The Magic Orange Tree: and Other Haitian Folktales

I really enjoyed this book and the drawings that are scattered through some of the stories. I’m not a huge fan of the author essentially taking these stories and creating a book without-I wish a Haitian author did this. I do think it was tastefully done with acknowledgement of who she heard the stories from. Simply put, I think this has a lot to do with the writers intrigue with the Haitian culture and wanting capitalize on it.

Very well written. Easy to read. Each story start with an "About the Story" that place it into context and help the reader "see" while reading.Folktales are part of the culture of a country. They are stories with a some type of "moral of the story"; people should understand that. Take, for example, the story of Snow White or the story of Cinderella. They are obviously just stories/folktales with a "moral of the story". That's how readers should understand Haitian folktales or folktales from any other countries.I think that Diane Wolkstein did a great job. Thank you.

The art of story telling is one that is too often overlooked. The magic orange tree, and other Haitian folktales does two things very well:1) the author gives background as to where the stories came from, often describing the circumstance and people that were involved in the acquisition of the tales and2) the translations from Kreyòl to English are done very well; reading them in English, I can't tell that they were first in another language

A gift for an elementary teacher with several students from Haiti. She reported the whole class enjoyed the book and the kids from Haiti were the center of attention as they told other students about Haiti, taught them some Creole words etc. A helpful resource for a multicultural classroom, and one of the few books I could find with a Haitian theme for kids.

I must admit I was a little disappointed that the book had been a library book at one time but that was not mentioned in the description. It was in fairly good condition, but it had the stampings and labels and checkout pocket of a library. Wish this had been noted on the description. Giving as a gift and this takes away from the gift experience in my opinion. Trying to decide whether to return or keep. Did arrive quickly.

Super weird stories that give a feel for Haitian culture -- just what I was looking for. The printing could be a bit better though -- not the best formatting.

Great collection of stories from Haiti. Good to read, and good to tell. Diane Wolkstein is a professional storyteller, and her retellings reflect that. A favorite collection of mine. I have told many of these stories to both adults and children, and they are spellbound.

My children love hearing these stories. My husband is Haitian and we all can appreciate the culture and origin of these tales. Great stories!!!

Diane Wolkstein is a well-renowned storyteller. She has also published quite a few retellings of stories from various cultures. So when I decided I wanted to read some tales from Haiti, this is the first book I turned to. There are 27 tales in this easy-to-carry paperback-I haven't read them all yet but all the ones I have read, about a dozen, are superb. All the human emotions are here: jealousy, fear, love.There is passion and desperation and also humour of an understated kind. To be exact, Wolkstein does not retell these tales-she went to Haiti and met with many local storytellers, all of them peasants and some of them illiterate-all of them dab hands in the art of storytelling.She wrote down what she remembered and she also recorded many of the tales on tape.Some of the tales are written down verbatim, whilst others are an amalgam of several tellings of the same basic story. Wolkstein makes this clear in her wonderful introductions-a page or so for each tale-a few words about the storyteller, about where the story was told and about the audience. She also points out various cultural attitudes which inform the tale, e.g. the strong regard and affection/fear that many Haitians feel for their dead. There are also some photographs to enhance the atmosphere of the book. If you are at all interested in folktales, Haiti, the Black diaspora, this book is a must. But it is equally appropriate for children and anyone else who "just" appreciates a story well-told.

Great present for granddaughter.