This is the third presentation of the award which was established in 1992 and is given every two years.

Daly, Nikki WHY THE SUN AND MOON LIVE IN THE SKY Lothrop. 1995
Sun is dazzled by Sea and. impulsively invites her to his home, but when Sea arrives, with "all her slippery, scaled and shelled children", Sun and Moon have nowhere to go but up. Daly's retelling of this Nigerian tale is lyrical and fluid--and tinged with sadness. An altogether modern reflection on a well-known traditional tale.

DeFelice, Cynthia and Mary DeMarsh THREE PERFECT PEACHES Orchard, 1995
When a princess lies dying for want of three perfect peaches1 a bevy of peach-laden suitors line up at the palace to vie for her affection. A delightful variant of an oft-told tale, this rendition is set apart by its robust humor and the satisfying denouement in which truth provides justice.

Derby, Sally JACOB AND THE STRANGER Ticknor and Fields, 1994
Lackadaisical Jacob faithfully tends the miniature cats which blossom from a magical plant which a stranger has left in his care, but when the stranger returns to claim his belongings, Jacob must use his wits to gain the price of his services and the companion of his heart.

Jaffe, Nina and Steve Zeitlin WHILE STANDING ON ONE FOOT: PUZZLE STORIES AND WISDOM TALES FROM THE JEWISH TRADITION HoIt, 1992
Non-violent solutions to seemingly insoluble situations stress agile thinking and creative perspective. Jaffe and Zeitlin begin a story and pause at the climax to allow us to try to devise an appropriate resolution. They then reveal how the ancients answered these riddles. Witty and ingenious. these conundrums beg to be used wherever ethics, justice and peaceful coexistence are discussed.

Jaquith, Priscilla 60 RABBIT SMART FOR TRUE: TALL TALES FROM THE GULLAH Philomel, 1995
Variants of the Br'er Rabbit stories, as told by the GuIlah people from the Sea Isles off the coasts of the Carolinas and Georgia, are beguiling in their humor and the cadence of their language. Jaquith's retellings make them accessible to modern audiences, yet preserve the flavor and rhythm of the original phrasing. This collection brims with vitality and good sense.

Levine, Ellen FREEDOM'S CHILDREN: YOUNG CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TELL THEIR OWN STORIES Putnam, 1992
Thirty African-Americans who were children and teen-agers active in the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's tell the stories of their experiences in this intensely moving volume. Levine presents their first-hand accounts so that the setting and the temper of the times are vivid. The resolve and courage of these young people are made immediate and profoundly inspiring.

Lottridge, Celia Barker TEN SMALL TALES Margaret K. McElderry, 1994
Ms. Lottridge's delightful. pithy style makes this collection suitable for pre-schoolers as well as a fine source for beginning storytellers. The familiar, such as the tale about the giant turnip, are interspersed with the less-known, such as the one about a boy who transforms himself into a peanut. A worthy addition for this insatiable age group.

Medicine Story THE CHILDREN OF THE MORNING LIGHT: WAMPANOAG TALES AS TOLD BY MANITOQUAT Macmillan, 1994
These ageless creation tales, set down by a gifted Native storyteller, resonate with the spirit and traditional wisdoms of the Wampanoag people. Rich in ancient truths, contemporary humor, and universal sensibilities, these are living, breathing tales that continue to grow in the telling. A testament to the power of stories to teach, remember, and to inspire.

Perrault, Charles THE COMPLETE FAIRY TALES OF CHARLES PERRAULT Clarion, 1992
A new translation, notable for its adherence to Perrault's original and compelling for its departures from more familiar retellings of his tales. Complete down to Perrault's rhymed, often biting MmoraIit~s", it is sophisticated in tone, calculated to engage, amuse titillate and astound an adult audience. The introduction and notes by Neal Philips provide historical context for Perrault's accomplishments and provenance for his tales.

Ross, Gayle HOW RABBIT TRICKED OTTER AND OTHER CHEROKEE TRICKSTER STORIES HarperCollins. 1994
Fifteen tales about Rabbit, the trickster-hero who is central to the Cherokee storytelling tradition. Ross' voice is clear and convincing; the stories have an infectious liveliness that makes their insights easy to absorb. Beginning and experienced storytellers will find sure-fire material here.

Ude Wayne MAYBE I WILL DO SOMETHING: SEVEN COYOTE TALES Houghton Mifflin, 1992
The enigmatic Coyote emerges from Ude's inventive retelling of his stories with distinct personality which illuminates his adventures. MAYBE I WILL DO SOMETHING is an outstanding example of how scholarship, imagination and reverence for traditional storytelling can combine to produce a whole which is more than the sum of its parts.

Anne Izard Storyteller's Choice Award Committee
Miriam Lang Budin- Chairperson- Mt. Kisco Public Library
Marcia Hupp - Chair Elect- Mamaroneck Public Library
Juli Biro - Westchester Storytellers' Guild
Marilyn Iarusso - NY Public Library and NY Storytelling Center
Kathy McQuown - Jewish Storytelling Center
Teresita Mulia - Yonkers Public Library
Judith Rovenger - Children's Services Consultant, Westchester Library System
Ruth Shire - Mt. Vernon Public Library
Phyllis Stephens - National Association of Black Storytellers