A Journey through Time in Verse and Rhyme

Poems collected by
Heather Thomas

$35.00
Hardbound

A Journey through Time is a resource book to treasure, an invaluable collection of poetry for use by teachers at every stage of elementary school. The poems are arranged by age group from 6 to 14 and support the subject matter of lessons, from botany and physics to history and astronomy, and, of course, English. Works by Shakespeare, Blake, Wordsworth, Browning appear along with the refreshingly unfamiliar. Also included are meditative verses for teachers. It is wonderful to see A Journey through Time beautifully hardbound at long last - and a joy to see it back in print.

A Children's Anthologia
50 Poems for Primary and Junior High School

Alan Whitehead

Softbound

$22.95

Follow the winding curriculum road with a verse at hand for each new turn! Alan's poems for classes 1-8 go to the heart of the subject with verses humorous, serious, charming, and poignent. Each one of them is "just right" for the age group and subject addressed; each one is sure to add a dash more beauty and depth to the lesson.

Verses cover language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and the festivals. Includes the 12 Greek Zodiacal Rhythms, the 7 Meters and 7 Speech Styles.

Teaching with the Fables
a holistic approach

teaching with the fable as: extended tale, poem, illustration, play puppet show & natural science lesson

Sieglinde de Francesca

Spiral Bound

$24.95

Teaching with the Fables is so much bigger on the inside than it looks to be on the outside. It is the finest book I have ever seen on the topic of Waldorf teaching, and hands-down the best, fullest, and most beautiful exposition of the fables and what they can become to a child of about 8 years old (2nd grade).

There is no question about Main Lesson teaching in general (not just for 2nd grade), it's rhythms and wherefores, its content and delivery that is not answered in this priceless gem. That the book itself is beautiful and also includes instruction for painting, sculpting and acting these timeless fables makes it one of the most valuable gifts ever to be put forth in the interest of our children. I am both moved and heartened that such a book now exists -- for surely, it has been hoped for by many for a very long time.

Sieglinde includes 3 extended fables with poems, illustrations and suggestions for additional lesson work. Here you can learn how to:

• extend a fable into a full, engaging story
• illustrate a fable withcrayons and water colors
• write a poem about the fable or its characters
• create a play or puppet show about the fable
• sculpt the fable characters with wax or clay
• create a natural science lesson around a fable

Teaching with the Fables brings to the door of every teacher and homeschooler everything you need to share the beauty and joy of the fables with the 2nd graders in your care. Beyond that, it offers a lifetime of teaching wisdom and technique. It is truly a treasure.

The Fables of Aesop

Edited by Joseph Jacobs

Softbound

$3.00

I was so pleased to come upon this book -- it is exactly the same edition of Aesop that I grew up with (at about the same price, too!). Seeing the charming pen-and-ink illustrations was like coming home, and rereading the stories, told so simply, yet with such sparkle that there are many that I found I had remembered almost word-for-word even 40+ years after last reading them.

Anyway, this, in my opinion, is simply the finest edition of Aesop's Fables available in English. The animals are all animals, not made to look like humans. The language is straightforward, to the point, and yet packed with an interest of the world and its ways. Share these with a child and I promise that you'll laugh, you'll ponder, sometimes you'll even complain at the outcome -- mostly, both of you will love each and every story and carry them with you long after you've set the book aside.

Indian Why Stories

Frank B Linderman

Illustrated by Charles M Russell

Softbound

$5.95

I can hardly believe that I'm only now discovering this gem of a book! How is it that I've not known about it all these years? The stories, collected by a devotee of Native American lore and originally published in 1915 are warm, evocative, rich and deep, and, well, just plain wonderful. In the context of Waldorf (or any!) education, there are some which could be used alongside Aesop as another sort of fable. Others, will fit in more easily when it is time to discover our native history and geography in 4th grade. The entire book is so alive with wisdom and an intimate knowledge of nature and its ways that anyone who reads it (or has it read to them) will keep these stories in their heart.

Here's some of the stories you'll find inside:

• How the Ducks Got Their Fine Feathers
• How the Otter Skin Became Great Medicine
• Why the Kingfisher Always Wears a War-Bonnet
• How the Man found His Mate
• Why the Chipmunk's Back Is Striped
• The Moon and the Great Snake

And many, many more, each as inviting as the next. This book is a find!

Stories of the Saints

Retold by
Siegwart Knijpenga

$19.95

The thirty-seven stories of Christian saints are told in a way that will captivate and inspire children from 7-12. (In fact, they captivate and inspire me!) Saints, like the rest of us, are very different one from another; but the thread that unites all the stories gathered in this book is that through an unswerving union with Love (Christ), tragedy is always transformed into victory and rejoicing. These stories can be learned and retold by adults or read to younger children. The vocabulary is such that older children can enjoy reading the stories themselves.

Saint Nicholas

Jakob Streit

Softbound

SORRY - OUT OF PRINT

Warm your heart during the Christmas season with this story of St. Nicholas. Master storyteller (and Waldorf teacher) Jakob Streit tells weaves the history and legends of the St. Nicholas together into a glowing tale, filled with light and love.

Streit's story takes us from Nicholas' childhood through his often adventurous adulthood and on into his sainthood. Each story is a loving portrait of human potential and a pathway along which we can learn to open our hearts wider and wider. Everything that says "Christmas" is captured in this beautiful little book.

