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

East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends

The latest title in the Scholastic ‘Folktales, Myths and Legends’ series offers a collection of stories from East Asia, thoughtfully retold by Eva Wong Nava. The anthology includes tales from China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Mongolia and is a much needed and very welcome addition to the range of traditional stories available.

The book opens with an excellent introduction which clarifies much for readers who are not familiar with these stories or the countries where they originate. It explains how these stories spread, why there are themes and tales common to more than one location and celebrates the oral tradition of storytelling. It also reflects on religious and social influences which have shaped the stories. It makes a fascinating read and adds much to the enjoyment of the book.

Organised into five sections- Origin and Discovery Tales, Festival Stories, Animal Tales, Tales of Good, Wise and Brave, and Ancient Love Stories- each story has a brief introduction, offering background knowledge and context. The tales are beautifully retold and are wonderful to read aloud, making them a joy to share. I have always loved the story of Momotaro and really enjoyed the version included here!

I can’t recommend this collection highly enough as it is sure to introduce new readers to the joy of some wonderful traditional tales and inspire them to share these with others.

East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends

Eva Wong Nava, illustrated by Jocelyn Kao

Scholastic    ISBN: 978-0702325236

You can read my review of ‘I Love Chinese New Year’ here.

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

The Princess who Hid in a Tree

Frideswide was an Anglo-Saxon princess who lived in Oxford a long time ago. She was brave, beautiful and kind and declared that she had no intention of marrying. However, Algar, the King of Mercia, decided he wanted her for his bride and threatened he would attack Oxford if she refused. This is the story of how she escaped him…

According to Kevin Crossley-Holland, the name ‘Frideswide’ is a compound word combining two Anglo-Saxon words meaning ‘peace’ (frith) and ‘strong’ (swith). These seem to perfectly describe Saint Frideswide whose legend is retold in this lovely edition for children. Accompanied by Alan Marks’s stunning illustrations, the story is beautifully retold, making the book the perfect starting point for discovering more about this legendary princess. Additional historical notes are given at the end, filling in the factual evidence surrounding her story. Frideswide inspired the foundation of Christ Church College and its Cathedral, and Oxfordshire Day, also known as St Frideswide’s Day, commemorates her death on the 19th October every year. I am ashamed to say I knew nothing about her and am so glad that this book has allowed me to discover her story. I will be planning a trip to Oxford to visit some of the locations relevant to her life.

The story of this little remembered princess would be excellent for using as part of work on the Anglo-Saxons, before visiting Oxford or for anyone who enjoys history and tales from the past. The illustrations are as captivating as her tale, making this an essential addition to school and home bookshelves!

The Princess who Hid in a Tree

Jackie Holderness, illustrated by Alan Marks

Bodleian Children’s Books ISBN: 978-1851245185

The Sleeping Stones

The Sleepers are hungry and the sea is waiting…

Gruff loves his life on the farm which has been in his family for generations, but times are hard and the family is struggling to stay on the small Welsh island. When the ‘New Neighbours’ move in to what used to be the blacksmith’s cottage, Gruff tries not to resent them and be friendly towards Mat- or Matylda- who has moved there with her family. Mat finds herself inexplicably drawn to the Sleepers, six dark stones leading out from the beach into the sea, ‘like the stepping sones of giants’. But as more and more islanders find themselves being drawn by the lure of the stones, Mat and Gruff must work together to solve the mystery of the Sleeping Stones and save the island community.

Full of rich descriptions of life on the Welsh island, ‘The Sleeping Stones’ is full of the magic and mysticism of Welsh folklore and tradition, old songs and mythological creatures. The sense of place is further enhanced by the use of dialogue and phrases in Welsh (translated into English for non-Welsh speakers).

The story cleverly mingles the love of home and the farming tradition, the sense of belonging to a place and the devastation losing this would bring, with the mystery of the legend of the stones. Gruff is so in love with his life, his farm, his community that the reader becomes really invested in the threat of loss he is facing as they watch him struggle with the situation, doing whatever he can which he thinks will help. His anger at being kept in the dark by his father and Nain (his grandmother) make him a very relatable character as does the jealousy and resentment he feels towards Mat who is starting a new life on the island just as his might be ending.

The sense of belonging Gruff feels on the island is in stark contrast to the lack of belonging felt by Mat who was born in Poland, but who has lived in seven different places in four years. For reasons which I won’t reveal so as not to spoil the story for anyone who has not yet read it, Mat feels the pull of the sea intensely, causing Gruff to remind her that home is ‘where you choose it to be…where you choose to make it’.

Sure to inspire readers to learn more about Welsh mythology and folklore, ‘The Sleeping Stones’ is a great read!

The Sleeping Stones Beatrice Wallbank

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1915444059