed the beautiful princess. The king set a challenge that whoever
drinks boiling water may marry his daughter. All day long, the handsomest
princes, the lion, the eagle and all the other animals tried to drink the
boiling water but failed. Finally, the Hare announced that he would drink the
boiling water. After he took the boiling pot, he held it aloft while speaking
to each of the other challengers. The Hare requested that if he dies, as a
result of his foolish act for love, that they would tell his story for the rest
of their lives. Each suitor swore they would. Then the Hare drank the boiling
water. However, the Hare did not die or get scalded. Hare took so long to
address each of the other challengers that the water in the pot cooled. The
Hare used cunning and creativity to win and to marry the princess.
ÒThe FarmerÕs Fun-Loving DaughterÓ
A Folktale from the British Isles
Taffy Thomas
A dying farmer wrote a test in his
will for his three children, two hard-working sons and a fun-loving daughter.
In order to inherit the farm and land, each child would receive one pound with
which they would have to purchase something that will fill every room in the
farmerÕs 161-room house. The first son filled every room with feathers. But
when the lawyer walked the house to be sure every room was completely filled,
it took so long that the feathers settled in the last room and created a gap
between the feathers and the ceiling. The eldest son did not succeed. The
second son used candles to put light in every room. Again, the lawyer took so
long to reach the last room, the candle burned itself out and there was
darkness so he didnÕt succeed. The fun-loving daughter drew on what she knew
best, a party. First, she opened all the doors in the house and played an
instrument that filled the house with music. The mourners heard the tune and
started smiling and dancing which filled the house a second time with joy. When
the lawyer asked her what she has done she said she filled her fatherÕs house
three times over on the day of his funeral. The two times as described and the
third time with life, the combination of music and joy. All approved her simple
and creative solution and she inherited the farm. Although the farmerÕs test
was geared towards rewarding one of his two hard-working sons, the farmerÕs
free-spirited, fun-loving daughter, like the prodigal son, succeeded to inherit
everything. I enjoyed this story and ÒHow the HareÓ because they both remind me
to not resort to the obvious solution. With a little reflection and creativity
the solution is simpler than originally thought.
ÒLittle Frog and CentipedeÓ
A Folktale from the Haya People of Tanzania
Retold by Susan Klein
The Frog asked Centipede how the
Centipede got his beautiful skin. The Centipede started to tell his story but
only got as far as his mother prepared boiling oil. At this point, Frog
interrupted three times and finished CentipedeÕs story incorrectly. Centipede
got so frustrated that he couldnÕt fully and correctly answer FrogÕs question
that he told Frog he didnÕt care how Frog wanted to finish the story and he
left. Frog went home and told his mother to boil oil. Once the oil was boiling,
Frog jumped in and that is why frogs are so ugly today. This is wonderful story
to explain to people to listen to others, not to make assumptions, patience,
and to not jump to conclusions before having the full story.
ÒTales of Aesop – Quarrelsome ChildrenÓ
Fables from Ancient Greece
Heather Forest
As it sometimes occurs in families,
children do not get along. They bicker and fight. One father asked his children
to bring sticks to his deathbed. He gave each child one stick and instructed
them to break their respective sticks and then bind all the broken twigs
together. Each child understood that the twig of each child is bound and
strengthened with the twig of another. The children are bound together like the
twigs and give strength to each other no matter how far away they live from
each other. This is a beautiful little story to remind us that the family is
our strength and family binds us together.