WISDOM TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

As a companion to Wonder Tales from Around the World (1995, not reviewed), this is Forest's recasting of 50 fables, myths, anecdotes, and parables, all inviting readers to enjoy them as stories while picking out their barely concealed kernels of wisdom. Grouped by cultural or religious tradition, the selections comprise tales as familiar as ``The Three Wishes'' and the story of the Prodigal Son, and as unfamiliar as the legend, heard from a Yup'ik storyteller, of Apanugpak, a mighty warrior who laid down his weapons. Some are linked to historical events, and many have exotic settings, but Forest writes in such a simple, direct way that even readers not acquainted with the stories' contexts will grasp the particulars. She uses specific names or terms sparingly and livens the prose with occasional apt, clever rhymes. Two pages of proverbs (``the essence of wisdom tales without the storyline'') and a section of analytical and source notes close out this readable, often funny, and consistently thought-provoking collection. (notes, bibliography) (Folklore. 10+)