Lore of the Deep

‘Lore of the Deep’ brings together a collection of water-based folklore from around the world. It is a wonderful addition to this series which includes ‘Lore of the Wild’, ‘Lore of the Land’ and ‘Lore of the Stars’. Each volume is beautifully illustrated by a different artist.

Divided into six sections - Mythical Seas and Oceans, Creatures of the Seas and Oceans, Seafarers, Stormy Waters, Ocean Landscapes and Ominous Oceans - the book plunges the reader into every aspect of the watery world and the stories humans have created to explain its wonders and mysteries. Each section starts with a traditional tale on the theme, followed by snippets of folklore and wisdom.

A comprehensive index includes cultural references which is a useful addition- perhaps a world map highlighting these locations would also have been helpful. Like the other volumes in the series, ‘Lore of the Deep’ is a real treasure trove, offering a book which can be returned to again and again and one which teachers are sure to find useful for enriching the curriculum with some of those little details and stories which children love!

Lore of the Deep: Folklore and Wisdom from the Watery Wilds

Claire Cock-Starkey, illustrated by Stacey Rozich

Wide-Eyed ISBN: 978-0711287709

You can read my review of ‘Lore of the Stars’ here

Whispering Hollow

Pippa Newton loves nature and loves the time she spends with her grandfather at his cottage in the woods. Her brother, Jed, used to enjoy these trips as well, but now lacks enthusiasm. However, they arrive to find their grandfather reluctant to let them stay and Pippa soon realises that something malevolent is lurking, causing Grandpa to be fearful and act strangely. When Pippa disobeys her grandfather and creeps out into the woods at night to use her night vision binoculars, things quickly spiral out of control.

In ‘Whispering Hollow’, Rachel Burge has created a spooky tale, full of suspense and menace, perfect for the darkening evenings- if you are someone who likes a good scare! The strange behaviour of her grandfather, his unkempt appearance, the sinister twig men hanging around the house create a tense atmosphere from the outset, leaving the reader wondering what might happen next.

Set in Cornwall, the story draws on the rich folklore and traditional tales of that area with hidden folk, spriggan and changelings and the narrative moves between the two worlds. But the story is also about siblings and the deep bonds they can share, of loss and change and family and the wonders of the natural world, making it a satisfying read as well as a dark and creepy one.

Whispering Hollow

Rachel Burge

Welbeck ISBN: 978-1804536179

The Seamaiden’s Odyssey

When a strange creature is rescued from the sea and brought to the marine sanctuary where Sasha works, she finds herself fascinated by the beautiful sea-girl, who is kept for scientific research and exhibited to a curious public. As Sasha spends time with ‘Marissa’ as she names her, the sea-girl eventually offers to tell her story in exchange for a promise.

I loved this story so much that I almost don’t know where to begin! Any book by Berlie Doherty is a real treat and ‘The Seamaiden’s Odyssey’ combines her magical storytelling with stunning illustrations from Tamsin Rosewell.

It is a beautifully told tale of love, longing, pride and grief, which captures the imagination and plunges the reader into the world of watery folklore and legend. The story which ‘Marissa’ shares with Sasha follows the tale of Merryn, who defies her father in a bid to find her own way rather than follow the path he has set for her. To tell too much of her adventures here would spoil the plot for others, but there is much to enjoy, much to reflect on, echoing like the seamaiden’s song long after the story has ended. The writing is evocative of traditional tales, mixing the familiar with the surprising and new, offering a deeply satisfying and poignant story.

Set against stunning blue backgrounds, silhouette work is used in the illustrations. Reminiscent of the work of Jan Pieńkowski, which I love, these add much to the magical appeal of the story, allowing the reader to give the characters face and form from their own imagination. Each is a work of art to be lingered over and enjoyed.

It is such a beautiful book, one to be gifted and treasured.

The Seamaiden’s Odyssey

Berlie Doherty, illustrated by Tamsin Rosewell

Uclan     ISBN: 978-1916747197

Blog Tour: Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins

I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for the very wonderful ‘Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins’ by the equally wonderful Claire Fayers! As a great lover of myths, legends, fables and folklore, I collect these stories wherever I go and am always thrilled when a new collection appears.

