Why Snails Have Shells: Minority And Han Folktales From China

Twenty stories reflecting the ethnic diversity of China are presented here, accompanied by colorful paintings and concluding source notes on the originating culture. As an American teaching English in China, Han became intrigued by the cultural plurality represented in her classes and began collecting folktales from her students.

Many of the tales will strike a familiar chord. "The Flying Frog," about a frog unable to keep its mouth shut, is a Mongolian variant of a tale found in many cultures; the Tibetan "Rabbit Judge" tells of a wolf who breaks his promise not to eat the goat that rescues him from a pit, only to be outsmarted by a wily rabbit. Unusual as well as useful, the collection will be a handy resource for those looking for short stories to read or to tell, and the concluding notes lend insight into both the geography and the social customs of the countries represented.

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