Patrick
Patron Saint of Ireland

Tomie de Paola

Softbound, Large Format

$6.95

There is a sacred simplicity to Tomie de Paola's art when he writes of saints and goodness. This quality shines forth in Patrick. With an abundance of green and blue, just like the Emerald Isle, both de Paola's pictures and his words recreate the life of Patrick from his boyhood as a lonely shepherd whose solitude gifted him with a mystical and personal relationship with God, to the Saint who brought healing and unity to the Irish people. This is a story that will be loved by children 6 to 9 and beyond.

Francis
The Poor Man of Assisi

Tomie de Paola

Softbound, Large Format

$9.95

Tomie de Paola's love of this saint is evident on every page - and there are many pages and a much longer story than is usual for this author. It is as though he doesn't want us to miss even one small part of the life of this saint who dedicated himself to manifesting God's love in poverty and simplicity. And there is little missing in this telling of the life of St. Francis - every major theme in his life is present in this book, accompanied by what may be the most sensitive paintings among de Paola's hundreds of beautiful watercolors. In each of the paintings that illustrate this book, there is a restraint that lends both power and grace to these luminous portrayals of St. Francis and St. Clare (for Francis's life cannot be told without Clare). This book is a treasure - children 6 to 10 will love it.

The Little Flowers of St. Francis

Translated by Thomas Okey

Softbound

$3.00

We are so pleased to have found this very inexpensive edition of what must be one of the most beloved accounts ever written about this special saint. Whether you are preparing a main lesson on the saints and want learn stories about St. Francis to share with your students (and who wouldn't?) or would simply like to warm your own heart with these simple, sweet and love-drenched stories, you'll want this book at your side.

The Little Flowers was written in the 15th Century and is a collection of stories chronicling the journeys, activities, and miracles of Saint Francis and his brethren. It is among the world's most popular and most read of the religious classics. This is an unabridged republication of the Thomas Okey translation originally published in 1963.

Christopher
The Holy Giant

Tomie dePaola

Hardbound, Large Format

$17.95

One of the most beautiful and powerful "saint stories" is that of Reprobus who became Christopher. It is a whose strong yet graceful images capture the essence of the nature of transformation, of holiness, of divine grace. Every child I've known who has heard it has been captivated by it, wanting to become Christopher, to carry the Christ Child across the storming waters.

Tomie dePaola's retelling, accompanied by his sensitive and radiant watercolors, is a rendition worthy of the power of this story. Outstanding.

The Holy Twins
Benedict and Scholastica

Kathleen Norris and Tomie dePaola

Hardbound, Dustjacketed, Large Format

$18.99

Benedict and Scholastic were two very miraculous yet very human saints - they were also siblings, and their conversations and beliefs continue to inspire us even though it has been 1500 years since they lived. Kathleen Norris and Tomie dePaola have created a moving account of their lives.

The twins grew up in the mountains of northern Italy and were lively best-friends and playmates to each other. When they reached adulthood, Benedict traveled to Rome to study while Scholastica entered a nearby convent. Scholastic was happy in her new life; Benedict enjoyed his studies but disliked the city life of Rome. He moved to the countryside and became a man of solitude and prayer. However, as his reputation grew, more and more people sought him out - some to plot against him, some out of reverence. As Benedicts life filled with dramatic moments and miracles, Scholastica's quietude helped her to remain a strong influence upon her brother as he developed the Rules of St. Benedict, which guide Benedictine monasteries to this day.

Saint Martin de Porres
Apostle of Charity

Giuliana Cavallini

Softbound

$15.00

I first encountered St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639) through Hilda Charleton's lecture about him in Saints Alive! I fell in love immediately and searched high and low for a biography that did him justice. This account by Giuliana Cavallini is the book I was looking for - you can almost feel Martin next to you, so vividly is his life retold.

I think that most of us can benefit from coming to know St. Martin de Porres, but most especially I think his story would be a wonderful addition to those saints that most Waldorf schools teach our children about in 2nd grade. Here is a saint of the New World, whose life and work have so very much to do with our own world. My hope is that adults will read this books and then tell story after story about this saint - I think anyone who does this will find themselves before children held in rapt attention, awaiting each and every word.

This saint's heart was so big that it seemed to radiate with the warmth of the sun itself. And what he accomplished for children, the poor, his fellow monks - and for us! He was a consummate healer, he created schools that poor children could attend, fed those who were hungry, inspired the rich to give generously and joyously to his many causes, established an orphanage in which the boys were taught a trade and a dowry provided for the girls (so that they would not have to become prostitutes to support themselves - this was the early 1600s), and created the first social services agency on record so that no one in Lima, Peru would have to go hungry or suffer an illness untreated.

He did all this as a mulatto who was called to the Domincan Order at Holy Rosary Church in Lima, Peru where he entered as a lay brother in 1591. Actually, he was barred from entering as anything else, for the Dominicans at that time had a rule against allowing mulattos or blacks into their order. However, Martin's heart was so big and his devotion so inspiring that the Domincan's side-stepped their own rule and insisted - despite Martin's protests that he deserved no honors - that Martin become a friar. St. Martin is therefore called the Patron Saint of Civil Rights - he may well be the first saint to have broken down codified race barriers, and he did it not by attacking them, but simple by melting the hearts of those arround him with his love.

