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

Tales for the Brave: Heroes and Heroines, Gods and Ghosts

‘Tales from the Brave’ is a wonderful collection of myths from Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and the Isle of Man. On the eve of Samhain, a druidess and a file (a poet) come together to light a bonfire on a hillside. Settled by the fire, they feel the presence of the other-worldly spirits who come to share their stories. As each figure emerges from the darkness into the firelight, they tell their tale. As the last of the visitors leaves, the druidess and the file leave the hill, taking the ancient stories with them as gifts to any who will listen - and take heed to the wisdom they offer.

Each story is vividly illustrated by three Irish artists whose talents create the perfect atmosphere for each tale. The front endpapers show the druidess and her companion arriving on the hill, with the sunset full of magical creatures whilst the closing papers show them leaving with figures from the tales looking down from the skies. The pages and their numbers are edged with patterns which remind the reader of their connection with the natural world and the stories Celtic origins.

The author’s note speaks of a love of stories and storytelling which connects us to our ancestors and this collection is sure to pass that love on to those who read the tales contained here. Full of magic and mystery, wisdom and wonder, they are perfect for sharing and retelling for generations into the future just as they have come to us from the past.

Tales of the Brave: Heroes and Heroines, Gods and Ghosts

Rachel Pierce, illustrated by Béibhínn McCarthy, Lauren O’Neill and Louise Dukes

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702325557

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

Gods and Monsters: Mythological Poems

Combing two of my favourite things-poetry and mythology, ‘Gods and Monsters’ was always going to be a personal reading paradise, but this fabulous collection exceeded even my high expectations! It is a veritable dragon’s horde of joy in poem form.

Loosely grouped into ten sections, the book covers poems reflecting a diverse range of myths and legends from across the world, written by an incredible range of poets. Through these works, readers will re-encounter old favourites and discover a wealth of new ones whether they work their way through the collection as a whole of dip in and out as they please.

Many of the poems included are perfect for using as a story time, enriching children’s experience of poetry and expanding their knowledge of ‘the old stories’. ‘Arachnophobia’ by Kate Wise offers a perfect starting point for discovering the story of Athene and Arachne and the etymology of the title whilst the poem ‘Did you know earthquakes come from a catfish?’ explores the Japanese mythology. There are so many poems which could lead to further discovery as well as being enjoyed in their own right.

Classics like ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Jabberwocky’ mingle with more recent works. The opening poem, ‘Faith’ by Dawn McLachlan, was new to me and is now a firm favourite! There are humorous poems- ‘Mrs Icarus’ (Carol Ann Duffy) or ‘Going to Bed’ (A F Harrold), for example- as well as moving ones, all beautifully illustrated by the incomparable Chris Riddell whose skill manages to capture each mood and feeling.

Gods and Monsters: Mythological Poems

Chosen by Ana Sampson, illustrated by Chris Riddell

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1035023011

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

The Golden Age

Known in English as Ovid, Publius Ovidius Naso was a Roman poet. He is best known for the 'Metamorphoses', a long verse narrative which retells more than 250 ancient Greek and Roman legends, unified through the theme of transformation. In this collection, Heinz Janisch has chosen seventeen of those stories and has retold them in this volume.

Some of the selected stories are familiar ones. Midas and his golden touch; the plight of Icarus as he and his father attempt to escape from Crete; Arachne’s transformation after foolishly challenging the skill a goddess. Other myths are less well-known- Circe’s transformation of Picus into a woodpecker; Philemon and Baucis, changed into trees by Jupiter, their bows forever entwined; the story of the Lycian farmers, turned into frogs by Latona.

Each myth is retold in a succinct style, making them accessible and easy to follow yet, as these stories are, full of action and emotion. The illustrations have an ethereal quality, using muted colours to capture the essence of magic running through these stories.

There is a note from the author at the end of the book as well as a list of names of the characters in the book and a short note about Ovid. This collection is sure to appeal to children in upper KS2 and into KS3, offering much to discuss and enjoy as they bring Ovid’s Metamorphoses to a new audience of readers.

The Golden Age: Ovid’s Metamorphoses

Heinz Janisch, translated by David Henry Wilson

illustrated by Ana Sender

North and South ISBN: 978-0735844711

Egyptian Myths

This lovely book sits alongside the ‘Greek Myths’ and ‘Norse Myths’, both from DK, which share the same format- and I hope there are plans to work through mythologies from across the world in this way! Beautifully presented, it is packed with information and illustrations which bring the stories of the Gods, Goddesses and Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt to life.

Starting with creation stories, the reader discovers how the ancient Egyptians believed the world was created, including pages of information focusing on Nut and Geb. Myths introducing different gods and goddesses follow, each absorbing and skilfully told. The stories are interspersed with information about Ancient Egyptian life and specific deities.

It’s a fascinating read and perfect for supporting children’s understanding about this fascinating period of history. Whilst the illustrations capture interest, the very readable text brings these stories to life in an accessible, magical way. A pronunciation guide and a glossary support the readers’ understanding and the detailed index makes information easy to locate.

An excellent book, perfect for school and home!

Egyptian Myths: Meet the Gods, Goddesses and Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Jean Menzies, illustrated by Katie Ponder

DK ISBN: 978-0241538739

Blog Tour: Gender Swapped Greek Myths

The myths and legends that the Ancient Greeks created are amongst the best known and most retold. Elements of these stories have permeated our everyday life and language- Achille’s heel, Herculean strength, having the Midas touch. These are stories which have stood the test of time- stories of heroes, monsters, gods, goddesses and mortals filled with tragedy, mystery, adventure, envy, courage, vengeance and love.

Although the versions written for children are generally sanitised and simplified. It is not often, for example, that Medusa’s rape in the temple of Athena is included, nor the fact that Athena then punished Medusa for this. Rooted in a patriarchal society, women in these stories are depicted in accordance to the beliefs and values of these times. Whilst the men are generally portrayed as heroic and powerful, women tended to their needs and gave birth to their children or waited passively to be rescued- with the stories emphasising the dire consequences for any who might think otherwise.

In this new collection of re-tellings, the roles are literally reversed. With each of the myths presented here, the gender of each character has been switched, making the reader pause and reflect not only on the original tales, but on how this bias affects our everyday lives. It is amazing how a different name and pronoun impacts the reader and changes perceptions.

So, here we meet Pandorus as he opens his casket ‘just to peep inside’ and releases all the ills of the world; it is Thesea who kills the Minoheifer, Queen Aegea whose death names the Aegean Sea; Arachnus who is transformed into a spider. The book starts with an authors’ note which explains the ‘story behind the story’ with both Karrie and Jonathan contributing. In this, they discuss their reasons for this work, the sources they drew on and explain any adaptations they had to make.

The book- a beautiful hardback with a red ribbon bookmark- is full of colour illustrations, bringing these new characters to life. This would make a welcome addition to school libraries and classrooms, perfect for generating discussions and challenging thinking about the role of different characters and relationships are altered in the different versions.

Gender Swapped Greek Myths

Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett

Faber ISBN: 978-0571371327

Many thanks to Bethany at Faber for inviting me to take part on this tour.

Make sure you read the rest of the tour posts over the next few days.