Children's Books: Mythology & Folkore

THE OUTLANDISH ADVENTURES OF ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD
by Paul Newham and Elaine Cox. Wonderful color illustrations by Elaine Cox. Condition: NEW 1994 Barefoot (Shambala) hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Recreates the myth of the Greek poet-musician who charmed the whole world with the power and beauty of his song. Questions welcome. [1copy available]
$ 3.29 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

PECOS BILL
retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Color illustrations. Condition: UNREAD 1987 Mulberry soft cover, first printing. tiny edge wear. Content: The anecdotes associated with Texas' fabled cowboy hero burst from the pages in rapid succession, Kellogg's robust illustrations enlarging and enriching the choppy, energetic text that is seasoned with Texan expressions. In dramatizing Pecos Bill's life story, Kellogg also conveys a sense of place, of the rugged, expansive physical beauty of the American West in pioneer days. Yellow-oranges and blues dominate the scenes, in tones that range from dust-pale to midnight blue. Skillful framing and alternating of perspectives enhance readers' involvement: vast panoramas in which people are dwarfed by endless stretches of land and sky; double-page spreads cluttered with close-up action; breathtaking overviews, as of a tremendous herd of cattle, each steer made distinct, yet part of a near-monochromatic blend of hazy light and animal landscape. In contrast to these lavish illustrations are neatly-boxed illustrations that parallel the text, sometimes spilling from the frames when the action simply can't be contained. Kellogg's style is ideally suited to this tall taleantic, detailed, colorful, hyperbolic. K-5. Questions welcome. [1copy available]
$ 4.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE PEOPLE COULD FLY: American Black Folktales
retold by Virginia Hamilton. Wrap-around cover art and interior B&W illustrations by Leo & Diane Dillon. Condition: UNREAD 1993 Knopf large soft cover, third printing. Tiny shelf wear. Content: Hamilton, Newbery Medal winner and recipient of the National Book Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, teams up with two-time Caldecott Medal winners, Leo and Diane Dillon, in this classic collection of American black folktales, winner of the Coretta Scott King Award. By turns droll, grisly, and spine-tingling, the 24 stories celebrate the indomitable human spirit, surviving under the most crushing circumstances of slavery. Traditionally, storytelling has helped people to push through sorrow and pain, especially when the stories are saturated with magic, mysticism, and fantasy. Bruh Rabbit, He Lion, Tar Baby, and other animals populate many of the stories. In others, John, the traditional trickster hero, outwits the slave owner time after time to win his freedom. Reviewer: "This book rates way up there as a wonderful resource for anyone who is trying to raise children to have an appreciation for the cultures that make up our great country. As a home educator, I am always on the lookout for multi-cultural resources that provide a window into the backgrounds of others. Since the author writes from personal background experience, as well as research into the African-American folktales, I believe it is an excellent representation of stories that children would have grown up with in that culture. Besides, it's exciting, interesting, fun to read aloud, and has wonderful illustrations! " Just wonderful, IMHO. Questions welcome. [1copy available]
$ 7.99 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE RACE OF THE GOLDEN APPLES
by Claire Martin. Color illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon. Condition: Good to very good, pre-read 1991 Dial Books hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. No major problems, just pre-read. Content: Imposing paintings by the gifted Dillons, two-time winners of the Caldecott Medal, illustrate Martin's debut book: a stylish, lucid retelling of the myth of Atalanta. Deep in the forest, the goddess Diana raises this Greek princess, who was abandoned at birth by her cruel father. The child, who "delighted to swim swift-flowing rivers and ran like the wind," is not pleased when Diana tells her she must return to the kingdom of her aging father, who longs for an heir. But Atalanta goes and reluctantly agrees to marry, on the condition that her intended outrun her in a race--something no one has ever done. Venus comes to the aid of the winning suitor, Hippomenes, who has long been captivated by the princess. Framed by stylized arboreal designs, the Dillons' art is reminiscent of the medieval tapestries that inspired it. Geometric and floral patterns, as well as the fauna and flora of the forest, are rendered in stunning detail, and muted greens and golds contrast strikingly with luminous hues. Ages 4-8. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

SACRED SKIES: The facts and the fables (Landscapes of Legend series)
by Finn Bevan. Beautiful color illustrations by Diana Mayo. Condition: NEW 1998 Children's Press soft cover, no printing given. Content: This is a series of stories by the ancients as they tried to understand astronomy and constellations. Part of the Landscapes of Legend series. Legends: Spirits of the Sun (Japanese); Phases of the Moon (Chinese); Seeing Stars (Greek); Life-giving Rain (Aztec); Arches in the Sky (Aborigine); Stirring Up storms (Vikings) - plus Notes section. Excellent, IMHO. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

