Discover "21 dazzling stories of adventure, deceit, reward, and punishment," as reteller Alli Brydon puts it in Myths and Legends of the World, a vibrantly illustrated collection of global tales.
Storytellers and culture enthusiasts will surely enjoy immersing themselves in Alli Brydon's imaginative retellings of myths from Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, the Americas and the Arctic. Each section begins with a two-page spread that briefly describes the types of legends found in each part of the world, such as "myths steeped in reverence for mystical gods" in Asia and strong oral traditions with a "history of animism" in the Americas. All six regions have their share of creation myths ("The Creation of the World" from the Kuba people of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo), cautionary tales ("The Fisherman and His Wife" from German folklore) and origin stories ("Sedna, the Mother of the Sea" from Inuit mythology). Julia Iredale's stunning gouache, ink and digital artwork elegantly complements the myths and legends, the jewel-toned illustrations dramatic and subtly detailed. --Lana Barnes, freelance reviewer and proofreader