St. Martin de Porres is a joy to get to know - I wish you all this happiness.

The King of Ireland's Son

Padraic Colum

Illustrated by Willy Pogány

$9.95

This edition contains the identical text as the Floris edition, but is graced with the original illustrations by Willy Pogány. It is a reproduction of the 1916 first edition and is printed in the United States - hence, the lower price. I find the older style of the illustrations very in keeping with the story, serving to carry the reader into the realm of Old Ireland. I am also delighted to be able to offer our customers a less expensive, worthy alternative.

Padraic Colum, an award-winning Irish storyteller whose children's stories always ring with the music of the spoken voice, weaves a tale of long ago, when the King of Ireland's son set out to find the Enchanter of the Black Back-Lands. He meets the Enchanter's daughter, Fedelma, falls in love and is betrothed to her. Then, he loses her. His adventures to find her again lead him to the Land of the Mist, the Town of the Red Castle and the worlds of Gilly of the Goatskin, the Hags of the Long Teeth, Princess Flame-of-Wine and a meeting with the Giant, Crom Duv. Our children had a wonderful time with this story when they were in 2nd and 3rd grades. Ages 8-11.

And There Was Light
From the Creation of the World to Noah's Ark

Jakob Streit

A Waldorf 3rd Grade Teaching Resource

Softbound, Revised Edition

$15.00

It is a joy to see And There Was Light back in print and available for more teachers and students to enjoy. Jakob Streit's retelling of the stories of Genisis is shines with a captivating clarity that has made them classroom treasures for over 30 years. In fact, this book has been one of the most-often requested titles throughout the time our book shop has existed (the entire time of which it has been out-of-print).

In addition to the well-known tales from Moses' first book, Streit also added stories about Michael and the Dragon, Edelweiss and the Mountain Flowers, Why Roses Have Thorns, and many more -- all placed in a just the right spot within the flow of Bible stories.

And There Was Light is the first of Streit's three books of Old Testament stories created for 3rd grade. It is followed by Journey to the Promised Land and We Will Build a Temple.

Journey to the Promised Land
The Path of the People of Israel from Abraham's Calling to David's Dream

Biblical Stories retold
by Jakob Streit

Softbound

$16.00

Superbly told stories for the third grade teacher, this book is also useful as a fourth grade reader.

It is such a joy to have this book available for parents and teachers who are looking for deep and true retellings of the Biblical stories that are at the same time appropriate for 3rd and 4th graders.

A wonderful resource - with stories the adults will love as much as the children do.

We Will Build a Temple
The Path of Israel from King Solomon to John the Baptist

Jacob Streit

Softbound

$16.00

In this, Streit's sequel to Journey to the Promised Land, he once again takes up the retelling of Bible stories, including some from the Apocrypha. Streit was a Waldorf class teacher, and his original audience was the students of his 3rd grade class -- however, his telling of these tales is so poignantly simple and captures their essence in such a lovely way that they have value long beyond the 3rd grade. They connect the reader with the pictures and events that contributed to the forming of Western culture at the beginning. They are the stories of Solomon, Elijah, Tobias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Nehemiah, Jonah, Heliodorus, Job, Judas Maccabeus, and John the Baptist.

Old Testament Stories

Roy Wilkenson

Softbound

$14.95

Wilkenson retells the main stories from the Old Testament (from the Creation to the Twelve Prophets), rendering them in "just right" for third graders while retaining the upright beauty of the King James translation. Wonderful for retelling to a class or for homeschool.

Commentary on Old Testament Stories

Roy Wilkenson

Softbound

$15.50

Mr. Wilkenson summarizes the stories in an easily readable manner and then comments very concisely on their more significant aspects. Rudolf Steiner gave many indications about the Old Testament but they are scattered throughout his work and Mr. Wilkenson has "digested" these and related them to the appropriate stories. He also refers to valuable non-biblical sources such as the legends surrounding the birth of Abraham. He relates the events to contemporary happenings in other cultures, for example that the Exodus from Egypt took place at about the same time as the fall of Troy.

- an appreciative reader

Traditions
Integrating the Days of Awe and Chanukah into the Waldorf Grades Curriculum

Erica Jayasuriya

Softbound

$20.00

For anyone who has been wanting to learn more about the Life within Judaism, and especially for those who have wished for more help in presenting some of the traditions within a Waldorf context, this joyous book is here to help. Filled with enthusiasm, beauty and love, you really can't do any better as a place to learn and glean ideas. The cover picture of Marc Chagall's Blue Violinist is a mere hint of the delights and joys within. Clearly, Erica Jayasuriya loves these traditions and has found a wellspring of beautiful ways to share them with children.

Folklore of the Holy Land
Moslem, Christian and Jewish

J.E. Hanauer

Softbound

$14.95

A lifelong resident cleric of the Holy Land, Canon J.E. Hanauer lovingly gathered these folk tales from an area that is home to three great religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Originally published in 1907, these stories not only touch upon mythical events surrounding the lives of revered religious figures, but also reveal the past histories of places, tribes, people and languages, and describe the daily lives and activities of the regions inhabitants.