SAINT GEORGE AND THE DRAGON
retold by Margaret Hodges. Color illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. Condition: NEW 1984 Little, Brown soft cover, fifth printing. Content: This book retells the segment from Spenser's The Faerie Queene, in which George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years and brings peace and joy to the land. This adaptation features illustrations that "glitter with color and mesmerizing details." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 2.59 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE SEA KING (A Russian Legend)
by Jane Yolen and Shulamith Oppenheim. Beautiful colorful illustrations by Stefan Czernecki. Condition: NEW 2002 Crocodile Books hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: The Sea King lives deep under the sea in an exquisite crystal palace. He rarely leaves his halls, except to search out a human victim. One day, the Sea King does a very big favor for a king from the land above. In return, however, he extracts a promise. And without realizing it, the king of the land has promised the Sea King his newborn son. This wonderful tale contains many rich elements of folklore-a talking eagle who can do magical deeds, a frightening witch with iron teeth, a kind and honest prince, and twelve beautiful maidens who can turn into swans. These threads are masterfully woven into a dramatic and stunningly illustrated tale, one which readers of all ages will enjoy. Ages 4+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.00 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE SEVEN CHINESE BROTHERS
by Margaret Mahy. Interesting colorful illustrations by Jean and Mou-sien Tseng. Condition: NEW 1993 Scholastic soft cover, first printing. "Durability Guaranteed" sticker bottom front cover corner. Content: Bold, colorful, and historically accurate illustrations adorn a classic Chinese folktale, in which seven brothers use their supernatural gifts to overpower a cruel emperor. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

STORIES FROM THE STARS: Greek Myths of the Zodiac
compiled by Juliet Sharman Burke. Wonderful color illustrations by Jackie Morris. Condition: Gently pre-read 1997 Abbeville Press hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ), first printing. Content: Greek constellation mythology for the younger set: Jason and the Golden Fleece (Aries); Theseus and the Minotaur (Taurus); Castor and Pollux (Gemini); Herakles and the Hydra (Cancer); Herakles and the Nemean Lion (Leo); Demeter and Persephone (Virgo); Golden Scales of Dike (Libra); Orion and the Scorpion (Scorpio); Chiron the Centaur (Sagittarius); The Birth of Zeus (Capricorn); Ganymede the Cup Bearer (Aquarius); and Aphrodite and the Fish (Pisces). Lovely. [1 copy available]
$ 5.89 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE GARDENER'S SON
by Charles Heilbronn. Color illustrations by Y.Z. Kami. Condition: NEW 2001 Harry Abrams hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket) first printing. DJ has light shelfwear top spine. Book perfect. The paper for this book is unusual and wonderful to the touch. Content: A warm story about cooperation for the very young. What would the world be like if the Sun refused to rise? Angry at being eclipsed by the Moon, the Sun walks off the job one morning. With the grass and trees and flowers all crying for warmth and light, the Gardener’s Son knows he has to do something. Can he make peace between the Sun and the Moon? A world of color, darkness, and light comes to life in this enchanting tale. Original language: French. [3 copies available]
$ 3.39 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

TALES FROM THE MABINOGION (Young Adult Edition)
by Gwyn Thomas & Kevin Crossley-Holland. Beautiful color (and B&W) illustrations by Margaret Jones. Condition: NEW 1994 Gollancz (UK) large soft cover, third impression. Content: A retelling of the four books of the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh medieval tales about the feats and exploits of legendary Welsh kings and princes. All ages. [1 copy available]
$ 6.29 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THE TALE OF RABBIT AND COYOTE
by Tony Johnston. Beautiful color illustrations typical of Tomie dePaola. Condition: UNREAD 1995 Scholastic paperback (stapled wraps), first printing. Tiny edge wear. Bookstore blacked out note covered with blank bookplate. Content: Reviewer: "Rabbit is very mischievous and clever. But after he steals chili peppers from a farmer one night, he finds himself trapped in a sack, waiting to be thrown into a pot of boiling water for the farmer's meal. Just then, Coyote comes along and asks what Rabbit is doing there. Rabbit tells him that he is waiting to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter and offers for Coyote to take his place. Coyote agrees, and Rabbit escapes. When Coyote figures out that he has been fooled, he runs off to find Rabbit. Again Rabbit tricks Coyote and escapes. Will Coyote ever catch Rabbit? I would definitely recommend this to any kid who wants to read a good short story." This story from the town of Juchitan, in Oaxaca, Mexico, weaves together several traditional threads of story: tales of Brer Rabbit, the story of Coyote swallowing the moon, and the origin of "the rabbit in the moon." Ages 6 +. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

