Short Stories Part 1

Picture books aren't just for little kids; a well written short story has adults engrossed too. Some of the picture books out there are boring and the pictures aren't very good. But some authors and artists have created books with detailed pictures and interesting stories. Below are some of them.

~ The Clown of God – an Italian folktale retold and illustrated by Tomie de Paola
In Sorrento an orphan named Giovanni juggled for food. Then one day traveling players offered to let him juggle in their shows. He grows in fame, but then grows old and looses his skill. Finally he goes back to Sorrento and offers what he has left to the Christ Child. Other books by de Paola include:

~ Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka

~ Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs



~ The Island of the Skog – written and illustrated by Stephen Kellogg
The mice are tired of being threatened by cats; they want freedom! They sail away and come upon an island with a population of one Skog. This Skog is dangerous but the mice are determined to have a safe home and launch a plan to rid the place of the Skog. Other books by Kellogg include:

~ Pecos Bill: A Tall Tale

~ Yankee Doodle

~ How Much is a Million?



~ Miss Hunnicutt's Hat – written by Jeff Baumbeau, illustrated Gail de Marcken
The queen's coming to Littleton and the tiny town is all in a flurry; things must be perfect for her majesty. But Miss Hunnicutt has her shopping to do, queen or no queen. And her new – and unusual – hat from Paris has just arrived. Her hat creates an uproar and disaster happens when Miss Hunnicutt refuses to take it off. What will happen when the queen sees it?



~ The Bee-Man of Orn – written by Frank R. Stockton, illustrated by P. J. Lynch
In the country of Orn, there was a man who spent all his time with bees. He lived, ate, and slept with them. Then the Junior Sorcerer tells him he's been transformed from something, though nobody knows what. The Bee-Man goes on a quest to discover what he once was and encounters a lord, a youth, and ugly creatures before saving a life and discovering who he once was.



~ The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship: A Russian Tale – retold and illustrated by Christopher Denise
The Tsar has promised that anyone who can build a flying ship can marry his daughter. The Fool decides to try his luck and sets off. An Old One agrees to help him, on one condition. He must pick up everyone he meets on the way. The Fool obeys and flies to the Tsar. But the Tsar doesn't want his daughter to marry a peasant, so he gives the Fool a series of nearly impossible tasks, which only his comrades can help with. Denise has illustrated many books, including:

~ The Redwall Cookbook

~ The Great Redwall Feast

~ A Redwall Winter's Tale