Mightier than the Sword

Module 3

Yolen, Jane. 2003. Mightier than the sword: World folktales for strong boys. Ill. by Raul Colon. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.

Yolen has collected fourteen folktales from all over the world and retold them with her own special expertise. Dedicating the book to her sons and grandsons, her goal is to show how boys can be strong without using their fists or brute strength, but rather their intelligence, courage and generosity. She has succeeded masterfully in this diverse compilation of tales which include magic and enchantment, trickery and humor. We start out with a story from China called The Magic Brocade in which a son risks everything to make his mother happy. In the end, he not only makes her happy, but himself as well. Another, such as Mighty Mikko from Finland tells the magical story of how a kind heart, bravery and faith (along with the help of a friend who happens to be a bit of a trickster) help a young man find his good fortune. Other tales from all over the world, Angola to Russia, emphasize the theme of succeeding without using violence. The black and white illustrations, rendered in pen and ink, are done with expression and detail. They are reminiscent of the types of illustrations found in older fairy tale books. this excellent collection is recommended for grades 4-8.