Before you have even opened it to discover the delights within, it has to be said that ‘Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins’ is a beautifully produced book. The green hardback perfectly complements the gold lettering and design of the cover by Becka Moor, making this a book to be gifted, treasured, loved and passed on. And (as one of those weird booklovers who can always be found sniffing books!) it smells great too!

In this collection, Claire has taken seventeen traditional Welsh tales and has used her own special magic to re-imagine them for a new generation. In doing so, she has created a treasure trove of tales, offering something new whilst acknowledging the old, allowing readers to investigate the stories which inspired her should they wish to do so.

Each story starts with an author’s note which sets the scene and sometimes offers guidance on pronunciation- essential support for anyone sharing these at a story time. I particularly enjoyed ‘The Green Lady of Caerphilly Castle’ which, inspired by the story, I am planning to visit very soon! But then, I am planning to spend quite a lot of time exploring Wales due to this book!

In some stories, such as the Green Lady, Claire has stayed fairly true to the original; others, she has cleverly altered to offer a new or different take on the tale. In ‘Sir John and the Dragon’, the addition of Mags, a lively, intelligent orphan, which allows a far more satisfactory conclusion to the story of Denbigh’s dragon.

I could easily write about each of the stories and how much I enjoyed them, but that would make this piece far too long. Suffice it to say that for those who love folklore, this is an essential collection. For those who don’t, this is the collection you need to change that!

Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins

Claire Fayers, illustrated by Becka Moor

Firefly Press ISBN: 1915444707

You can find out more about Claire and her books on her website: https://clairefayers.com/

Many thanks to the lovely people at Firefly Press for inviting me to take part on this Blog Tour!

The Shade Tree

When a rich man claims that the shade of a tree belongs to him and refuses to let the villagers take shelter in it, a young traveller offers to buy it from him. Delighted by what he considers the young man’s foolishness, the rich man accepts his offer and the traveller shares the tree’s shade with the villagers. However, as sun began to set, the shadows grow longer until they cover the rich man’s house and the traveller points out that wherever the tree’s shade falls now belongs to him. Eventually, the rich man gives up his house and moves away, leaving the traveller to enjoy the house and allow all the villagers to enjoy the tree’s shade whenever they desire.

‘Wave’ by Suzy Lee is one of my absolute favourite picture books and I had great fun planning work to inspire writing from this wordless treasure so I was very excited when, whilst researching books for the FCBG ‘Myths and Legends’ booklist I am writing, the lovely Catherine Ward suggested I look at ‘The Shade Tree’, another of her books.

Text and illustration combine perfectly in this retelling of a Korean folktale. The characters are presented as silhouettes, giving them an ‘every man’ quality so suited to the nature of folklore, whilst the tree takes centre stage, lush and verdant, and yet there are plenty of details to notice- the coins tumbling from hand to hand, the actions of the villagers, the fury of the rich man! A gatefold spread cleverly shows the lengthening shadow with the traveller dancing along in the shade, right up to the greedy rich man’s house.

The timeless wisdom of the tale offers plenty to discuss and enjoy with kindness and quick wit triumphing over greed. The style of illustration used may well inspire children to create shadow puppets with which to re-enact this story, other folktales - or perhaps to create their own!

A magical retelling!

The Shade Tree

Suzy Lee, translated by Helen Mixter

Greystone Books ISBN: 978-1778400186

Lore of the Stars

Divided into six sections-The Sky, The Sun, The Moon, The Stars, Planets, Comets and Shooting Stars and The Cosmos, ‘Lore of the Stars’ is bursting with fascinating tales of ancient wisdom. Following the structure of the two previous books in this series, ‘Lore of the Wild’ and ‘Lore of the Land’, each section is opened by a traditional tale from a different culture like the Nigerian tale which explains why the sky is so far away and the Indian Santal folktale of why the moon was created.

