Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve
This collection of stories, some with the familiar theme of the wicked stepmother and others with a fresh idea of a spider that makes hot pepper soup and resorts to trickery, is quite different from the Grimm and Hans Anderson tales which were frequently cruel and harrowing.
Many of these are cautionary, lighthearted, and purely entertaining. The illustrations by various artists from a range of countries, are captivating in their colour and exuberance.
More than one story teaches the value of following directions or not to lose concentration, like ‘Kesha and the Purple Flower.’ Another is seriously asking why the sky is so far away and we discover once, when it was close to the earth, it was deliciously edible! Sadly, now, people must work the land for their food….
Children will enjoy hearing of how the Lyrebird got its voice and how the kiwi lost his wings. One that is bound to appeal is a hilarious account of a ghost who needs a plaster!
This super book of stories has a leprechaun, a whale that sings his sad song, a bird with big feet……the list goes on.
Occasionally similarities pop up. The Japanese ‘Inch Boy’ is a version of the European ‘Thumbelina.’ Some of the European ones are new, such as ‘Little Half Chick’.
Kim Normanton, well known for her BBC broadcasts, has travelled with the globe to search for these much-loved treasures and her delight in traditional stories is evident in the book. Every page conveys this pleasure with her text and the brilliant illustrations. A child would love the cut out shapes on the front cover which peep at the various possibilities in store.
It is exciting to see that Australian children are no longer restricted to the old fairy tales but can now explore stories from countries around the globe – from China, Spain, Russia and India to name a few. These are related by an expert storyteller. They could not be presented in a more attractive and engaging manner; and all those involved deserve the warmest accolades.
Super Great Kids’ Stories
[2025]
by Kim Normanton
Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 978 152667 927 7
$29.99; 154pp