Creighton University

This is a good attempt to translate TMCM into contemporary circumstances.  Abby wants to show Liz around her family's farm.  Liz does not like the smell of the hog barn.  Por k chop, green beans, and a biscuit does not appeal to Liz as dinner, though it is Abby's favorite.  Liz likes pizza, pasta, tacos, burritos, and sushi, and Abby does not even know what those are like.  Liz invites Abby to the city.  A rushed and noisy dinner at an Italian restaurant in the city is unpleasant for Abby.  When a car almost hits the two children in the city, Abby says that she wants to go home.  Liz is surprised but says "I guess there are good things about both places."  A telling of the traditional story follows along with questions for reflection and discussion.

This is a review copy, and the publisher's slip inside the front cover declares a publication date of 2016, even though the copyright on the verso of the title-page is 2017.  This is a good attempt to translate BW into contemporary circumstances.  Andrew's two sisters are baking cookies as a surprise birthday gift for their mother.  Andrew's job is to watch the front door and yell "Wolf!" if mother comes back home.  He yells "Wolf!" twice as a joke on his sisters when mother is nowhere in sight.  Then she does appear, and his yelling is not taken seriously by his sisters.  "Andrew felt terrible" and "His lies had ruined the surprise."  A telling of the traditional story follows along with questions for reflection and discussion.

This is a good attempt to translate TH into contemporary circumstances.  It is track and field day at school.  Henry has been practicing and has felt good about his running, but Michael's boasting has Henry doubting himself.  Michael wears a t-shirt with a hare on it, while Henry sports a tortoise shirt.  Henry's friend Beth consoles and encourages him.  As the race starts, Henry does not pay attention to Michael, who speeds ahead.  Michael steps aside, boasting that he can catch up.  When Michael reenters the race, he has one shoelace untied and he has to slow down.  Henry wins.  A telling of the traditional story follows along with questions for reflection and discussion.

This is a good attempt to translate LM into contemporary circumstances.  James loves recess and likes it to sit under the big oak tree and read dragon books. On this day, James nods off.  James' kindergarten sister Claire wants to draw a moustache on her sleeping brother, but he wakes up just in time.  He threatens to report her to the principal, but she pleads with him: "If you let me go, I will help you one day."  James goes home alone that day, still angry with his sister, but he stumbles on a branch on the sidewalk and is stuck in some bushes.  Claire comes by and not only frees him but finds his book.  "Small friends can be a great help."  A telling of the traditional story follows along with questions for reflection and discussion.

This is a good attempt to translate "The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox" into contemporary circumstances.  Mary and Anna arrive home to find a note from Mom that there is one apple.  They promptly fight over it.  As they argue, their little brother comes in and starts eating the apple.  To help identify him, the illustrator puts a fox on his t-shirt.  Mary and Anna have, respectively, lion and bear on their t-shirts.  The girls naturally complain about their little brother taking their apple.  Mom, who has been listening, awards him the apple and chides them for arguing.  They could have split the apple.  "You two need to learn to share."  A telling of the traditional story follows along with questions for reflection and discussion.

This is a good attempt to translate GGE into contemporary circumstances.  Rosie wakes up one day to find a magical gift from her Aunt Luisa.  "Press the red button for a piece of candy every day!"  Lots of different candy came out of the machine for her, day after day.  One day, Rosie shares the candy with her brother Marco.  He suggests that they open the machine.  "I'll bet it's full of candy!"  They got tools and open the machine.  No candy!  Alas, they could then not fit the pieces of the machine back together.  "We had something magical.  And now we have nothing."  A telling of the traditional story follows along with questions for reflection and discussion.