Tom Thumb

Margaret Read MacDonald

Oryx Multicultural Folktales Series, Oryx Press, 1993. ISBN 0-89774-728-3

With the demand for multiculturalism in education, this book is an excellent resource. It includes 25 tales about "Thumblings" from around the world. The preface contains information about appropriate age groups for the stories in their present form and possible uses and extensions in the classroom setting.

Each story has a short "preface" to identify the country origin of the story and elements about the story that are either specific to that version or common to most versions. Additional footnotes on each story follow the tales -- there is even one complete tale there instead of in the story section. A resource guide of materials and activities to use Thumbling stories in a whole language curriculum and suggestions for using the stories in public library programs complete the format of the book. Having multiple versions of a basic story allows one to pick or combine the story or stories best suited for the storyteller/reader to tell/read.

This book reads well, the stories are interesting and the research and suggestions for presenters is right on the mark. Teachers, librarians, storytellers and readers will want to read this book.

Reviewed December 1st, 1994 by Rosemary Czarski