Telling Tales on the Rim: Folktales from Around the Pacific Rim

Edith Fowke is professor emerita of folklore at York University, the
1986 winner of the Vicky Metcalf award for her body of work for
children, and the author of Canadian Folklore: Perspectives on Canadian
Culture and Legends Told in Canada.

This collection of 34 folktales from the countries that border the
Pacific are grouped under the headings “Origin Tales,” “Circular
or Repetitive Tales,” “Brave Ventures and Impossible Tasks,”
“Animal Tales,” “Stories of the Absurd,” “Tall Tales,”
“Good Neighbor/Bad Tales,” and “Big Questions.”

The tales are varied and interesting, covering all the folktale
types—ordinary folktales (legends and mдrchen), jokes and anecdotes,
and formula tales. They seem to be based on authentic folktales told by
traditional storytellers and are well chosen to represent the various
countries from which they come. The Canadian items include one origin
tale and three tall tales from British Columbia.

A useful bibliography and glossary are added. Unfortunately, the source
of each tale is not given. Recommended.