Multicultural Storytime Magic
Veteran authors and storytellers MacMillan and Kirker return using a familiar format but this time placing an emphasis on stories, both original and traditional, from around the world. More than 40 themes are represented; they range from the alphabet to "Big and Little" to "Weather." Within each theme, the authors suggest books, a flannelboard story (often a folktale), fingerplays or songs, and an activity or craft. The fingerplays and songs frequently include small black-and-white thumbnail sketches of American Sign Language motions. Flannelboard pieces can be downloaded, copied, enlarged, printed, and otherwise enhanced and personalized from an ALA webpage. The artwork, while pedestrian, is serviceable. The suggested titles run the gamut from older classics to newer titles that would be on most library shelves. An appendix offers cultural notes and an index of entries by culture. For example, 16 different countries are listed for Africa. Unique to this index are topics such as "Deaf Culture" or "Disabilities." Starred items indicated titles best used with toddlers. Both beginning storytellers and seasoned librarians can benefit from these fresh ideas.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VAα(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.