There are spreads which take a general theme- moon lore, auroras…- and explore beliefs from different cultures, allowing readers to see the similarities and differences between myths and legends from around the world. There is so much here to enjoy- so many different tales to explore. Some are more familiar like the tales of the ancient Greeks, but there are many less well known stories to discover.

The book is beautifully illustrated, marrying perfectly with the other titles in the series and adding brilliantly to any collection of books on mythology, legend and folklore. This is a must-have series to be returned to again and again.

Lore of the Stars: Folklore and Wisdom from the Skies Above

Claire Cock-Starkey, illustrated by Hannah Bess Ross

Wide Eyed ISBN: 978-0711282001

Rebel Folklore

Folklore or the stories ‘of the folk’ are central to all societies. Re-told and embellished with every telling, these tales are passed from generation to generation and are usually bursting with larger than life characters. In this fascinating collection, readers are introduced to 50 stories of ‘spirits, witches and other misfits’ and in the introduction, the author acknowledges the importance of reading the tales with ‘their original contexts in mind’, both to fully understand them and also to respect the cultures they emerged from.

The stories are gathered by continent, with the country of origin also indicated. A dramatic illustration accompanies the information about each character and with my copy, I received some lovely cards featuring these. Each section is really well written, offering plenty of information, making links between figures from one culture or time and another and encouraging readers to reflect on the role of these characters who are considered outsiders or misfits in some way.

A completely absorbing, engrossing collection for anyone with an interest in folklore -or for anyone who is intrigued by something a little different, this is perfect for a slightly older audience. It is a book which I will return to again and again!

Rebel Folklore:

Empowering Tales of Spirits, Witches and Other Misfits from Anansi to Baba Yaga

Icy Sedgwick, illustrated by Melissa Jarram

DK ISBN: 978-0241623008

Into the Faerie Hill

Whilst his father is working with a construction company on a tunnelling project through a local hill, Alfred is to stay with his grandmother under a forest topped cliff. Everything is strange and unfamiliar- particularly the odd little faerie creatures that only he can see. When he meets local girl, Saga, he starts to really appreciate the beauty of the area and the threat it is under from the construction project his father is involved in. As he joins Saga in the protests, he is drawn deeper into the world of the faerie, trying to discover the secrets of his past as well as saving the beauty of the natural world.

‘Into the Faerie Hill’ is a wonderfully atmospheric, magical story, full of mystery, but one which carries a powerful environmental message. Once started, it is impossible to put down.

The story is richly descriptive, quickly immersing the reader. Alfred is conscious of his differences, both physical and in his ability to see things which others can’t, but the wonderful Saga’s natural openness and free-spirit allow him to relax and enjoy a genuine friendship. Her passion for the natural world and the local area are as inspiring as her loyalty and support of Alfred. Together, they make a formidable team.

Folklore is woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story as Alfred seeks answers to questions about his mother, who -he believes- died twelve years ago. His father and grandmother are reluctant to talk about her and Alfred has to piece together the truth whilst facing the perils of the faerie.

There are so many elements to enjoy here, appealing to different people as they enjoy the story as a whole. The map at the beginning - who doesn’t love a map?!- also has a floor plan of Granny’s cottage, showing the location of the carved figures which are placed around the house, an attention to detail to support the reader which some of us really appreciate!

Perfect for those looking for something a little different, this is one not to be missed!

Into the Faerie Hill H S Norup

Pushkin Children’s ISBN: 978-1782693864

Published 2nd March 2023

You can read my review of The Hungry Ghost here.

Bramble Fox

Magic is everywhere.

When Portia goes to stay with her mother’s aunt, Rose, in North Wales, she is intrigued by the behaviour of a strange golden-eyed fox which leads her to discover a hidden key. When the fox leads her to a doorway, she cannot resist seeing whether the key will open it- and finds herself in the world of Faerie. To her horror, she learns she has disturbed the Grey King, who is eager to cross over into the Human World with his ghostly army and spread his fog of forgetting. With the help of her new found friend, Ben, Portia must decide who to trust if they are to save both the Faerie and the human worlds.

Rich in folklore and mythology, this is a wonderful story. It is a difficult one to review without spoiling it for anyone who hasn’t read it so I will be briefer than usual!

