The Cow of No Color: Riddle Stories and Justice Tales from Around the WorldIn this outstanding multicultural collection from the authors of the prizewinning While Standing on One Foot, readers must try to outsmart evil kings, answer questions from Death, even puzzle with angels over the justice of God. Every tale returns to the most basic question: What is fair? With tales from Africa, Asia, and Europe, from Irish, Jews, and Muslims, from American schools and courtrooms, The Cow of No Color is truly an international gathering. Ranging from tricks to watch for in playground games to big issues to ponder for a lifetime, here is a book with insights and challenges for every member of every family. |
Contents
A Taste of Their Own Medicine | 9 |
Throwing the First Stone | 53 |
The Bird LoversLaos | 59 |
Between a Rock | 75 |
The FlaskAncient Israel | 88 |
Who Owns the Sky? | 93 |
The Big Questions | 103 |
The Playground and Beyond | 117 |
Epilogue | 137 |
Bibliography | 153 |
Resources and Organizations | 161 |
Common terms and phrases
African Alaté ancient Arab Folktales Ashabi asked bring casalino chief child client coins color counting-out game court daugh daughter dead death decide door Egyptian Elegba exam fair farmer father Folktales Fulla Fulla Ghana girl Harold Courlander heard Hmong husband Israel Joha Josephus judge jury justice killed king kola kola nut land lawyer lived looked loved merchant mercy moneylender Music of Vietnam necklace Nenpetro Nigeria night Nina Jaffe Nunyala Olufemi Olushegun orisha Orphan Boy peasant poor priestess Pyongyang Rabbi Rabbi Akiva Reb Nachum river spirit road scales side soldiers soul soup Steve Zeitlin stood story Susannah tale tell told town tradition tree Tung Nguyen Vang Vietnam village walked water pot water-carriers Whitney Sherman wife wise woman xim xaus Ximen Bao XOXXOXXOX York City Yoruba young