Read Me a Story, Ink

Every Spring the Old Witch's cat, Shadow, has a litter of black, green-eyed kittens that are eagerly taken home by young witches. But one Fall, just before Halloween, Shadow has a litter of one, snow-white, blue-eyed kitten. The Old Witch screeches that a white kitten it bad luck so Shadow has to come up with a plan to soften the old witches heart.

Arcite, the coldest queen, feels neither joy nor sorrow. At the suggestion of her High Counselor, Arcite sets out on an adventure in hopes of finding both. In her chance encounter with the great Bully Legged Bogle, she finds, at last, both sorrow and great joy.

Young Thorfinn grew up unloved with a lord who only wanted power and a lady who only wanted wealth. When it came time to marry, he sought to wed one of the neighboring king's three daughters, one representing power, one representing wealth and the third love. Only his beloved tabby-cat knew which he would choose.

All over the world baby girls levitate, unseen or disbelieved by their protectors. But with time and distraction, they all forget. All except one that is. Mary Katherine Maguire remembers, and practices, and masters her unique ability to "rise up" as she puts it. Written with the simplicity and beauty of a parable, this is a lovely story about the empowerment of women.

When Mr Bear, so called by the townspeople because he is so grumpy, encounters a traveling carnival and a sad and mistreated dancing bear, he decides to buy the bear's freedom. Cutting the bear's shackles and destroying its cage, Mr Bear sets the bear free along with his own heart.

A wonderful modern translation/adaptation of a fairy tale from Brittany in which Pereg-Mari shows kindness to an old beggar woman who, in the way of fairytales, is really the queen of the Korrigans. But the Korrigans are tricky people and Pereg-Mari isn't sure he can trust her reward.

From Ms Banks delightful anthology "The Magic Hare," a Dickensian tale in which a hateful queen is transformed by the practical and kind suggestions of the magic hare.

A nicely written short biography of Clara Foltz, the women who in 1878 brought the Woman Lawyer's Bill before the California legislature and went on to become the first woman attorney on the west coast.

Nesha had within her the kiss of winter so she journeyed north where her curse could do no harm. In the land of the ice bear, what had been a curse was considered a gift because there, weather was warming, threatening their existence.

On Chester's eleventh birthday, his father announces that it's time for him to build an iceboat, just as he and his grandfather had before him. Chester is excited to build the craft but is unsure if he has the skill to sail it by himself.