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

The Midnight Mitzvah

Hanina Chipmunk loves to gather nuts and share these with her friends. She also enjoys the praise and compliments she gets for doing so when Mathilda Squirrel gruffly refuses her help, Hanina can’t understand. Leon Mouse explains to her that Mathilda used to be a champion nut collector and is embarrassed that she now needs help. Helping others is a mitzvah (a good deed), but so is not embarrassing someone, leaving Hanina wondering how to achieve both things. She decides to go and leave nuts at Mathilda’s house at night and is confronted on her journey by a Great Horned Owl. Fortunately for Hanina, the owl is sympathetic to her explanation for being out and about at night and lets her go on her way and accomplish her mission.

A note at the end of the book explains that ‘The Midnight Mitzvah’ was inspired by a 2,000-year-old tale found in the Talmud, one of the most important books in Judaism. However, this lovely story holds an important message for everyone, regardless of their faith. Charity is a wonderful, much needed thing, but is not something which should be done simply for reward or recognition. Hanina enjoys being praised for her good deeds, which is quite natural, but also learns that the outcome of a good deed is more important than this. This delightful story offers much to discuss and would make an excellent text for an assembly or PSHE session in school as well as for sharing at home.

The illustrations are delightful. Full of colour and atmosphere, they convey a sense of the threats of night time for the young chipmunk without being too frightening for little ones. Hanina has such a lovely little face she is sure to appeal to all readers!

Notes at the end of the book offer additional information about other elements of Jewish tradition and culture connected with the story, offering support for those not familiar with these, but keen to learn. It is a lovely book and one which should be added to shelves everywhere!

The Midnight Mitzvah

Ruth Horowitz, illustrated by Jenny Meilihove

Barefoot Books ISBN: 978-8888592359

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

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.

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)

Arabic Folktales

It is no secret that I love traditional tales, myths and legends. For me, there is something really special about reading stories which have been enjoyed and treasured by those before us whatever their culture or where they live in the world. The similarities which can occur between stories from different places are fascinating and each new re-telling offers a different slant as each teller breathes a little of themselves into the telling. So I was delighted to discover this on one of my trips to Bath.

‘Arabic Folktales: The Three Brothers of Serendip and Other Stories’ is a beautifully presented book. The dust jacket is handsome enough, but the actual cover shows an explosion of the paper cut flowers which can be found throughout the book. Geertje Aalders, the master paper cutter responsible for the art work throughout the book, has greatly contributed to making this a very appealing book to be treasured. The title page of each story has a paper cut surround and further illustrations accompany each tale.

The author describes himself as a ‘sort of gatherer of tales’ who has tried to rewrite them in his own style, but encourages the reader to change elements as he says ‘stories are the best migrants and the finest travellers. Let these stories become your own.’ And this is a delightful collection with a story for every occasion. ‘Soup’ is a wonderful story about the importance of having enough love in your heart to help others whilst ‘The Man Who Was Never Satisfied’ teaches the importance of appreciating what you have. Many of these stories would be perfect to use as the starting point for an assembly or for sharing as part of a PSHE session as they contain wisdom a-plenty! However, the book would also make an excellent text for guided reading, allowing children time to discuss the stories and explore them further with the stories being short enough to allow a sense of satisfaction and achievement for those put off by longer texts.

Translated from Dutch by Laura Watkinson, ‘Arabic Folktales’ is an essential collection for anyone who shares my delight in traditional stories and for anyone who hasn’t yet discovered just how delightful they can be!

Arabic Folktales:

The Three Princes of Serendip and Other Stories

Rodaan Al Galidi, translated by Laura Watkinson, illustrated by Geertje Aalders

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1529506006