Peace Tales: World Folktales to Talk About Book

Margaret Read MacDonald knows very well how to compile the best stories into collections. She has gathered many from all over the world talking about war and peace. All of these stories, when told, will lead to much discussion within your class about right and wrong, kindness and cruelty, fairness and injustice. My favorites are:
1. "Strength" about animals who want to know who is the strongest and man who uses his gun to kill elephant as he doesn't understand the difference between strength and death.
2. "Two Goats Under a Bridge": There are two tales with this title and they are quick and simple and show how war and peace can happen. In one story, the goats refuse to move and blame each other for their stubbornness. In the other, they move for each other and each say how cooperative the other is.
3. "Old Joe and the Carpenter": A great story of peace. Two neighbors argue and one digs a river between their properties. The other hires a man to build a wall between them but instead he builds a bridge which unites the neighbors.
4. "Two Foxes": A fantastic tale for not arguing. Two foxes see all the other animals bickering and they aim to try to do the same but in the end realize they like their friendship as it had been, with no fighting at all.

Definitely a wonderful addition to any folktale collection, and a great resource for storytellers.