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 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

God of the Ancient World

‘Gods of the Ancient World’ is a brilliant selection of myths and legends from around the world. The author starts with an introduction exploring why humans tell stories and why some might be more familiar to readers than others. Acknowledging that none of the tales ‘belong’ to her, she explains why she believes telling them is so important. As a lover of these ancient stories, I agree with what she says and think this book offers an excellent introduction for children (and adults) to find out more about where the stories included here are from and the people who told them.

Twenty three tales are included, each beautifully illustrated. A map of the world shows the reader where each story originated and the book is organised into four general ‘themes’- How the World Began, Gods Helping Humans, Rulers of Nature and Keeping Humans in Line. Among the stories in each section are spreads focusing on different themes, for example, Gods and Animals, The Maya People and Survivor Gods. It is a fascinating read, sure to excite curiosity and develop interest in these tales from the past.

A comprehensive index allows the reader to quickly locate specific information and as well as the drawn illustrations, photographs of real objects are also included which might also encourage children to pursue further research or to look for artefacts such as those shown here if they happen to be on a visit to a museum.

This collection also offers an invaluable resource for teachers, allowing them to locate stories which are linked to work in other subjects or for story times on days between class novels. There is much to enjoy and explore here with plenty to discuss.

Gods of the Ancient World: A Kid’s Guide to Ancient Mythology

Marchella Ward, illustrated by Xuan Le

Dorling Kindersley ISBN: 978-0241567791

Cornish Tales

Having just returned from a lovely week in Cornwall, I have been reminded not only of how beautiful it is, but also how rich in folklore and legend. From Zennor to Mousehole, from Port Isaac to Fowey, it is steeped in stories. This collection of Cornish tales was first published by Andersen Press in 1986 under the name ‘The Magic Ointment’, this edition is beautifully illustrated and offers a real treasure trove of Cornish stories.

In the introduction, Eric Quayle acknowledges the role of Robert Hunt in the collecting of the Cornish folklore retold in this collection. Hunt was responsible for ‘Popular Romances of the West of England’, two volumes of stories which he edited and compiled, published in 1865 and this work was Quayle’s main source. Although born in Devon, Hunt spent most of his life in Cornwall where he gathered these tales of oral tradition and recorded them for posterity.

My copy is about 10 years old, having been purchased at what is now Shrew Books (then Bookends) in Fowey on one of our many trips to that part of the world, but I was delighted to see that it is still widely available in (book)shops across Cornwall today. Perfectly illustrated by the amazingly talented Michael Foreman, this is a book to be treasured and returned to again and again.

Through these stories, the reader learns about Jack the Giant-Killer who slew Cormoran, the giant of St Michael’s Mount, discover the fate of the witch of Fraddam and find out how Flora took the spriggans’ treasure and bought herself her dream cottage in St Ives. These tellings retain a feel of the oral tradition, capturing the sense of wonder and magic that must have been felt by those listening, wide-eyed, around the firesides of days gone by. A visit to Zennor in all its rugged beauty breathes truth into the tale of the Mermaid whose likeness is immortalised on the side of a bench in the church. Michael Foreman’s stunning illustrations capture the essence of each tale, adding much to their enjoyment.

For those interested in traditional tales, there is also the fascination of how stories told in different parts of the world- or even the same country - can be so similar and yet so different. ‘Duffy and the Devil’ has elements in common with Rumpelstiltskin or Tom Tit Tot and yet has a distinctive Cornish flavour in both setting and telling.

An absolute must-have for anyone interested in folklore, Cornwall or an excellent story!

Cornish Tales

Eric Quayle, illustrated by Michael Foreman

Mabecron Books ISBN: 978-0956435095

Aesop’s Fables

Fables are short stories, often with animal characters, which have a moral at their core offering the reader- or listener- wisdom. Aesop is probably the best known teller of these tales with stories like ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ and ‘The Lion and the Mouse’, familiar to us all. In this new collection, Caroline Lawrence has interspersed the tales with sections from an ancient biography about Aesop, allowing the reader to learn more about the man himself whilst enjoying his stories.

Each fable has been concisely told, making the collection perfect for dipping in and out of, with a fable being specially selected for discussion (or simply for pleasure0 or for reading from end to end. Many of the stories feature talking animals, but living in ancient Greece, Aesop’s tales also make reference to the gods- ‘Zeus and the Honeybees’, ‘Heracles, Athena and Strife’ and ‘Zeus, Hermes and the Ostraka’, for example. Originally, these fables would have been told and retold through the words of storytellers, embellished and coloured as the teller saw fit down through the ages, but in this edition, Caroline Lawrence has returned to the surviving Greek and Latin manuscripts, translating from these ancient texts rather than re-telling the stories in her own words. This offers possibilities for comparing different versions and discussing how they have developed and altered over the years as well as enjoying the ‘flavour’ of each story as Aesop intended.

