Brett, Jan. Gingerbread Baby. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999.

Jan Brett's retelling of the traditional Gingerbread Boy tale is delightfully entertaining, especially its surprise ending. We still have the arrogant title character, here in his infancy; and with him, a clever little boy who outwits the Gingerbread Baby. The Scandinavian art design throughout this book is exquisite in its color, detail, and complexity, telling a story within a story. This is one of Brett's finest efforts, with storytelling and artistic skills perfectly matching.Submitted by Mary Pat Connors

Melmed, Laura Krauss. The Rainbabies. Illustrated by Jim LaMarche. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1992.

A moonshower brings an old, childless couple, twelve tiny rainbabies. The couple cares for, loves, and protects these treasures with their lives, until Mother Moonshine comes to claim her own. Melmed and LaMarch have paired to create another (Little Oh) wonderful, modern fairy tale. Each page is a delight as we see the couple become fulfilled in their new roles as parents. A beautiful reminder to children that they are loved, and for parents, that their children are to be cherished. Submitted by Mary Pat Connors

dePaola, Tomie. Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato. Tomie dePaola. New York: G. P. Putnam's, 1992.

A funny Irish folktale about a lazy Irishman by the name of Jamie O'Rourke. Tomie dePaola is a wonderful author and illustrator, which can be seen in this book. Pictures of redheaded Jamie O'Rourke, villagers, and leprechauns help tell the story of a giant potato. This book is a story of the luck of the Irish and is just for fun. A story that will make the reader smile and hope to catch a leprechaun. A good addition to the library. Submitted by Adam Wall

Shepard, Aaron. TheGifts of Wali Dad. Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.

This is a tale from India and Pakistan. This is a retelling of the "Story of Wali Dad the Simple-hearted," which is found in Andrew Lang's Brown Fairy Book (1904). Wali Dad is a grass cutter and a man of simple means. Each day he puts his savings into a clay pot until he has more money than he knows what to do with. Wali Dad takes his savings and purchases a beautiful gold bracelet, which he sends to the Queen of Khaistan. The Queen reciprocates and gives Wali Dad luxurious silks. Wali Dad has no use for these luxurious items and so he sends them to the King of Nekabad. The King also reciprocates and sends Wali Dad an extravagant gift. This triangle of gift giving continues until an unexpected encounter gives special meaning to the gifts of Wali Dad (The king and queen marry)! Wali Dad is a likeable character and is depicted perfectly in the illustrations. This is a good story to introduce culture and fairy tales to children. Submitted by Laura Fitzgibbon

dePaola, Tomie. Strega Nona Her Story as told to Tomie dePaola. Tomie dePaola. New York: G. P. Putnam's, 1996.

An endearing story of magic and healing in a small Italian village. Grandma Conchetta, the local healer, teaches her granddaughter (Nona) how to become a strega (magical healer). Nicely illustrated pictures enhance the text to portray a little girl Nona growing up to become a strega. The illustrations are colorful and the text sounds like Italian people speaking. This is a fun book for the children's library collection. Submitted by Adam Wall

Suggestions for Using These Books in the Library

• Uses for Gingerbread Baby: Holiday storytelling, multicultural education (Scandinavia), learning about folktales. Activity: 1. Cardboard or paper gingerbread baby cutouts. Decorate with markers, or glue buttons, beads, ribbons and thread/yarn; or possibly write in information regarding characters, plot, what is found in the story within a story... 2. Collaborate with a classroom teacher in constructing a small individual gingerbread house, using small milk cartons, graham crackers, frosting and decorations. 3. Collaborate with art teacher in lesson about architecture and "gingerbread" facades. 4. Bake gingerbread cookies and decorate. Mary Pat Connors
• Uses for The Rainbabies: 1. Celebrate and study the rain, moon, and weather; using non-fiction books on weather, the moon and tides; or internet sites for finding weather statistics, pictures of the moon... 2. Collaborate with the classroom teacher to use statistics in charts, graphs, math calculations. 3. Study folk and fairy tales. Compare with traditional tales with similar themes, plots, characters. 4. Connect with Rainy Day Afternoon, by Ezra Jack Keats, and with The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss, or with Moon Bear, Moongame, Mooncake, by Frank Asch. 5. Books for themed month such as "April Showers" month. Activity: Use paper cut-out raindrops to write brief descriptions of the story, or high/low rates of rainfall for the last year. Mary Pat Connors