Like her previous efforts in this vein (Diane Goode's Book of Silly Stories and Songs, 1992, etc.), Goode offers a diverse, accessible, and well-rounded collection of stories about people big and small, interspersing old favorites (""The Elves and the Shoemaker,"" ""Teeny Tiny,"" etc.) with more unusual gems: the West Indian ""Anansi and the Plantains,"" the Japanese ""Three Strong Women,"" and the wryly feminist ""Managing Molly."" The book opens with a wise introduction and closes with Nancy Willard's ""Magic Story for Falling Asleep""--just the right note. Goode's expressive characters--from ogres to elves--are priceless, and the elegant design gives the stories and poems their due. It's a thoughtfully organized book, suitable for almost any folklore collection.