" How do you get people to appreciate what is right in front of them? In The Tale of the Mandarin Duck, it takes a mysterious, beautiful duck and a clear-eyed kid to point out the obvious! Bette Midler's distinctive voice joins striking photos of the real duck by Michiko Kakutani and charming black-and-white drawings by Joana Avillez. This book will have readers of all ages coming back to visit the fantastical interpretation of New York City and its...

Strega Nona: "Never go near my cooking pot, " warns old witch Strega Nona. But does Big Anthony listen? No! Joseph had a little overcoat: Joseph loves his little overcoat, but it's getting old and worn. What can he do with it now? Stone soup: When three soldiers come to town, all the townsfolk hide their food. If the soldiers can't find any food, what will they eat? Stone soup, of course!

Lon Po Po: In this Chinese version of the classic fairy tale, a mother leaves her three children home alone while she goes to visit their grandmother. When a wolf visits the children, pretending to be their Po Po, or granny, they let him in the house, but ultimately are not fooled by his deep voice and hairy face. Sam and the lucky money: Sam meets a stranger who helps him make the perfect decision on how to spend his lucky money. Tale of the Mandarin...