Review: Folklore for the wee ones
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 25, 2011
Daphne is a 19-year-old girl who has quite the affinity with the spirits around her.  In the center of the town she lives in is a Silver Ash.  A very special silver ash. In this tree lives a phoenix and a nymph who revitalize and renew the town once a century.  Without this rebirth, the city would fall into ruin and everyone would perish.As the time of this rebirth approaches, it is discovered that something is seriously wrong.  Never in all of the centuries the tree has stood has a single leaf fallen from the silver ash.  Now the ground is littered with sticks and leaves.  The tree is dying.  The phoenix that normally dies and brings new life with her rebirth refuses to depend on the dying to tree to help her back to life.  What happens from here leaves Daphne in a position she never dreamed of being in.There isn't much more I can tell you about the story line at this time without giving too much away.  It was a very short story, and I don't want to spoil the story for anyone.  I am internally debating whether or not this is a book meant for younger children or older children.  The brevity of the book, and the simplistic storytelling lead me at first to believe this was meant for elementary school children.  But the events that unfold and the ending of the story made me rethink my position.This story is based off many legends and old folklore.  There is the opportunity to get younger kids interested in folklore after they read this book if the right literature is presented to them right away as a companion to this book.  At just barely over 50 pages long, it is short enough to keep a young reader's interest while being long enough to make them think they really got a "long" book.I believe this book teaches some great lessons.  At one point, Daphne must make a decision - and she makes the right one - even when it is the hardest thing she will ever have to do.  But she does it because it is the RIGHT thing to do.  She puts the lives of all others before her own life.  It shows true love and heroism.  A very important value to instill in children while they are still little.I would recommend this to anyone with younger children who get excited about fantasy, folklore, and a smidge bit of action.  (It's nothing violent, so no worries on that front)