Grouped under such auspicious headings as Tricksters,'' ``Fools and Vices and Virtues,'' these 20 Chinese folktales afford entertainment and subtle messages. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)

Gr 3-7-- Twenty Chinese folktales, selected and retold by Yep from those collected in the 1930s in the Oakland Chinatown as part of a WPA project. His introduction helps children to see the Chinese workers, gathered in a shack after their day of hot, grueling work,'' telling stories to pass the time before sleep comes. Each section is prefaced by a short explanation of how the tales might relate to the Chinese-American experience. Yep retells the stories simply and directly, attempting to use his own voice while preserving thespirit and spare beauty'' of the original tales. He does this by weaving bits of rich description into short, clear telling. The tales, while drawn from and depicting Chinese culture, present a variety of familiar motifs and types: wizards and saints, shape changing and magical objects, pourquoi tales and lessons. An ``Afterword'' provides suggestions for further reading on Chinese folktales. This is an excellent introduction to Chinese and Chinese-American folklore that reads aloud well, that will provide little-known tales for telling, and that is simple enough for older children to read by themselves. --Constance A. Mellon, Department of Library & Information Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.