The Adventures of Molly Whuppie and Other Appalachian Folktales
Anne Shelby——— $14.95

Reading Level Ages 9 - 12, 96pages, 2007, black and white illustrations.
Combining traditional Appalachian folktale plots with a contemporary sensibility, writer and storyteller Anne Shelby creates fourteen lively, original stories of a funny, magical, yet familiar world. Many of the stories feature a girl named Molly Whuppie, who is clever, brave, and strong. Encountering witches, giants, an ogre who refuses to do housework, unwanted boyfriends, and all manner of conundrums, Molly manages to outwit them all with a potent combination of nerve, trickery, and plain luck. Also appearing in the stories are Molly’s sisters Polly and Betts, the famous Appalachian hero Jack (Molly saves him a few times), and three cornbread-baking mice.

“Storyteller Shelby uses warmth, folksy humor and unexpected turns of phrase to bring this plucky heroine to life, and McArdle’s childlike, black-and-white illustrations provide an additional comic touch. A nice choice for intermediate and reluctant readers.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Young readers and listeners will make these stories their own and enjoy retelling them for a long time to come.”
—School Library Journal
.2008 Aesop Accolade, Children’s Folklore Section, American Folklore Society

Curriculum Applications: 3rd-8th Grade Social Studies, Science.

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