TRADITIONAL REVIEW: MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD world folktales for strong boys

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yolen, Jane. 2003. MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD world folktales for strong boys. Ill. by Raul Colon. ISBN 0152163913

2. SUMMARY
A collection of folktales from around the world focusing on short stories that subtly inform the reader that a little knowledge can overcome adversity when carefully thought out. Fourteen countries are represented in this anthology where heroes are unveiled by using their wits rather than their might. Tales from Afghanistan, England, Norway, and Finland are but a few. You may recognize some, such as "Jack and His Companions," an Irish tale based on the Brothers Grimm story, "The Bremen Town Musicians." However, Yolen has added some of her own touches and explains why in an addendum in the back pages.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jane Yolen has carefully selected tales that show the central character to be smart enough to outwit the antagonist in the story. She includes a foreword that explains that the book is written in part to guide her sons into making good decisions. Listen to the stories with that in mind to pinpoint the turn of events in each case. This book is for an older reader, indicated as ages 8 to 12 on the cover. Yolen's superb research notes on each story help to place the reader in a different time, place, and culture as each page is turned. She includes a bibliography of references to authenticate the reliability of this set of works.

Raul Colon's excellent choice for illustrating the jacket cover is taken from the tale "The False Knight on the Road." It exemplifies the central theme of the book by showing a young boy, who is carrying books, conversing with an armored knight displaying a larger-than-life sword. It gives clever clues to make the reader pull meaning from the title of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "a stellar read-aloud volume"
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "these stories are lively, expressively written"

5. CONNECTIONS
*focus on one country at a time and locate other folktales from that country
*read other Jane Yolen books
ALL THOSE SECRETS OF THE WORLD. ISBN 0316968919
THE BALLAD OF THE PIRATE QUEENS. ISBN 0152007105
NOT ONE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS: WORLD FOLKTALES FOR STRONG GIRLS. ISBN 0152020470
*view other Raul Colon books
*find other versions of the same tale and compare