African-American Folktales

American Bookseller - Pick of the List

The range and mastery evidenced in the stories selected by Richard and Judy Dockrey Young—veteran storytellers and teachers in their own right—is due in large part to the fact that they include so many favorite stories of acclaimed African and African-American storytellers. Designed to entice even the most reluctant reader, these stories are not only fun to read, but are bound to be repeated and shared.

The seven sections – Young Heroes and Heroines, Animal Fables, Trickster Stories, Parables About People, Bigger Than Life, In the Park and in the Dark, and Brother Rabbit Today – are introduced by brief topical essays and include individual story notes to further enhance both the learning and the enjoyment of these stories.

In his introduction to African-American Folktales, Dr. Rex Ellis underscores the multicultural opportunity afforded by this collection: "They are stories that continue to be told by African Americans because...they transcend color and culture. They are stories that represent our common experience."