As in Ready-to-Tell Tales, Holt and Mooney have solicited favorite selections from their fellow professional storytellers, including Margaret Read MacDonald, Len Cabral, and Jon Spelman. According to the introduction, each one of these 45 pieces has been "honed by countless tellings" and is sure to grab listeners right from the start. The editors urge readers to acknowledge the contributors of the tales they choose to tell and to develop their own style when performing them. The storyteller introduces each offering with notes about its history and provenance, any adaptations that may have been made to it, and the particular audience that will enjoy it. A profile of the contributor, a black-and-white photo, and performance tips accompany each selection. Folktales, tall tales, original tales, and tales adapted from literary sources are all included. Indexes provide access by country of origin and by age level. This book will be of most use to adults and older kids who tell stories, but may also interest those who just enjoy reading a good yarn.

– Sally Bates Goodroe, School Library Journal

This follow up to the editors' Ready-to-Tell Tales: Sure-Fire Stories from America's Favorite Storytellers is another fine anthology of stories introduced by some of the country's most accomplished storytellers. The first volume included only a few stories from other countries, but this title's focus is on the international, with tales originating from nearly every continent. As the introduction promises, these are short, gripping stories that "kick in fast" and are "guaranteed to work." Grouped according to type (comedy, trickster, tall) and theme (family and community, codes of conduct, etc.), the selections include a photo of and suggestions from the storytellers. Indexes of tales by cultural source and recommended audience conclude this excellent resource for both school and public library collections.

– Gillian Engberg, Booklist

Holt and Mooney (Ready-to-Tell Tales) return with a new compendium of tales collected from a wide range of modern tellers. Each storyteller introduces his or her own story, opening with a recommended age for the intended audience and closing with advice for the novice teller ("A Word from the Wise"). Tellers, tales, and cultures represented include J.J. Reneaux ("Jean Sot and the Bull's Milk," Cajun); Taffy Thomas ("The Farmer's Fun-Loving Daughter," English); Susan Klein ("Little Frog and Centipede," Tanzanian); Len Cabral ("How Rabbit Lost Its Tail," Haitian); Dovie Thomason ("Dog Tails," Iroquois); Antonio Sacre ("The Barking Mouse," Cuban); and James "Sparky" Rucker ("Against the Law," African-American). This eclectic bunch of folktales, fables, urban legends, original stories, and literary adaptations are succinct and pointed, making them easy to learn and remember. An "Index of Stories by Cultural Source" and an "Index of Stories by Recommended Audience" are appended; the acknowledgements give written sources when available.

– BCCB