This collection of folk and fairy tales from Korea takes us back to the days 'when tigers smoked long pipes and animals could speak'. It comprises 9 stories, which, notwithstanding their exotic far eastern locale, offer readily appreciated examples of morality, mischief and magic: a bridge of magpies across the Milky Way reunites two royal lovers once a year, explaining aspects of the weather; wily rabbits outwit tigers; greed is pitted against goodness; we learn why the sea is salty and why pigs have short snouts. The stories are retold in simple, concise text and are illustrated with the author's own watercolours which add atmospheric detail and humour.