The ROOTABAGA STORIES are unconventional in almost every way. Unlike traditional fairy tales, they have no perfect princesses and evil witches. They are American fairy tales with a rural flavor and, in fact, they have no evil characters. The settings, though fanciful, include images that defined America in the 1920s, when the stories were published: the railroad, which "ran across the prairie, to the mountains, to the sea," and the skyscraper.

In Rootabaga Country the railroad tracks go from straight to zigzag, the pigs wear bibs (some checked, some striped, some polka-dotted), and the biggest city is the Village of Liver-and-Onions. Characters in this fanciful world are equally peculiar: Please Gimme, Blixie Blimber, Eeta Peeca Pie, and dozens of others. Children and literary critics alike would be hard-pressed to explain (even symbolically) the events that occur in the stories. Nevertheless, meaning comes through and truth is revealed. For example, in "Three Boys with Jugs of Molasses and Secret Ambitions," ambition is defined as "a little creeper that creeps and creeps in your heart night and day, singing a little song, 'Come and find me, come and find me.'" Who would expect that "The Two Skyscrapers Who Decided to Have a Child" would have an absolutely poignant ending?

Although the events of the stories may not be explainable, the stories are replete with concrete images. Sandburg provides both visual and auditory description with musical, repetitious phrases and novel juxtaposition of words ("a daughter who is a dancing shaft of light on the ax handles of morning"). Occasionally he invents words, such as "pfisty-pfoost," the sound of the train's steam engine, and "bickerjiggers," the buttons on an accordion.

ROOTABAGA STORIES are wonderful for reading aloud. They provide an opportunity for readers and listeners to delight in language and revel in truths revealed in a fanciful world.

It is a fascinating dialog that reminds us that a true hero is one who gives of himself asking nothing in return and faces difficulty with courage. Quite a contrast to the shooting stars of today that receive so much undeserving praise. This CD was enjoyed by everyone in my family.

I read 'SHAKESPEARE'S STORIES -Comedies-', and this book has five stories and I read 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

There were four young people and one of them, Hermia had to marry Demetrius, but Hermia loved Lysander. Harmia also had a best friend Helena who loved Demetrius. If Hermia chose Lysander, she have to be a nun or be killed, so she decided to tried to escape so they promise to meet in the wood.

In a city, six men met in a workman's house. They practiced a play to the most important event for celebrations. Their play was a comedy. Their play was practiced in the wood secretly.

In the wood, many fairies lived and king of them, Oberon, and his wife Titania was there. Titania loved an Indian boy so much, so Oberon angry with her. Then he hit an idea.He tried to use a flower 'love-in-idleness'. It could makes them madly love when they see first creature if they sleep and are put dews on their eyelids. First, he put it on his wife's eyelids when she slept and then, she woke up, she saw a man who wore ass head doll. He was one of the man who practiced a play in the wood. So, Titania fell love with a crazy ass head man.

Then, Oberon told a Puck, a fairy, to use 'love-in idleness' to fall in love with Harmia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius. But Puck mistaken, and Lysander and Demetrius became love Helena.

Last is secret, because I want to read this story everyone. It is funny story, but I felt human's jealousy is very ugly and Shakespeare was great because but he expressed ' jealousy ' in comedy story in spite of it shows dark image.