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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
A selection of seventeen folktales from Asia and Australasia that includes 'Baba Yaga and the Stepdaughter,' 'The Bridge of Magpies,' 'Rainbow Serpent' and 'Maui, the Fisherman.'
Affiliation Notes
-
This work is affiliated with the AustLit subset Asian-Australian Children's Literature and Publishing because it includes Asian folk tales.
Contents
* Contents derived from the
Limpsfield,
Surrey,
c
England,c
c
United Kingdom (UK),c
Western Europe,
Europe,:Dragon's World Children's Books
, 1992 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.-
Baba Yaga and the Stepdaughter,
single work
children's fiction
children's
fable
A peasant girl named Karen is sent by her stepmother to the witch Baba Yaga's house, where Karen will be cooked and eaten if she can't escape.
-
Baba Yaga and the Brave Youth,
single work
children's fiction
children's
A cat, a sparrow, and a brave youth live in a hut in the forest. But while the cat and sparrow cut firewood, the witch Baba Yaga will steal into the hut to count the spoons and kidnap the brave youth and eat him for her dinner.
-
Momotaro or the Peach-Boy,
single work
children's fiction
children's
fable
An old woman finds a large peach in a river. As she is about to cut it, it falls apart and a small boy pops out. He has been sent by the gods to be the son of the woman and her husband. They name him Momotaro (Peach Boy). Years later, Momotaro leaves to battle demons who have occupied an island in the north of Japan. As he sets out, he meets a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant, all of whom join him in his quest.
-
The Leather Bag,
single work
children's fiction
children's
fable
The only son of wealthy parents is told a new story every night by servants. As the stories are told, the spirits from the story go into a leather bag that hangs on the boy's door. They will only be released when he tells the stories to someone else. But the boy is selfish and refuses to tell stories to other children. By the time the boy is grown, the spirits in the bag are very cramped and angry. They begin to plot their owner's death.
-
The Bridge of Magpies,
single work
children's fiction
children's
fable
A young prince marries the daughter of the King of the Land of Stars. But the prince and princess become lazy after their marriage. The princess stops weaving clouds, and the prince leaves his cattle to the care of his servants. He and his wife devote themselves to pleasure. The King of the Land of Stars punishes them by separating them from each other on either side of the River of Stars.
-
The Son of the Ogress,
single work
children's fiction
children's
fable
A Brahman priest is trapped by a creature known as a yakka, who has a woman's body and a horse's head. She wants to eat the priest, but he is very handsome, and she falls in love. She offers him the choice of marrying her or dying. He marries her, and they have a son together. The father and son are kept trapped inside a cave, but when one day they escape, the son, who is half yakka, is able to use his powers to work for a nearby king.
-
The Prawn that Caused the Trouble,
single work
children's fiction
children's
fable
A man stands on the banks of the River Irrawaddy, irritating a prawn by stomping his feet in the water. The prawn bites him, setting off a long series of consequences.
- The Deceitful Pelican, single work children's fiction children's (p. 49-53)
-
Into the Jungle,
single work
children's fiction
children's
fable
Young Prince Sedana hopes to marry his cousin, Scri, when they grow up. Approaching manhood, Sedana is sent to study with a holy man. In his absence, King Pulagra hears of Scri's beauty and wants to take her as his wife.
- How the Dingo Came to Australia, single work children's fiction children's dreaming story (p. 62-65)
- How the Sun was Made, single work children's fiction children's dreaming story (p. 66-68)
- The Firemakers, single work children's fiction children's dreaming story (p. 69-72)
- Wirreenum the Rainmaker, single work children's fiction children's Indigenous story (p. 73-75)
- Rainbow Serpent, single work children's fiction children's dreaming story (p. 76-80)
- Deereeree and the Rainbow, single work children's fiction children's (p. 81-82)
- Maui, the Fisherman, single work children's fiction children's myth/legend (p. 83-86)
- Kahukura and the Fishing Nets, single work children's fiction children's (p. 88-92)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Last amended 11 Aug 2014 11:29:14
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