TALES OF AMAZING MAIDENS
by Pomme Clayton. Beautiful color illustrations by Sophie Herxheimer. Condition: NEW 1995 Orchard hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first US printing. Content: These rich colourful stories have one thing in common - a female protagonist. Whether she is brave or powerful, clever or foolish, she always wins the day. This is a book to be read aloud, listened to and looked at - but above all to be enjoyed. Stories: A Thousand and One Nights (Middle East); Three Spinners (Germany); Degadina and the Magic Snake (Chile); Sun Goddess (Japan); Master of All Masters (England); Golden Saucer (Russia); Anansi's Daughter (West Africa); Sedna Under the Sea (Arctic); Clever Cook (Germany); White Bear King (Norway). Wonderful collection! Aprox. Junior High and up. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.59 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

TELL ME A STORY (Children's Folk Tales)
by Amy Friedman. Beautiful full-page color illustrations and half-page B&W illustrations by Jillian Gilliland. Condition: NEW 1994 Andrews & McMeel hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing or edition given. Content: These 19 folktales are from around the world: "The Dancing Stars," (Iroquois legend from Canaada); "Talk," (Ashanti tale from Africa); "The Flying Ship," (Russia); "The Three Hares," (Turkey), "Orpheus and Eurydice," (Greek myth), "The Thieving Dragon" (Central Europe); "The Magic Brocade" (China); "The Tiger, the Brahman, the Jackal" (India), "Heart'N'Soul" (US); "The Lizard's Sorrow" (Southeast Asia); "Mr. Lazybones" (Laos); :Anansi Plays With Fire" (Caribbean); "It Could Always Be Worse" (Central Europe); "How Brother Rabbit Fooled Whale & Elephant "(Africa); "The Tinker and Ghost" (Spain); "Monkey Business" (India); "Why A Rabbit Lives in the Moon" (Japan); "The Cow on the Roof" (Wales); and "Fair, Brown & Trembling" (Eire). A very nice & different folktale selection. Ages 4 - 8. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 5.29 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THIRTEEN MOONS ON TURTLE'S BACK: A Native American Year of Moons
by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London. Beautiful color illustrations by Thomas Locker. Condition: NEW 1992 Philomel hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), 18th printing. Content: To many Native Americans, the 13 cycles of the moon represent the changing seasons and the passage of time. Each moon has its own special name that, while varying among the tribal nations, is consistent with the legend that the 13 scales on Old Turtle's back hold the key to these moons. The authors present 13 poems that take readers through the year, from the "Moon of Popping Trees"--when the "cottonwoods crack with frost"--to the "Big Moon" of the Abenakis. The book's effective design consists of verses in vertical columns at the left of each spread, with the remainder occupied by Locker's typically lush artwork. His oil paintings are eye-catching in their depth of color reflecting dramatic seasonal changes. Trees, skies and woodland creatures are rendered in vivid hues that combine to produce an enthralling vision. This unusual and intelligent book is an exemplary introduction to Native American culture with its emphasis on the importance of nature. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.89 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

TRICKSTER AND THE FAINTING BIRDS
by Howard Norman. Tom Pohrt (Cover & illustrations). Condition: NEW 1998 Gulliver Books (Harcourt Brace) hardcover & DJ (in mylar cover), first edition, first printing. Tiny edgewear to both DJ & book top spine. Glossy, heavy paper. Light edge wear top DJ edge. Content: Sophisticated pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations grace this elegant, slightly oversize collection of seven Algonquian tales. With spare grace and lively wit, Norman chronicles the hilarious antics of a provocative troublemaker. Whether cheating in a sleepwalking contest, teaching the shut-eye dance to ducks, or halting a wedding by transforming the groom into a kingfisher, Trickster sets the world askew. Like trickster figures the world round, this Algonquian mischief-maker prods our imagination and makes us laugh deep in our hearts. In forty-two luminescent, richly detailed paintings, Tom Pohrt follows Trickster’s trail on a journey that carries us from trouble, to laughter, and, finally, to wisdom. [1 copy available]
$ 8.69 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

