An interesting compilation of African American folk tales gathered by Zora Neale Hurston. Not really sure I'd see kids reading the whole thing, but could be an interesting tool in a discussion oral story telling/tradition or the like. ( )

Lies and Other Tall Tales is a collection of Souther African-American folklore. Zora Neale Hurston traveled the south collecting stories to put together in her collection. The stories range from silly to bizarre. One story tells of the tallest man known while another tells of the biggest man known. These tales are engaging and amusing and keep the reader giggling and scratching his or her head. ( )

Well!!! am not sure I'd recommend this book for several reasons
1. I dont like the language, e.g. But I knowed a man so smart, the english seemed kind of wrong for me, though I appreciate the fact that children should be exposed to more language forms but this didnt make it for me.
2. It reminded me of the insults we used to trade as children and my mum used to be so enraged when she heard us and so I definitely would not be the one teaching the children these same insults.

I don't really see kids just sitting down to read this book and enjoying it, but I think it has a lot of instructional potential. It reminds me a lot of the insult throwdowns I used to hear. You're so fat, so stupid, etc. The illustrations are really wonderful because I think they lend themselves to that not quite believable and larger-than-life feel of tall tales. ( )