Crenshaw's Books & Decks

This is a delightful collection of Bhutanese Himalayan folk stories compiled and translated into English. The stories share the magic with Brother Grimm's compilations of European folk tales, but come from a land, culture and ways of living that are very different. They also share the magic feeling, the moral value, the behavioural advice, and the sense of awe with which these folk tales are embedded. These Bhutanese stories have a mix of pre-Buddhist and Buddhist elements that make them fascinating from an anthropological point of view. I was surprised at the role of women in these tales, so very powerful and active.

All the stories are extremely charming, but I especially liked Why Cats bury their stools, the Fall of three friends, the Cuckoo and the pigeon and the Yeti tales.

If you have children, you might like adding this collection of fables to their daily or bed readings because they will introduce them into new magic realms, to which they are not exposed to in their school and mainstream animated movies, and from which they can learn many things. Many of these tales are not for little children, and need of parental supervision.

I got this book before my trip to Bhutan, and reading the stories in the area of origin made them even more magical.

I would have loved seeing each story accompanied by an illustration.