The Serpent Slayer: and Other Stories of Strong Women
Nothing is more satisfying than watching a valiant hero conquer a  dragon, outwit a thief, or destroy a monstrous cannibal--unless it's seeing an  intrepidheroineaccomplish all these brave feats! In this remarkable  anthology by the mother-daughter team of Trina Schart Hyman and Katrin Tchana,  18 stories showcase the courage, cleverness, and integrity of women who dare to  go beyond their traditional roles and stand up for themselves and their people.  Gleaned from fairy tales from around the world and retold by Tchana to make them  "more vivid and vital to her audience," the stories include the tale of Li Chi,  a 14-year-old girl who refuses to let a greedy sorcerer continue to sacrifice  young girls to a horrible serpent. Clever Marcela is so cunning, she manages to  outsmart a king--and fall in love while she's at it. Then there's Amarjit, the  barber's wife, who, fed up with her handsome husband's laziness, manages to take  matters in her own hands and create fabulous wealth from nothing. Caldecott  Award-winner Trina Schart Hyman (Saint George and the Dragon)  paints spectacular illustrations, worthy of their esteemed role in capturing  both the noble and the grotesque. (Ages 7 to 11)--Emilie Coulter