Mightier than the Sword

Yolen, Jane, collector. 2003. Mightier Than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys. Illustrated by Raul Colon. Orlando, FL: Silver Whistle, Harcourt. ISBN 0152163913.

Intended to show boys (and girls) that brains are mightier than brawn, these fourteen folktales from six continents reflect many of the same elements: bravery, the hero’s journey, good triumphing over evil, and the presence of magic and wisdom. Most tales consist of several pages of text and one black and white illustration. The ink cross-hatching technique highlights the interplay between dark and light, both in the illustrations and the stories. In the Finnish tale, “Mighty Mikko,” an orphaned boy, Mikko, befriends a cunning fox who devises plots to make Mikko become rich and famous. When Mikko expresses doubt, the fox counters, “Leave it to me. Be brave. Have faith. Do as I tell you and you will be a happy master.” After following the fox’s advice, Mikko finds himself the owner of a grand castle and riches as well as the husband of a beautiful princess. The moral of this story highlights the irresistibility of the combination of faith, courage, and a sly friend. The morals, however, may get background attention, since the stories and characters are so engaging. While they are accessible, the tales may be best used when read aloud or told with props, since the illustrations are few between. This reviewer would like and updated edition with lots of color illustrations.