Margaret Read Macdonald

Author Information
Margaret Read Macdonald's Latest Book

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  • Bibliography:
    38 Books
  • First Book:
    June 1988
  • Latest Book:
    April 2021
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Book List in Order: 38 titles

  • When the Lights Go Out

  • Tom Thumb

    The famous tale from the Brothers Grimm included in this book is only one of the stories from around the world about a very diminutive but resourceful character trying to earn his or her place in the world. This international collection of stories...

  • Mabela the Clever

    Pick of the Lists, ABAA 2001 Parents' Choice Picture Book Silver HonorHighly Commended Bookâ€"2002 Charlotte Zolotow Award CommitteeTexas Library Association 2002 2 X 2 Reading ListChildren's Literature Choice List 2002Storytelling World Award-2002 W...

  • Indonesian Folktales

    The world's largest archipelago, Indonesia is home to hundreds of ethnic groups with diverse cultures and languages. Focusing on the rich heritage of the country, this latest addition to the highly acclaimed World Folklore Series presents 29 stori...

  • Three-Minute Tales: Stories from Around the World to Tell or Read When Time Is Short

    Recognized as Notable book for Global Society

    Anyone who teache...

  • A Hen, a Chick and a String Guitar

  • Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale

    Parent's Choice Recommended Award Winner

    Have you ever heard the saying, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach� Well, Cat's stomach is bigger than a lot of things. He is always hungry, and living with culinary-inclined Mouse, who make...

  • Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle

    Oh what a pity, what a pity pity pity! With this refrain, the old woman in the vinegar bottle complains until she gets a cottage ... then a row house ... then a mansion ... How far will she move up before she's satisfied? Storyteller and children's l...

  • Tuck-Me-In Tales

    Around the world each night, parents tell stories to children as they put them to bed. Margaret Read MacDonald a folklorist, storyteller, and children's librarian uses bedtime tales in the daytime to end her story hours on a calm note. Here she inclu...



  • Earth Care

    Our relationship to the natural world is at the heart of the single largest problem we face today. We have a choice: hurt the earth and we hurt ourselves; care for the earth and we reap its bounty. People from ancient times have always know this and ...

  • Ghost Stories of the Pacific Northwest

    "Awarded title of Bowker Best Books for Young Teen ReadersThough ghosts from the Pacific Northwest can be as mean as the next ghost-breaking glass, waking sleepers, and scaring people out of house and home-they are generally a pretty jolly bunch. One...

  • Squeaky Door

    THE SQUEAKY DOOR

    It's time for bed! Granny tucks Little Boy in tight. She kisses him good night. She turns out the light. And he's not scared! No, not him! But when Granny shuts that door... SQUEEEEAK!

    How can a granny keep that spoo...

  • Teeny Weeny Bop

    Teeny Weeny Bop has found a gold coin. Her luck is made; she'll buy a pet pig! But while she sleeps, the pig destroys the garden! Teeny needs a better pet--she's going to trade her pig for a cat. The cat destroys the living room!...

  • Conejito: A Folktale from Panama

    Conejito might be small, but he definitely has the courage to outwit his bullies.

    When Conejito begins his school holiday, he goes to visit his Tía Mónica―or is it the cakes and cookies he knows she will feed him when he arrives? But Co...

  • Peace Tales

    Discussion-provoking stories for conflict resolution.

    Maybe it's the king who spills honey, and then says it is not his problem - until it causes a war. Or maybe it's some sandpipers and whales who get into a foolish fight that almost destro...

  • Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!

    There was once a woman who had a little pot for a child. Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur! -- that was the sound the pot made as it rolled everywhere. Unfortunately the pot wasn’t old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. That naughty pot ra...

  • Shake-It-up Tales!

    Winner of Storytelling World Award Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Not-Ready-for-Newbery & Recommended Reference Title Pegasus Award

    As any good storyte...

  • Go to Sleep, Gecko!: A Balinese Folktale

    "The world is all connected. Some things you just have to put up with."

    Gecko may be small, but he has a giant-sized problem. Every night he is awakened by the fireflies outside his window. And when Gecko doesn't get his r...

  • A Hen, A Chick, And A String Guitar

    New edition of a Barefoot best-seller, now with free full-length audio CD. First recorded in Russia in the 19th Century by Aleksei Tolstoy, "The Gigantic Turnip" has all the ingredients of a truly hilarious folk tale for children and adults alike. Wa...



  • Little Rooster's Diamond Button

    Little Rooster is happy to find a diamond button -- it's a perfect present for his mistress. Then along comes the King, who snatches the button for his treasure chamber! And when Little Rooster demands the button back, the King is so furious he has L...