Hanauer gives us stories in all three traditions describing the Creation; the lives of saints and sinners; the cause of earthquakes and eclipses; the deaths of Aaron and Moses; and the lives of David, Solomon, and Simon the Just. There are legends and anecdotes of the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, detective stories and bits of unwritten history, and the Saragossan Purim. Nursery tales are included as are stories and lore about the Angel of Death, animals, plants, magic cures and other subjects.

Hanauer retells these stories with a gentle charm that is sure to captivate any listener or reader. There is really something for every age and interest here -- as there is in the land these stories come from.

Native American Creation Myths

Collected, translated and retold by Jeremiah Curtin (1835-1906)

Softbound

$14.95

Jeremiah Curtin was one of the greatest linquists and enthnographers of his day, and it is to him that we owe the preservation of many of the world's greatest myths and legends. I should add, he was also a consumate story teller -- although educated at Harvard, his stories ring with the warm and wisdom of the campfire. They are truly told beautifully and would be a wonderful addition to both 3rd and 4th grade in the Waldorf Curriculum. They are, in fact, wonderful at any time after that too -- these are cultural gifts for all of us.

Native American Creation Myths tells the great myth cycles of the Wintu and Yana groups of what is now called Northern California. Anyone familiar with the creation story told by Plato in the Timaeus will immediately recognize both the viewpoint and many of the elements in these stories. That they sprung from traditions rich and deep is without question. That they still have much to offer us, even in this speeding modern world of ours, is also without question.

The first cycle includes myths dealing with the metamorphoses of the first people or gods into everything that is in the world, including the world itself. The second cycle describes the various changes, phenomena and processes observed throughout nature. Light and darkness, heat and cold, opposing winds, and heavenly bodies appear as heroes and leading actors. Here the first people as described in the creation myths were models upon which those faithful were to fashion their lives in all times and places.

These myths are a beautiful discovery - do enjoy!

Tales from the Kalevala
A Prose Rendering

Irmgard Burtscher

Translated by Hartmut Schiffer

Softbound

$12.95

Tales from the Kalevala is another one of those books that I have heard so very many people ask for over the years: "Is there a Kalevala in English that tells the story in a way I can use in the classroom/to teach my children?" Now I can answer "yes" - and it is a lovely, well-told tale indeed.

Rudolf Steiner recognized the stories of the Kalevala as having the clearest pictures of an earlier phase of human sould development. He also said that in addition to telling us much about the particular experiences of life in Northern Europe, the stories also offer insights into humanity's earlier time on Earth as well as glimpses of our future development. Steiner went so far as to say that he believed the Kalevala would become as important in the future as the stories of Ancient Greece have been in the past.

The Kaslevala is used in the 4th grade curriculum in Waldorf Education. Irmgard Burtscher is a class teacher in Liechtenstein who prepared this prose version of the stories to help other teachers present them to their students. Schiffer's translation brings these robust tales to our door with an English that is at once modern, yet retains the flavor of the ancient world. Do enjoy!

Sticks across the Chimney
A Story of Denmark

Nora Burglon

Softbound

$11.95

Sticks across the Chimney is a wonderful addition to any child's library and an exceptional book to offer 4th graders during the Nordic myths blocks of the Waldorf curriculum.

Ancient Denmark and Viking history spring to life when young Siri and Erik and their widowed mother buy a deserted farm with an ancient Viking grave mound on the land. Little do they know the challenges and adventures that await them -- not the least of which is learning to survive by one's wits without money! Later, mysterious and exciting events lead to the opening of the mound and the discovery of unbelievably ancient Viking treasures.

The interweaving of an exciting mystery and the adventures of surviving on the farm with tales of Danish Viking life and lore is irresistable to both children and adults. Brought back for all of us after too many years out of print, this is a book to welcome warmly back into our homes, classrooms and hearts!

Thorkill of Iceland
Viking Hero-Tales

Isabel Wyatt

$14.95

King Gorm of Denmark sends the hero Thorkill of Iceland on a mission to the land of the Giants. Thorkill's enemies plan for him never to return from this journey. Thorkill's adventurous success is told with Isabel Wyatt's characteristic touch of drama and beauty. Included also in Thorkill of Iceland is the story of The Dream of King Alfdan, in which Prince Guthorm loses his inheritance after his father Sigurd is Banished from the Norwegian court and endures many adventures before fulfilling his destiny. Perfect for your adventurous 4th grader!

Nordic Gods and Heroes

Padraic Colum

Softbound

$10.95

One of the world's greatest storytellers has given us what I believe is the most elegant and engaging versions of the core of Norse mythology. Padraic Colum's retellings of these timeless stories of the rather raucous pantheon of Norse Gods, giants and heroes will draw you and your students or children into the story, hold you there through to the end and when it is over, leave you hoping for more stories to come. This is a reprint of Colum's book that was originally published in 1920 -- and what a wonderful thing it is to have it available here and now!

Among the many stories in Nordic Gods and Heroes are:

• Iduna and Her Apples - How Loki Put the Gods in Danger
• How Freya Gained Her Necklace and How Her Loved One Was Lost to Her
• How Frey Won Gerda, the Giant Maiden, and How He Lost His Magic Sword
• The All-Father's Forebodings: How He Leaves Asgard
• Odin Goes to Mimir's Well - His Sacrifice for Wisdom
• How Thor and Loki Befooled Thrym the Giant
• Ægir's Feast: How Thor Triumphed
• Loki the Betrayer
• Baldur's Doom
• Sigurd at the House of the Nibelungs
• The Twilight of the Gods

And many, many more!

