School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-McClure retells and illustrates nine brief folktales in this collection, which also includes an introduction and source list. McClure's pen, ink, and watercolor drawings gracefully wrap themselves around the text, adding detail and flavor. Some of the tales are familiar: "The Herdsman and the Weaver," "Clever Rabbit" (also known as "The Rabbit's Judgment"), and "Why the Sea Is Salty." Others contain familiar motifs; "The Goblins' Magic Stick" is reminiscent of "Toads and Diamonds," in which a good brother and a greedy brother receive their just rewards. Retold in a lightly humorous vein, there's nonetheless a keen sense of justice underpinning these tales. Thieves and greedy landlords are punished, long-suffering lovers and devoted daughters meet happy endings, and thorny disputes are settled by wise rabbits. Related in straightforward yet lively prose, with just enough detail and repetition, this collection is sure to become a read-aloud favorite.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Plainly told, these nine Korean folktales include some well-known tales found in the relatively small number of other picture books and anthologies available in English. "The Herdsman and the Weaver" is known in many versions from several Asian countries, including China and Japan, and tells the story of two lovers in the heavens, separated the whole year round until a bridge of magpies forms over the Milky Way to allow them to meet on the seventh day of the seventh month. The title story is the tale of a blind man's loving daughter, who sacrifices herself to the depths of the sea, the Dragon King's watery realm, to earn 300 bags of rice to restore her father's sight. His vision is only returned at a later time when his daughter is allowed to return to the earth. The tiger, a recurring character in Korean stories, appears in two tales, fooled by the ever-popular trickster, Rabbit. McClure's watercolor illustrations were inspired by sketches done on a trip to Korea; realistic earth tones vie with the fantastical brighter colors of the heavens and the undersea kingdom. A solid, if additional, purchase. (introduction, bibliography) (Folklore. 6-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Clever rabbits, gullible tigers, a pack of goblins, a dangerous persimmon, and a variety of virtuous and greedy people star in these nine Korean folktales. The succinctly retold fables, pourquoi, and trickster tales feature nuggets of rich language that make them an excellent choice for reading alone or for reading aloud. Although the stories themselves lack a distinct Korean flavor, the elegant ink-and-watercolor illustrations portray characters in traditional Korean clothing, homes, and landscapes. Paired with Anne Sibley O'Brien's The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea (2006), these stories will entertain independent readers and enrich multicultural units.--Perkins, Linda Copyright 2009 Booklist