Portia and Ben make an excellent team, coming to value one another and appreciate each others strengths. Ben is struggling to come to terms with the death of his father whilst Portia lives with the shadow of her mother’s mental illness. Both learn much on their adventure- about themselves and about others- but I found Ben’s ‘journey’ particularly fascinating. He is a very endearing character, shown both through his own actions and the reactions of others to him.

The story is full of references to Shakespeare, story, mythology and, of course, the natural beauty of Wales, Eryri (Snowdonia) in particular. It is a magical mix, steeped in the wonder of the imagination with hints at half-remembered tales, offering the reader a comfortable familiarity which makes it seem almost real! Inspiration from the real world and that of the faerie mingle perfectly in these pages.

Once I had finished the story, I found myself pondering on the importance of translating books from other languages into English. This is a treasure I never would have been able to read were it not for the skill of translator, Cathrin Wirtz, or the vision of Pushkin Press whose books I love. It is so important to offer these stories as part of the cornucopia of reading delights available to children to ensure their reading lives are enriched by opening new horizons and exploring ideas and writings beyond those of their native language.

One not to be missed!

Bramble Fox Kathrin Tordasi, translated by Cathrin Wirtz

Pushkin Children’s ISBN: 978-1782693451

Bramble Fox Kathrin Tordasi, translated by Cathrin Wirtz

Pushkin Children’s ISBN: 978-1782693451

Blog Tour: Orla and the Wild Hunt

Rather than go to France with her father, his fiancée and two sons, Orla decides go and stay with her Gran in Ireland. To her surprise, her bother, Apollo, elects to go with her. The two are still grieving the death of their mother and look forward to the comfort and familiarity of the tiny ramshackle cottage on the edge of the Tangled Woods. But Gran is not herself, seeming nervous and watchful, although she still makes her tiffin and shares the tales from Irish folklore. Then Gran vanishes one night and with the help of a local boy called Conor and a strange creature they found locked in Gran’s shed, they set off on a perilous and magical mission to find her and save her from the Wild Hunt.

‘The Mask of Aribella’ is a huge favourite of mine so I was very keen to read Anna’s new book. Rich in folklore, imagination and love, ‘Orla and the Wild Hunt’ is an incredible story- and one which I will return to again and again.

Orla is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her mother and resents the fact that everyone else seems to be able to move on with their lives, lashing out at her brother in particular. She denies herself the joy music and singing brings, having believed that maybe, if she had practised hard enough, her mother would have got better, and has withdrawn from her friends. When her Gran is taken, she has no choice but to take action and move forwards as she cannot bear the thought of losing someone else. Kind hearted, thoughtful and empathetic, Apollo copes with his sorrow in a different way. As they search for their grandmother, he helps Orla to find her voice once more and their sibling bond becomes stronger than ever and Orla finds the courage to confront her grief, just as she confronts the Wild Hunt.

The story is completely compelling, beautifully twisting Irish mythology with stories from other traditions. The children encounter merrow, fairies, water sprites as well as the pooka they found locked in Gran’s shed. My favourite by far, however, is the giant, Fionn, of the Giant’s Causeway fame, although Anna has adapted the tale. He adds plenty of gentle humour as does the pooka’s acerbic wit and rude comments! Their loyalty to the children and the (initially reluctant) support they offer them on their quest is heart warming.

There are so many reasons for reading this story, not least Anna’s fabulous writing style. Full of vivid descriptions, the plot moves at an excellent pace with plenty of tension, offering a mesmerising tale of love and loss. Anna set the bar high with ‘The Mask of Aribella’ and has succeeded in creating another story which is just as unique and engaging. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

On a final note, the story has started something of a ‘tiffin war’ here! I was going to share my favourite tiffin recipe because ‘tiffin is the best’, but this has led to deep debates about the differences between tiffin, Rocky Road and a tray bake! Help to settle this would be much appreciated!

Orla and the Wild Hunt Anna Hoghton

Chicken House ISBN: 978-1912626113

You can read my review of ‘The Mask of Aribella’ here.