The Norse Myths

Introduced and Retold by
Kevin Crossley-Holland

Softbound

$17.00

I have been looking for a good collection of Norse Myths for some time - and have been wanting to offer this one for even longer. Every time I asked, however, I was told that it was unavailable. I kept asking, though, and at last heard that once again there were copies on the publisher's shelves!

If you are unfamiliar with Norse Mythology (as I also once was), the introduction is priceless. In it the author outlines the Norse Pantheon, the relationships of the gods and the progression of the myths from The Creation to the Ragnorak.

Crossley-Holland has selected 32 myths that capture in vivid story the tales of these boisterous, courageous, cruel and passionate gods. You'll find Thor, Odin, Baldur, and Loki and a host of other fascinating gods and giants, and watch as the world of the Vikings moves from hopeful beginnings to abundant (and often clashing) life to the final battle that brings a close to that world.

This is a collection that is worthy of both child and adult. Recommended without hesitation!

Norse Mythology and the Modern Human Being

Ernst Uehli

Translated by Rudolf Copple

Softbound

$16.00

This is a valuable study of a mythology that has as much to do with the future of human evolution as it does with these old stories of the Norse gods. Uehli moves systematically through the major figures in this ancient saga, reflecting on the deeper meaning and showing why they are so valuable for children, especially those in the fourth grade. It will provide insight for teachers, parents, and other adults who hope to answer some of the life questions of today.

East o' the Sun & West o' the Moon

The Complete, Unabridged Edition by George Webbe Dasent

Softbound

$13.95

I have been wanting to write about this collection for some time. It is an old, classic collection of Scandinavian folk and fairy tales, on a par with that of the Brothers Grimm and originally published in 1888. Many of you have probably heard of it or even read it.

I've been wanting to say two things about it, the first of which is that the fairy tales I remember most vividly from my own childhood are those that I read to myself in 4th grade (that year, I did a lot of story reading while I was supposed to be doing math problems). It turns out that all of them came from an abridged version of East o' the Sun. Most especially, I remember "Katie Woodencloak" and "Tatterhood," but there are several others that live on in warm places in my heart also.

More importantly, and beyond simply wanting to share with you a lovely slice of my past, I want to tell you what I've discovered in dipping into this treasure house of stories: namely, that this collection more than any other I know is comprised of what are clearly post-Christian stories. There is an element of hardship and redemption that plays out in these tales in ways no other region's tales have done. Mother Mary even appears in at least one of them ("The Lassie and Her Godmother").

As such, this collection can hold a unique place in the context of the goals of Waldorf education. I think it can become a wonderful counterpoint during the 4th grade to presentation of the Norse Myths. This is a time when the Norse gods resemble very much the children: a bit more in possession of their (rather raucous) power than they are capable of self-control. The tumultuous tales of Loki and Baldur and Thor are just right for that age, and so we teach them. But were we to add some of the stories in East o' the Sun, we would be giving our children pictures of what the coming out of this chaos and into the more fully human can look like, and Who it might be that accompanies us. It would allow the students to recapture some of their delight from first grade, but in an older and wiser form. I think it would enhance the developmental effect of the Norse myths and offer a heartfelt image of the paths we walk on earth.

I should add that because of the perspective and content of these tales, I recommend them for children 9 years and older, not for the younger ones.

Ancient Mythologies
India - Persia - Babylon - Egypt

Charles Kovacs

Softbound

$19.95

Yet another gift to teachers, parents and students from Charles Kovacs!

Stories of gods and demons, noble heroes and epic adventures from the world's great myths and legends, retold for children. Through colourful characters such as Buddha, Krishna, Zarathustra, Gilgamesh, Isis and Osiris, mankind's development from hunters of wild animals to builders of magnificent cities and the great pyramids springs to life. Beyond the historical narrative the stories reveal an ancient wisdom: the timeless source and substance out of which all myths and legends are woven.

Charles Kovacs told these stories to his Grade 5 students when he taught at the Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School. Although he intended them as source material for teachers and parents of Waldorf School Children, the stories have a universal appeal for children and adults, beginning at about age 9.

Folktales from India
A Selection of Oral Tales from Twenty-Two Languages

Edited and with an Introduction by
A.K. Ramanujan

Softbound

$17.00

I know of no other collection of folktales from India that is like this one - stories taken truly from the oral traditions of many groups and retold with an integrity that conveys so much life that I repeatedly find myself hearing the voice of the storyteller as I read them. For me, this collection is an exciting "find" - something I didn't know I wanted but now can't imagine never having had.

These are the types of fairy tales and folktales that explain the world around us - they reveal the types of people in the world, the way the spiritual world intermingles with daily life, the difference between what is wise and what only looks wise, and much, much more.

I would love to see more and more children hearing these stories - to me, they are a nectar of life. I would enthusiastically recommend various of these tales for children at several ages - during the "fairy tale years (ca. kindergarten and grade 1), "the fable years" (ca. grade 2), and then again as an enlivening addition to the myths of India (grade 5) as a way of uniting the heaven of the gods with the life of the earth. These tales are good, solid soul food - the kind that uplifts without carrying one off the ground. You'll love them!