WARRIOR SON OF A WARRIOR SON: A Masai Tale (African Tales & Myths series)
retold by Melinda Lilly. Vivid color illustrations by Charles Reasoner. Condition: NEW 1998 Troll soft cover, first printing. Legends of the World series. Content: Together, these African tales offer a diverse sampling of tale types, motifs, cultures, and languages. Kwian comes from the San Bushmen of South Africa and tells of a time when the sun lived in the left armpit of lazy Kattenttu and the moon was on the shoe of a praying mantis until a clever girl figured out how to get them both up in the sky where they belong. Tamba is a tale from the Temne of Sierra Leone and relates how a poor but kind young man wins the hand of a princess by completing three impossible tasks. In Warrior, a story from the Masai people of East Africa, a wise caterpillar outwits a lazy rabbit who tricks him out of his house, along with other animals who try to help the rabbit. Each book includes a source note and begins with a quote, proverb, or riddle in the native language and in English. The stories retain the flavor of their cultures by including words from the original language and glossaries. The illustrations are bright, colorful, semi-abstract cartoons. Close examination finds different shaped houses and different patterns and drapes of clothing and personal decoration in the three books, but the human faces are almost identical and the landscapes are too abstract to compare land forms or vegetation of the different settings. Additional purchases as read-alouds or to supplement curricula on the countries and cultures of Africa. This book: A Masai folktale about how the tiny caterpillar outsmarts the other animals even though they are much bigger and stronger. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE WEAVING CONTEST: A Traditional Collection
adapted by various Authors. Selected by Clare Scott-Mitchell. Wonderful color illustrations by various Artists. Condition: NEW 2000 Rigby soft cover, 4th printing. Content: The myths and stories here: The Weaving Contest (Greek Mythology); Dogs, Cats, and Mice (Polish Folktale); Pekalo (Tonga Folktale); Nasreddin and the Cup of Milk (Middle East Folktale); The Golden Touch (Greek Mythology - Midas Tale); The Fox, the Bear, and the Eagle (Yugoslavian Folktale) ; Tuk and the Giant Buffalo Thief (Native American folkloe); and How Old is Nesreddin? (Middle Eastern Folktale). Grades 4 - 8. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 2.50 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

ZIGAZAK!: A Magical Hanukkah Night
by Eric A. Kimmel. Delightful, fun color illustrations by Jon Goodell. Condition: NEW 2001 Doubleday hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), third printing. Content: Is Hanukkah really all about dancing dreidels and high-flying latkes? Maybe not, but Eric Kimmel and Jon Goodell have put these devilish phenomena to good use in a lighthearted story that teaches Hanukkah traditions--from kazatzkas to gelt--along with a wise, timeless moral. The tale's decidedly unscary antagonists are a couple of bumbling devils determined to cause Hanukkah-night mischief in the village of Brisk. Goodell's clearly having fun as he sends five dreidels into a tight little jig, launches latkes around Hannah Leah's kitchen, and sets off some menorah pyrotechnics in Menachem Mendel's home. But Brisk's frightened villagers need not worry: they've got a clever rabbi who's not only unafraid of the devils' antics--he enjoys them! When dreidels sprout legs and dance on his table, "he laughed and clapped his hands. 'Delightful!' he exclaimed. 'Show me more.'" As with the misadventures of Fat Albert, kids reading Zigazak! should be careful--otherwise, they just might learn something. And that goes for both Hanukkah minutiae and the wise rabbi's moral: "Sparks of holiness exist in all things, even in devils' tricks. And if we look hard enough, we can find the good in all living creatures." (Ages 4 to 8) Questions welcome. [1 copy left]
$ 4.79 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

GIRL WITH DRAGON BOOKPLATES
art by Sassolinoviola. Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.0 wide x 4.0 high. Content: Supposedly based on a Celtic legend of "The Babies" (I haven't been able to track this down), this plate shows a detailed baby dragon (note the scales) protecting a young girl. We can personalize your bookplate (the font is Davida) - just email us the name. Any questions, click here to email us.
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping. International shipping available.

MONSTER CIRCLE BOOKPLATES
art by Ekaterina Panova. Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.5 wide x 3.5 high. Content: Brightly colored monsters (with teeth) in a circle with a large bone in the center. Cute, not frightening. We can personalize your bookplate (the font is Kids) - just email us the name. Any questions, click here to email us.
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping. International shipping available.

MONSTERS BOOKPLATES (set)
art by Madartists & Celia Maria Ribeiro Ascenso. Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates (6 of each design) made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.0 wide x 4.0 high. Content: A set of 2 monster faces - one green, one black and gold - should delight any child who loves the cute "Monsters" movies. Not frightening at all. We can personalize your bookplate (the font is Hurry Up) - just email us the name. Any questions, click here to email us.
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping. International shipping available.