  • Old Woman and Her Pig

    Goin' to town,gonna buy a little pig.Jig jog jig jog jiggety-jig!But when the old woman tries to take that little pig home to her little boy, the pig won't cross the bridge—this little piggy is afraid of the water! The old woman pushes and pull...

  • The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog: A Folktale from Great Britain

    A new spin on the classic story of "Beauty and the Beast." Never judge a dog by its fur.

    When a great smelly, slobbery, small-tooth dog rescues a rich man from thieves, the man offers the dog any treasure in his house as a reward. Bu...

  • Five-Minute Tales

    Another great storytelling resource from award-winning author, Margaret Read MacDonald.

    When Margaret Read MacDonald published her book, Three-Minute Tales in 2004, it received a warm reception from teachers, youth leaders, clergy, an...

  • Bat's Big Game

    The Animals and Birds are getting ready for the big game. Bat wants to WIN. The Animals look strong and fast, so Bat picks that side. But when the Animals fall behind, Bat switches to the Bird team -- doesn't a bat have wings? Maybe the Birds will wi...

  • Surf War!: A Folktale from the Marshall Islands

    A Folktale from the Marshall Islands.

    Surfs up! Sandpiper finds her daily stroll on the beach interrupted by Whale, who boasts that he is ruler of the sea. Sandpiper responds with equal bravado, asserting her rights to the sand and se...

  • Too Many Fairies: A Celtic Tale

    An old woman is at her wit's end when a troop of fairies won't stop cleaning her house....

  • The Boy from the Dragon Palace: A Folktale from Japan

    One day, a poor flower sellers drops his leftover flowers into the sea as a gift for the Dragon King. What does he get in return? A little snot-nosed boy--with the power to grant wishes! Soon the flower seller is rich, but when he forgets the meaning...

  • The Farmyard Jamboree

    Sing and dance along with a young boy who introduces different members of his family along with a new farmyard animal and animal baby on every page of this rollicking early learner, inspired by a Chilean folk tale.Book Details:Format: PaperbackPublic...

  • Give Up, Gecko!

    “Elephant! Elephant! Heavy! Heavy! Heavy! Elephant! Elephant! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!†Elephant was shouting and stomping. But could he stomp a hole deep enough to reach water for the thirsty animals? Maybe…maybe not. All the animals tried until t...



  • The Boy from the Dragon Palace

    One day, a poor flower seller drops his leftover flowers into the sea as a gift for the Dragon King. What does he get in return? A little snot-nosed boy-with the power to grant wishes! Soon the flower seller is rich, but when he forgets the meaning o...

  • Pickin' Peas

    Winner of Tennessee Volunteer State Award

    A clever, singing rabbit eats his way through the pea patch until Little Girl snatches him up, and he is soon singing a new tune as he plans his escape. With a nod to Brer R...

  • Party Croc!: A Folktale from Zimbabwe

    When you promise Croc a party, you better keep that promise and give him a party! Zuva knows you should never invite a crocodile to town--everyone knows that! But what if the crocodile does you a favor? And what if you promise to return the favor by ...

  • The Girl Who Wore Too Much

    A girl cannot decide which of her many silken dresses and lavish jewels to wear to the dance, so she wears them all.

    Like most young girls, Aree likes fine clothing and j...

  • Bye Bye Big!

    09/25/2017Staccato text and striking cut-paper-and-paint spreads create and sustain dialed-up energy throughout this story of predators turned prey. “There was a big big frog!” it begins, the words splashed across the page in block letter...

  • Tough Tug

    Tough Tug is a brand-new boat. He likes to swirl and twirl -- and run and race. He wants everyone to see what he can do. But when he sails to Alaska for the first time, he finds out what being a tug really means… Short rhythmic phrases on each p...

  • Kindness Tales

    What could be more timely than a book about kindness in today's divided and often hostile world? Kindness Tales is the long-awaited third book in a trilogy that includes Peace Tales and Earth Care from award-...

  • Cockroach Party

    • / General Fiction
    • Buy Buy

    This live recording could not be more fun! A seasoned storyteller who lives rhythm and song joins with a traditional musician playing instruments ranging from mountain dulcimer to a cardboard-box drum to create multicultural magic. The stories come f...

  • Thai Tales Audiotape

    • / General Fiction
    • Buy Buy

Award-Winning Books by Margaret Read Macdonald

Go to Sleep, Gecko!: A Balinese Folktale
2008 Flicker Tale Children's Book Award -- Nonfiction
Pickin' Peas
2000 Volunteer State Book Award -- Grades K-3


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Margaret Read Macdonald has published 38 books.

Margaret Read Macdonald does not have a new book coming out soon. The latest book, Kindness Tales, was published in April 2021.

The first book by Margaret Read Macdonald, When the Lights Go Out, was published in June 1988.

No. Margaret Read Macdonald does not write books in series.
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