Rama and Sita
A Tale from Ancient Java

Retold and Illustrated
by David Weitzman

Hardbound, dustjacketed, large format

A remarkable, heirloom-quality book

$19.95

Just after sundown, in villages all over Java and Bali, the night comes alive with the shimmering metallic sounds of the gamelan, an orchestra of gongs, chimes, flutes, drums and cymbals. Families gather in front of a cloth screen lit from behind by a flickering lamp, eagrly awaiting the appearance of the magic puppets.

They have come to hear the ancient tale of Rama and Sita, a story of intrigue, adventure, mystery, and the ageless struggle of good against evil, retold for centuries throughout the Asian world. It is the story of brave Prince Rama, unjustly exiled and banished to the forest. With the help of his brother and a monkey army, he rescues the beautiful Sita from a giant ogre, and returns victorious to regain his throne.

The puppet play of Rama and Sita, taken from the Hindu epic The Ramayana, or Rama's Way, is much more than entertainment, it is an offering to the gods and ancestors, teaching children the value of the community, who they are, and their place in the universe.

This retelling and its remarkable, exquisite illustrations using traditional Javanese shadow puppets takes us into the heart of the puppet master's theatre and brings to life one of the world's best stories. Beautiful - a book to treasure! Age 9 and older.

Hanuman
based on Valmiki's Ramayana

Retold by Erik Jendresen
and Joshua M. Green

Paintings by Li Ming

Softbound, large format

$7.95

A lavishly illustrated, beautiful retelling of the story of the Monkey God and how he and his army helped Prince Rama save Princess Sita from a foul demon king. The story is told by no one less than Hanuman himself, who takes us into the heart of the tale, as it unfolded before his eyes.

An exhilarating retelling with paintings that add a new dimension of adventure to one of the greatest adventure stories ever told. Ages 9 and over.

Gilgamesh - Man's First Story

Bernarda Bryson

Softbound - elegantly illustrated

$19.95

This is a powerful - and powerfully beautiful - retelling of one of the oldest stories known to humanity. Bernarda Bryson tells this story with simplicity and grace - retaining as she does the uniquely Sumerian view of the world, some of the poetic responses, and above all, the heart and soul of this story that combines in equal measure the elements of both transcendent victory and deep tragedy. This retelling was written for children, but I can't think of any adult who wouldn't enjoy it as well. Ms. Bryson is rightly remembered as an author whose sensitivity was matched by her literary skill - and who used the fullness of her capacities in the making of this book.

The story of Gilgamesh was first written down about 3000 BC in Sumeria. It tells of a great flood and of one man, befriended by the gods, who survived by building an ark. In the feats of Gilgamesh and his companion, Enkidu, a monster who turns into a gentle man who loves and respects the King, are found the sources of great mythological heroes: Hercules, Jason and Theseus.

In addition to its vital importance in the history of literature, Gilgamesh is an exciting and often amusing tale - setting jealous god against jealous god, god against man, and man against man in remarkable battles of wit and strength.

A must for fifth graders - wonderful for the rest of us!

Mummification
a chapter excerpted from Kultur und Kunst Agyptens Ein Isisgeheimnis

Ernst Uehli

Translated by Rudolf Copple

Staple Bound

$4.00

Background reading for teachers of Waldorf 5th and 10th grade Ancient Egyptian history.

Egyptian Tales

Collected, translated, and with commentary by
Sir Flinders Petrie

Softbound

$6.95

This small book, jam-packed with delicious and exotic stories, would be better titled Ancient Egyptian Folktales, for that is what it contains. Sir Flinders Petrie (1853-1942), one of the greatest Egyptologists of his generation, collected and translated from ancient papyrii these archetypal stories that were told and recorded from the 4th through the 19th Dynasties. These are not the tales of gods and goddesses, thought sometimes these great spiritual beings are present within the tales. These are stories of human beings, of their quests and trials and encounters with other realms, similar in content to the later European fairy tales and Haus Märchen collected by the brothers Grimm and others.

Within these tales, the Ancient Egyptians themselves spring to life, and we are offered not only wisdom and insight as is the provence of any folktale, but we also have before us picture after picture of daily life, expectations, society and much much more. Anyone who wishes to bring Ancient Egyptian society in its many facets alive for their students or children will want to read this book, then tell or read the stories. (note: It is important that you read them first because not all of them are finished due to the fact that parts of the papyrus were torn away over the ages. Most, however, are intact.)

A bonus is that Sir Flinders has added his own commentary at the end of each -- his knowledge and understanding of the significance of the stories is remarkable and will add greatly to your own understanding, and thereby, to that of any children you share these tales with.

The Adventures of Odysseus
and the Tale of Troy

Retold by Padraic Colum

Illustrated by Willy Pogany

Softbound

$4.95

Master storyteller Padraic Colum beautifully captures the timeless adventure of Homer's Illiad and Odyssey as he weaves the ancient story afresh for young ears and hearts.

First, we follow Odysseus's son Telemachus into the hall of King Menelaus and Queen Helen, she whose face launched a thousand ships. From them we hear of the great battle that was the Trojan War, of the bravery of soldiers and princes on both sides of the walled city, and of the cleverness and craft of the Trojan Horse with which the Greeks won the war.

