In this contemporary poetic retelling of the iconic myth, a teenage girl fleeing an abusive home takes refuge in the woods with a fairy-tale witch.

What would you do if diamonds and rubies tumbled out of your mouth every time you spoke? Well, that′s what happens to Rosella after a run with a misguided fairy in "A Fairy′s Mistake." If you were turned into a toad, would you pine after your prince as much as Parsley does in "For Biddle′s Sake?" The road to happily-ever-after is never easy, but the masterful touch of Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine will keep readers laughing their way through these fresh retellings of popular fairy tales. All six of Gail Carson Levine′s beloved PRINCESS TALES in one book! THE FAIRY′S MISTAKE THE PRINCESS TEST PRINCESS SONORA AND THE LONG SLEEP CINDERELLLIS AND THE GLASS HILL FOR BIDDLE′S SAKE THE FAIRY′S RETURN Ages 7-12

There's nothing wrong with Wilma Sturtz. She's perfectly nice. But nobody cares about nice at Claverford, her middle school. Wilma is left out, forgotten, ignored -- until she meets an extraordinary old lady who grants a wish: for Wilma to be the most popular kid in school. Presto! Everything changes. Now Wilma has more best friends than she can keep track of and forty dates to the Graduation Night Dance; and someone is writing her love poetry. What more could she want? Nothing! But will it last? How can Wilma make sure she is never unpopular again? From Gail Carson Levine, author of the Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted, this modern-day fairy tale shows a very real girl in a very unusual predicament, and along the way it reveals some painful truths about whether or not we really want to be liked for who we are. Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL)

In a land far, far away . . . A boy with magical powers to win Princess Charming's heart. A fairy who likes turning humans into toads. A true love forbidden by the King. A world of fairies and magic -- what could be more perfect than that? But is it perfect enough to help a simple farm boy marry a beautiful princess? And if an unruly fairy turns a maiden into a toad, how does she turn herself back? And can a fairy -- even a helpful one -- change a stubborn king's law? Welcome to a land where Princess Charming saves the day, the prince must kiss the toads, and nothing is as it seems! Now in one volume, three hilarious chances at happily-ever-after from the Newbery Honor author of Ella Enchanted: Cinderellis and the Glass Hill For Biddle's Sake The Fairy's Return

A retelling of the French fairy tale in which a clever cat wins his master a fortune and the hand of a princess.

Gwendolyn Carlisle loves fairies, perhaps too much. On her birthday, she receives the precious “kiss” necklace which has been passed down from mother to daughter ever since Peter Pan gave it to Wendy Darling. That night, Gwendolyn has the first of her visions—tantalizing, lifelike visions, almost as if she were actually in Fairy Haven. More than anything, Gwendolyn wishes she could be there. When she is just about to lose hope, Peter Pan comes at last and blows fairy dust on her. The instant they reach Never Land, she sets out to find fairies. But after the evil Kyto, a dragon the fairies once helped to capture, escapes, the fairies must decide if Gwendolyn will help or hinder them in their battle for survival. . . . Infused with magic and feeling, and bursting with excitement, this thrilling tale is the third in the celebrated series of illustrated novels from Newbery Honor winning author Gail Carson Levine and renowned illustrator David Christiana. Plus, this deluxe paperback edition includes full-color artwork!

A sparkling retelling of nine Andersen tales: Elf Hill, The Happy Family, The Shepherdess and The Chimneysweep, The Princess and the Pea, The Money-Box Pig, The Little Match Girl, Little Ida's Flowers, The Jumping Competition, and The Nightingale. With bright, full-color illustrations on almost every page.

Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney's warm, humorous retelling of a popular African-American folk ballad. When John Henry was born the birds, bears, rabbits, and even a unicorn came to see him. He grew so fast, he burst right through the porch roof, and laughed so loud, he scared the sun! Soon John Henry is swinging two huge sledgehammers to build roads, pulverizing boulders, and smashing rocks to smithereens. He's stronger than ten men and can dig through a mountain faster than a steam drill. Nothing can stop John Henry, and his courage stays with us forever. A Caldecott Honor Book * "This is a tall tale and heroic myth, a celebration of the human spirit . . . The story is told with rhythm and wit, humor and exageration, and with a heart-catching immediacy that connects the human and the natural world. " -- Booklist , starred review "Another winning collaboration from the master storyteller and gifted artist of Tales of Uncle Remus fame." -- School Library Journal "A great American hero comes fully to life in this epic retelling filled with glorious, detailed watercolors . . . This carefully crafted updating begs to be read aloud for its rich, rhythmic storytelling flow, and the suitably oversize illustrations amplify the text." -- Publishers Weekly

The spirit of good luck outwits the spirit of bad luck and helps a poor but honest peasant lad marry the king's daughter.