Set in a world we no longer recognise, these translations contain words which are no longer familiar to us and so a comprehensive glossary of ‘Aesop’s Words’ at the end of the book helps the reader understand terms like mormolukeion, gymnasiarch or ostraka. Pronunciation guides are included which is very helpful for anyone reading the fables aloud.

The whole collection is beautifully illustrated by Robert Ingpen whose pictures enhance the fables. Little vignettes are scattered throughout whilst some pages are devoted to full illustrations, capturing the feeling of those ancient times.

Great for sharing at home or at school, this edition of ‘Aesop’s Fables’ is one not to be missed!

Aesop’s Fables

Caroline Lawrence, illustrated by Robert Ingpen

Webeck Publishing ISBN: 978-1913519902

Snow White and other Grimm’s Fairy Tales

The ninth in this stunning series, ‘Snow White and Other Grimm’s Fairy Tales’ would make the perfect gift for any book lover at this-or any- time of year. Twenty of their tales- some better known than others- are included here, making the book a wonderful introduction to the stories gathered by the brothers for those who new to them or a beautiful addition to the shelves of any collector.

Some of the stories have their alternative titles in brackets alongside those which are better known- Snowdrop (Snow White), Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), Ashputtel (Cinderella), for example, prefect for encouraging discussions about the origins of these tales and how they have changed over the years. Each story is accompanied by beautiful colour illustrations, but some have interactive pictures with fold-outs and flip-ups which really help to bring the tale to life. Cinderella, in her golden gown, stands on the dance floor, Rapunzel’s tower rises from the page, the dancing princesses leap from the book… there is so much to enjoy and return to again and again.

These stories are translations from the original German and so are not the ‘Disneyfied’ versions many know, but contain the darker elements as told to the Grimm Brothers as they collected these stories on their travels. Children will enjoy comparing these to the versions which they know and (in my experience!) revel in the gory details and frissons of fear which they offer.

Of course, one of these beautiful books is never enough and is sure to lead to buying the rest of the collection!

Snow White and Other Grimms’ Fairy Tales

The Brothers Grimm, illustrated by MinaLima

Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0063208247

You can read about my visit to Grimms’ World here.

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

Please, Mr Magic Fish

Jack catches a fish which, much to his surprise, speaks to him offering to grant a wish in exchange for his freedom. When he tells his wife, Liz, about the encounter, she is furious with him as he didn’t make a wish when he had the chance. Together, they go in search of the fish and it grants them their wish. Initially grateful, the couple soon return to ask the fish for more and once again, the fish complies. Soon dissatisfied with the fish’s generosity, they return again to the shore and although the sea is stormy, the fish once again grants their request- but they fail to thank him. Content for only a day, the pair call the fish once more and it rises from a boiling dark sea to listen to their demands. This time, they turn to see all as it once was and they never saw the magic fish again.

In ‘Please, Mr Magic Fish’, Jessica Souhami offers a lively re-telling of the traditional tale, ‘The Fisherman and his Wife’, made popular in Europe in the 19th century by the Brothers Grimm. The story warns of the dangers of greed and reminds the reader of the importance of being grateful as traditionally the couple in the story are left with nothing. However, in her version, Jessica offers the couple a more hopeful ending. In a note at the end, she says that she has sympathy with Jack and Liz who are worn down by their poverty and get carried away when offered the chance of something better and wanted the ending to offer them hope- and it does! The story- and Jessica’s note- is sure to encourage discussion about this tale, challenging the stereotypical roles given to the man- hen-pecked fool- and his wife -nagging harridan- in the original. Children might enjoy exploring and sharing other versions of this story from around the world as well.

The story is a joy to read aloud with the repetitive phrases making it perfect for joining in with. Children will also enjoy seeing the fish’s rising fury reflected in the colour and texture of the sea whilst the couple seem blissfully oblivious of the effect they are having on it. The illustrations are full of colour and life, making the book instantly appealing and a welcome addition to any bookshelf.

Originally published in hardback in 2018, ‘Please, Mr Magic Fish’ is now available in paperback.

Please, Mr Magic Fish Jessica Souhami

Otter-Barry Books

ISBN: 978-1910959183 (hardback) 978-1913074111 (paperback)