And then we learn how tragedy stuck Odysseus, how through a single act of disrespect to a powerful god, Odysseus was cast upon unfriendly seas and made to wander for 20 long years, as his wife Penelope struggled to postpone remarriage and his son searched in near-despair for a father he'd never known.

These adventures have woven themselves into the very fabric of our history and culture since they were first told over two thousand years ago -- and this book is a wonderful way to introduce children to them.

Roman Lives

Selected and Retold by Dorothy Harrar

Softbound

$8.50

Unlike Famous Men of Ancient Rome (below), Harrar's Roman Lives was written for the teacher, not the student. She tells of different men, a shorter list selected as example of the Good, the Bad and the [very] Ugly (my interpretation). She also devotes about 2/3 of the book to stories of various aspects of Roman life at different times, and includes stories of the Christians under Rome and the later clash between Constantine and Julian the Apostate.

Her stories are simply wonderful and the book itself is a consummate accounting of the richness of what can be taught during the Roman History block. For anyone teaching chidren about this period of history, it is an indispensable resource. For the rest of us, it is wonderful reading, even for adults. For our students, her material coupled with Famous Men is a practically unbeatable combination.

Famous Men of Ancient Rome
Lives of Julius Caesar, Nero, Marcus Aurelius and others

John H Haaren and A B Poland

Softbound

$7.95

This is one of the most interesting histories ever written with young students in mind -- it would make an unbeatable reader during the 6th Grade Roman History block -- or for any young person who finds him- or herself longing to learn more about the glory that was Rome.

Its biographical sketches are arranged chronologically from 753 BC, the estimated founding of Rome, to AD 476, the fall of the Western Empire. As the successive movers and shakers of what became the Roman Empire stand shoulder to shoulder, as it were, readers will be able to see how their actions and ideas influenced and Rome and the world beyond.

The 30 chapters start with the legend of Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a wolf and grew up to found the Eternal City. Students will also meet a fascinating variety of actual historical figures, including Cincinnatus, who chose to be a farmer instead of a dictator; Nero, the mad emperor, and the warlike Julius Caesar. They'll encounter Marcus Aurelius, the emperor who used his own money to help the poor and who walked the streets, greeting people and listening to their trougls so that he could be a better leader.

Outstanding!

Big Tree

Mary & Conrad Buff

Softbound - charming illustrations throughout

$12.95

What a wonderful way to allow children to discover (and to renew your own discovery!) the vastness of time, the potentials of life and the beauty of creation! This is the story of a Sequoia tree named Wawona which extends from the time before recorded history, when he was a little seed packed tightly in a cone with two hundred others. The story takes us to the recent past when, over three hundred feet tall and having survived magnificently the widely varied attacks of insects, fires, drought and more throughout the twenty-five centuries of his life, Wawona almost falls prey to the greediest and most clever of them all - human beings.

Wawona's history, his life, forms the main body of the text which is highlighted by insertions that tell of the significant events that were happening across the ocean as Wawona grew and thrived. This juxtaposition offers a wonderful vastness and perspective while it highlights both the exceptional longevity of the Sequoias and the key events of of Western history.

When children is ready to learn about the life of plants (in Waldorf schools, this is begun in 5th grade), this is the book to hand them. Big Tree will have a treasured place in the classroom or at home - this is a wonderful book!

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

Told and illustrated
by Howard Pyle

Softbound

$10.95

Personally, I love all of Howard Pyle's retellings of classic tales. This one I especially love -- Pyle's sense for who Arthur is and his love of all the stories that go forth from that wondrous Round Table shines through every word and chapter. His line drawing illustrations add a feel for the period along with some often subtle indications of the quality of character of the one who is his subject.

In this volume, Pyle begins by showing how Arthur established his right to the throne by drawing the sword from the anvil and how he battled to secure his sword, Excalibur, "the most beautiful and the most famous sword in all the world." Then follow Arthur's confrontations with the Duke of North Umber and Sir Pellias, his wooing and wedding of the Lady Guinevere, and the creation of the Round Table. Arthur's knights have their share of tales, too, and we meet Merlin the Wise, Sir Gawaine, Sir Pellias and more.

These are the classic tales of the Arthurian legend, told and illustrated by a master. Whether read to younger children (9+) or given to an older student (12+) to read on his or her own, these are great stories told greatly.

The Story of the Grail and the Passing of Arthur

Howard Pyle

Softbound

$12.95

Howard Pyle's wonderful retelling of the Arthurian legends have captivated children and adults for generations. This is one of the best of the series -- Pyles rich chronicle of the Quest for the Holy Grail and the last days of King Arthur.

The book begins with the exciting story of Sir Geraint -- his fight with the knight of Sparrow-Hawk, his setting right the wrongs of the earldom, how he destroyed three giants of the highway and more. The Pyle takes up the exploits of Sir Galahad ("the most perfect knight who ever lived"): his initiation into knighthood, how he came to the court of King Arthur, his attack on Sir Launcelot, his fatal battle with Sir Mordred and Arthur's final journey to Avalon.

With language that evokes the days of Camelot and 39 of Pyle's atmospheric illustrations, The Story of the Grail is wonderful to read or hear.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Retold in Modern Prose by
Jessie L. Weston

Softbound

$3.95

I think that Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the deepest and finest stories in all of English literature -- the sort of story that you can return to again and again in your mind, and always come away with a new bit of insight about life, and groups and the nature of love and honor.

