Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls (by Jane Yolen)

The tales in this collection turn stereotypes on their heads with heroes that are brave, smart, and female. They are wonderful to read aloud to older children. Their origins are diverse, including ancient Greece, Niger, Japan, Argentina, and the United States. It's an important collection not only because of the way it showcases strong girls in action but also because it introduces the history and culture of many places.

The violence, which may be a detraction for some, is appropriate within the folktale genre, and dramatizes the strength and bravery of the heroines. The black-and-white illustrations are few but detailed. Each story has at least one, which will draw in younger, squirmy listeners.