This fascinating collection of traditional tales highlights the universality of themes by offering groups of authentic variants on five European classics. 'The Three Little Pigs' is recast in Scottish, African American, and Italian versions; 'The Frog Prince' finds parallels in tales from Swaziland, China and Serbia. Full-page illustrations and decorative borders echo the cultural origins of each tale, and the author's introduction and notes on sources are full of insights into the meaning of folktales.