The story begins when a gigantic stranger clad in green bursts in on King Arthur's New Year's feast to issue a fearsome challenge to the knights of the Round Table: Any of the assembled knights may strike off the stranger's head - but that knight must be willing to receive a similar blow from teh Green Knight in one year's time. Only the gallant Gawain volunteers to uphold the dignity of Camelot. Sir Gawain the the Green Knight recounts Gawain's adventures as he seeks to fulfill his pledge to the Green Knight

The tale dates from the 14th Century or earlier and blends older pre-Christian symbols and understandings with Christian ethics and the Divine Feminine, celebrating the virtue of forgiveness. It also raises some fascinating questions about the role of human imperfection within a group, implying within the story that there can be no real acceptance by a group without such imperfection becoming visible. This is an amazing story!

This modern prose version of the Middle English poem makes it accessible, whether you are a teacher or parent wishing to learn the story to tell to 6th graders, or would like to have your high school or college students read it themselves. Of course, there's nothing wrong with buying a copy just to enjoy yourself, too.

Joan of Arc
A Landmark Biography

Nancy Wilson Ross

Softbound

$5.99

The Landmark Books Biography Series was one of the most treasured beacons of my own childhood. I began reading them in 4th grade and by 6th grade had finished every title in print and was rereading some of my favorites. They took me into lands and lives that were otherwise beyond my reach and were a constant and realiable source of both pleasure and knowledge.

This particular book, Joan of Arc, was my all-time favorite of the series. I read and re-read it countless times. Even today, as I read it before writing this review, the story and its telling still leaves me with a tingling spine and tears in my eyes -- exactly as it did 40 years ago!

Nancy Wilson Ross's retelling is a masterpiece of children's literature -- she has kept the language fairly simple (and explains meanings where it is not so simple), yet has sacrificed none of the depth, beauty and mystery that Joan's life has to share with us. Obviously, I can't recommend it highly enough!

Ages 10 and above.

The Old Man Mad about Drawing
A Tale of Hokusai

François Place

Translated by William Rodarmor

Hardbound, hundreds of watercolor illustrations throughout, dustjacketed

$19.95

Here we have a book that soars beyond any and all reasonable expectations -- it is a story worthy of Hokusai's life and genius (he is one of my favorite artists); anyone over 10 years old who reads it will hardly be able to put it down (I loved it!); the abundant illustrations charm, delight, capitivate and are beautiful; and the book itself, how it feels and how it looks, right down to the quality of the paper and the typeface, is a wonderful work of art. This is a story not to be missed, a book to treasure for many generations.

The author brings the swirling world of nineteenth-century Edo to life with an astonishing vibrance. By the time you are done with The Old Man Mad about Drawing, you will swear you can smell the food and feel the dust of the streets beneath your feet. AND, you will come away knowing a huge amount about the various styles of painting, engraving, and printing that were the life blood of Edo culture -- all while being so engrossed in the story itself that you barely knew you were learning so much.

Hokusai began as an illustrator of poetry books but came to abandon traditional engraving to perfect a technique of colored woodcut, in what many consider his greatest work, The Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji. His life was unsettled, his marriages uncertain, and his business affairs irregular, but his energy was boundless. He left for posterity thousands of sketches and drawings, illustrated books and prints, saying - just before he died in 1889, "If heaven gives me ten more years (or even an extension of five), I shal certainly become a true artist."

This is a glorious, wonderful story bound in a remarkable book -- children in 5th grade and older will love it, it can easily hold the interest of 8th graders and serve as a biography within the Waldorf curriculum.

Beautiful for everyone over 10!

The Age of Discovery
Waldorf curriculum resource for Grade 7 History

Charles Kovacs

Softbound

$20.00

Another amazing resource by Charles Kovacs - this time for the Age of Discovery period of history as taught in 7th Grade in Waldorf schools. The Age of Discovery covers the period from the Crusades to the Renaissance and includes Saladin, Joan of Arc, Henry the Navigator, Columbus, Magellan, Queen Elizabeth I, Francis Drake and more. This is a nearly exhaustive presentation of this portion of the Waldorf curriculum -- additionally, it is great reading, riveting the way adventure stories often are. Given that this is a period of Western history that in many was was the most adventurous, that should perhaps come as no surprise.

Hear the Voice of the Griot!
A Guide to African Geography, History and Culture

Betty K. Staley

Softbound, Large Format, 404 pages

$22.95

Hear the Voice of the Griot! is a beautiful, vast resource that is packed with rich stories, historical background, traditions, songs -- in short, just about everything that speaks to and sustains the vibrancy of life in cultures from all over the continent of Africa.

Betty Staley's love and dedication simply shines throughout this unique treasure chest of a book. The quality of the retelling of the stories, the interest with which she recounts history ancient and modern, the respect and understand of the varieties of tradition -- all of this combines to make Hear the Voice of the Griot! an essential resource for anyone wanting to teach or to learn about Africa. Children and adults will dive into its contents with relish, and emerge with new understanding and the joy of discovering even more of the world's great beauty.

The book is designed for use from kindergarten through high school and there is a short discussion of what parts of the book to use when (e.g., stories, games and songs for young children; art p