ELA

This folktale explains why Chinese people no longer choose long names for their children.

A charming tale of the peddler whose stolen caps mean all kinds of monkey business.

Aza is far from beautiful. With pale skin and blood-red lips (not to mention ungainly size), she is seen as odd, at best. But Aza does have one blessing: a voice of astonishing beauty. In Ayortha, where singing is the main mode of communication, this gift is no small thing, and soon Aza finds herself rising at court.

Fairy tales are just for little kids, aren't they? Not when they're twisted around and retold in versions tailor-made for a second- or third-grader's sense of humor! From "Little Red Running Shorts" to "The Princess and the Bowling Ball," readers will delight as the familiar becomes ridiculous — in both words and pictures.

She was the last of her kind. A creature of legends. A being of the forest. And stories were told of her - stories of the terrible, horrible Baba Yaga.

Strega Nona's meddling assistant Big Anthony is determined to prove to the townspeople his knowledge of the magic secrets contained in the pasta pot of Strega Nona. In so doing, he unleashes a torrent of pasta which threatens to engulf their little Italian town.

In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de la Nochebuenao - flower of the Holy Night. At Christmastime, the flower blooms and flourishes, the quite exquisite red stars lighting up the countryside. A Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be, through a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child.

Big diesel machines threaten to run Mike Mulligan and his little old steam shovel, Mary Anne, out of business until Mike agrees to tackle a big job.

God is dead. Meet the kids.

When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed, before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

The African plains provide a stunning environment for Jan Brett's latest animal adventure. For as long as anyone can remember, the Honeyguide bird and the African honey badger have been partners when it comes to honey: Honeyguide finds the honeycomb, Badger breaks it open, and they share the sweetness inside.

But this day, Badger keeps all the honey for himself. Foolish Badger!

When the voice of Piemur, an apprentice at Harper Hall, changes, he has to leave the companionship of Master Shonagar behind. But his disappointment is soon replaced by a new challenge. He is to enter the service of the Master Harper himself as a rider of dragons. Soon, he embarks on a dangerous mission to the Southern Hold. The future of Pern hangs on his success.

A vain emperor who loves new clothes wears a royal robe created especially for him by two swindlers.