How & Why Folktales
From Around The World
by: Arlene Egelberg and Raymond C. Clark
Illustrations by: Chuck Braun
Level: High beginner to Intermediate proficiency

Price: $14.00 ISBN: 0-86647-180-4

A variety is the spice of life. The question can be asked and answered how many ways this book can apply to an ESL classroom. A collection of stories from eleven cultures are found within the pages of this book. It is an integrated skills reader which includes exercises for reading, writing, listening and speaking. Written to include a wide variey of ages which this book can be used to teach makes it a versatile read. This ranges from high beginner to intermediate English students. The stories found within the pages of this book are both informative and entertaining. They will hold the interest of upper elementary, junior high and adults. The organizational structure of this book provides a quick variety for English instructors. A short story along with a wealth of classroom material is readily available to access. Taken as a small dose or an entire study unit the pages of this book can provide a quick fix for classroom material. A daily lesson plan can be put into action with the short stories and their learning material. Every story in this book includes a section titled Put On A Play. Anyone who has experience in the production of a play at any level knows that they can be very informal with almost instant planning to a grand production. The play outlines in this book give those who use them flexibility. These outlines can be put into practice in a variety of ways and with many different casts of players. Learning English should include instruction about cultures that also speak English. It stands for reason that those who are learning English live in an environment where it is the primary language. English is not the first language spoken in Russia, China or even Guatamala. The stories in this book include these countries along with the names and jargon that can be easily applied within these countries. This book can easily find a shelf life in an EFL classroom. One in which a story set within a country mentioned within this book would be good. The words are versatile and can be put into practice to teach students about life in the countries mentioned and those that are English speaking in a way that they can Look Again as the section of this book indicates. Both the word lists and exercises are versatile enough to travel the globe.

Shannon Bridget Murphy
(scribblesbyShannon@yahoo.com),
editor of ESL Teacher Today,
06/22/2007