After a day spent slaying ogres and swimming like mermaids, the average young adventurer is a bit peckish. The delightful fairy tales in this collection are coupled with nutritious and satisfying dinners and side dishes. Jacks Magic Party Beans will not produce an enormous bean stalk, but the dish is undeniably magical in taste. Other stories include the Turkish tale Hodja Borrows a Pot and the Russian classic The Great Turnip. Fascinating facts about each storys origins and the history of the dishes will fill the mind with wonder and the tummy with delightful nourishment.

"In this subversive retelling of the magical tale of 'Sleeping Beauty,' Rebecca Solnit shifts the focus from the girl who slept for a hundred years to her sister who stayed awake--and to a poor boy whose story stumbled into theirs. Waking beauty tells of each child's adventures and obstacles: of Maya, the inspiring, extraordinary artist and changemaker who 'found [beauty] everywhere and gave it to everyone' ; of Atlas, who guarded golden apples and was definitely not a prince; and of Ida, who dreamed for a century and work up in a very different world"--Back cover.

Largely ignored by her own family, Princess Djeow Seow spends her days playing with a kite made from paper and sticks. But when the Emperor is imprisoned in a high tower, only the Princess can save the day, flying her kite high up into the sky to rescue her father.?A familiar jewel polished to unaccustomed brilliance.? ? Booklist ?It is rare to find a book where the beauty of the language and image are so finely meshed as in this tale of loyalty and love.? ? United Press International Jane Yolen lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts and Scotland. Ed Young lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

"Since Dracula first appeared, vampires have become the ghoul of choice for many horror fans. Today, vampires can be anyone, [and] in this collection of [13] chilling, funny, and sensitive stories the undead include even the girl next door. Any reader with the slightest thirst for blood won't go away hungry." —BL. 1992 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA) 1992 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)

"A saying: It pays to have a little chutzpah (nerve)." With old world charm, universal humor, and just a bit of chutzpah, Simms Taback offers this lively spin on thirteen playful tales?as only he could. Paired with his trademark vibrant and hilarious artwork, these stories illustrate ultimate widespread truths and important life lessons, from the difference between a "shlemiel" and a "shlimazel" to the idea that just because you can talk doesn?t mean you make sense. Taback delivers the perfect combination of wisdom and humor?just the way your "zayda" (grandpa) would.

A young girl triumphs over the Queen of Faeries to reclaim her ancestral home and free her true love in this haunting retelling of an old Scottish ballad. "Mikolaycak's illustrations...attract attention yet do not overpower the story, making the book one that could be easily used as a picture story book presentation for middle- and upper-grade or even adult audiences."-The Horn Book

A collection of 8 stories by fantasy authors based on the legend of Robin Hood, from an account of Robin's birth to the story behind an early meeting of young Robin and Marian, to a modern-day fable of Robin Hood and the Internet.

A rock 'n' roll band to die for.... When fourteen year old Callie McCallan scores a backstage pass to interview the lead singer of the famous band Brass Rat, she's thrilled. Peter Gringras is so cool. When he plays his flute, it's as if he has some kind of hypnotic power. But there is something strange about him, something Callie can't quite put her finger on. Then, on Halloween night, Callie's little brother Nicky disappears, along with all the other children in town. It's crazy, but Callie thinks she knows where the children have gone--and who took them. To prove it, and to rescue Nicky and the other children, Callie must journey to a mythical world filled with fantastical creatures. A world from which there may be no return....

King Long Shanks hires two tailors to sew him a special outfit, his subjects just might get to see more than just his royal legs! A froggy adaptation puts a hilarious spin on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes."

An unforgettable take on a favorite fairy tale by multi-award-winning author Jane Yolen Summer's life in the mountains of West Virginia feels like a fairy tale--her parents dote on her, and she's about to get a new baby brother. But when the baby dies soon after he's born, taking their mother with him, Summer's life turns grim. Things get even worse when her father marries a woman who brings poisons and magical mirrors into Summer's world. Stepmama puts up a pretty face and Summer's father is under her spell, but Summer suspects she's up to no good--and is afraid she is powerless to stop her.

Features the Nebula Award-winning novella "Lost Girls." In these modern myths and tales for the young and the young at hear, Jane Yolen transforms the impossible into the familiar and real. Among the outlandish wonders are an Alice grown tough in Wonderland, a dear--but dead--mother's homecoming, a bridge that longs for a goat-eating troll, and a mutiny among Peter Pan's troops.