A collection of fifteen traditional tales from various parts of the world, with the main character of each being a fearless, strong, heroic, and resourceful woman.

Peter complains his house is too noisy so the wise man advises him to obtain some rather unusual house guests.

"Villagers like to come to rest and cool down in the shade of a huge, old tree. But when a young traveler decides to join them one day, a rich man on whose land the tree stands demands they leave because he owns the tree and therefore its shade. Thinking fast, the traveler strikes a deal: one that will enable him to outsmart the rich man--and ensure that the villagers will always have access to the shade tree's shade, wherever it may fall. With simple,...

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

"In this retelling of a Shona folktale from Zimbabwe, a girl promises a crocodile he can come to a party in exchange for a favor, but since crocodiles aren't allowed in the village, she doesn't expect she'll have to keep the promise"--

A retelling of the folktale in which a beautiful girl with long golden hair is kept imprisoned in a lonely tower by a sorceress. Includes a note on the origins of the story.

A sweet little girl meets a hungry wolf in the forest while on her way to visit her grandmother.

"Emrick the shoemaker can barely afford food for himself and his wife, but they give far more than they take. One day, Emrick's generosity compels him to trade a pair of shoes for a beautiful woodlands painting. He hangs the curious work of art on the wall and goes to sleep hungry. The next morning, he awakens to find a beautifully-crafted pair of shoes resting upon his desk. Later that night, Emrick and his wife watch from the shadows as several...