Mythology Books

This a great introduction to Ganesha for kids. My daughter is five and she loved all the stories.

The Broken Tusk tells seventeen different stories of Ganesha in easy reader format for second grade and up. The stories also lend themselves well to the read-aloud format for younger children. Many of my old favorites are here including the ones about how Ganesha got his elephant head and about how he made a "pradakshina" around his parents, into a trip around the world. Some might find the versions of certain stories here to be different from what they know. That is understandable considering how many of these have been passed along strictly through oral tradition. There are also some rarer stories here including one borrowed from Buddhist folklore.

Krishnaswami has done a thorough professional job with this one. She has prefaced the book with a brief introduction to Hindu mythology and to the god Ganesha himself. Also complementing the stories are a glossary of terms, a list of characters (kids would appreciate that!), a list of other names for Ganesha, and a pronunciation guide.

Krishnaswami finishes every story she narrates with a line or two that ties the legend to modern day reality. For example, after the story about Ganesha's head, Krishnaswami explains that in Indian (especially South Indian) temples today, sometimes elephants are fed and maintained reverentially. These acts, Krishnaswami explains, probably acknowledge the sacrifice made by the elephant in the original story. Small explanations like these place the stories in context, a service that I think is especially useful. The last word belongs to the wonderful old-world illustrations by Maniam Selven that complement the stories wonderfully.

With this book, Krishnaswami demonstrates that she is not only a gifted storyteller, she is also a thorough one. The Broken Tusk will get an enthusiastic nod not only from the young reading set but also from their grateful parents. This book is as charming as the elephant god himself!

As we all know How old is our Hindu Religeon ! If you see the Lord Ganesha or children say's elephant trunk god with a big belly..Do you relaize that The science was developed at that time as well as surgery too.Lord Shiva was a Doctor ( Master of Surgon) and he cloned the elephant head witha human body ? Do you believe it..Yes you have to be !

I bought this book for my niece and nephew, but before I gave it to them I read it too. It brought back the stories of Ganesha I had been told in childhood, and made me smile at them again. It may not have the pictures of "How Ganesha got his elephant head", which I bought for another child, but the it has more stories of this altogether charming lovable god.

This book was written to be a children's book, but in fact it is probably the best collection of storytelling about the mythology of Ganesha that that I have ever found. The Hindu parthenon's mythology has always been passed along from generation to generation by tales of the Deity in it's various forms. This exquisite book has all the well-known tales of Ganesh as well as some obscure stories and some tales from other lands and religions. I don't have kids but do delight in the simple stories that bring the attributes of Ganesha into light in simple, vivid parables of joy. If you love Ganesh like I love Ganesh, then this is a 'must have.' If you are a storyteller, this is the book that will be a Ganesh guide. If you just want a book that you can read story's in occasionally just to smile and search for meaning in, again, here'tis. This is a delightful exposing of this beloved Deity into Western civilization in our time. GAM.

I took a Norse mythology course last quarter, and this was the only dictionary I could find on the subject at the time in all of the bookstores I visited. But if I could only find one dictionary of Norse mythology, this would be the one to find. The definitions are straightforward yet thorough. It's not an encyclopedia, so don't expect it to provide all the known details about a particular character or term, but it does give you a clear and complete definition that includes the important details and information.

It also has a sturdy cover and thick pages that hold up well to being frequently used and carried around in a bookbag.

Note: search under author's name for new paperback edition under a slightly different title.

The Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend by Andy Orchard, published in 1997 by Cassell, ISBN 0 304 34520 2, is also excellent. Despite the title, it also has entries on terms from non-Norse areas of the Germanic world. It is a somewhat larger book in terms of page size, and very nearly gives the impression of being a coffee table book. It is very attractive and is illustrated, howbeit not lavishly, with black and white photos. However, it is only 223 pages in length. It also has bibliographical information after the individual entries, but these are coded and you have to look them up in the back.

This first-rate compiliation is now (2003) available, under the slightly different title of "Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend," as a mass-market paperback (which I have reviewed at length), in addition to the trade paperback and hardcover editions listed under the titles of "Dictionary..." and "Cassell Dictionary...". If all of these are available through Amazon, purchasers will probably want to compare prices, and consider the durability of the various formats. Another factor some will want to consider is that the original hardcover edition (and I believe the trade edition) contained about forty illustrations, which were omitted from the mass-market edition.

Since the mass-market paperback is the edition in print, however, I strongly suggest checking that page before ordering. And if you are already familiar with the volume, and definitely want the larger format, you probably don't need my advice.

This first-rate compiliation is now (2003) available, under the slightly different title of "Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend," as a mass-market paperback (which I have reviewed at length), in addition to the trade paperback and hardcover editions listed under the titles of "Dictionary..." and "Cassell Dictionary...". If all of these are available through Amazon, purchasers will probably want to compare prices, and consider the durability of the various formats. Another factor some will want to consider is that the original hardcover edition (and I believe the trade edition) contained about forty illustrations, which were omitted from the mass-market edition.

Since the mass-market paperback is the edition in print, however, I strongly suggest checking that page before ordering. And if you are already familiar with the volume, and definitely want the larger format, you probably don't need my advice.

This book is a very useful book for those delving into Norse Mythology. I checked it out from the library and kept renewing it until they wouldn't let me renew it anymore. This book is a reference, not a place to read mythology. If you're looking up one of Odin's names, looking for the name of a frost giant, or trying to figure out what Harbard's Flyting is, then this book is for you. Looking through it, you may discover little known bits of Norse Mythology and where to read further.

Sadly, this book is out-of-print. It took a long while for a copy to show up on Amazon, but I was very happy when it did.

Grandmother alert! This is the perfect book to give to your [...]granddaughter; and if you're really smart, you'll throw in a sheaf of black paper and a pair of sharpened scissors.

The tale of Cinderella has been retold many times (my own version, written for adults, is called The Fool's Path: A Tale from the Lothemian Legacy) but, surely, never before has a retelling been written that will appeal to modern pre-teens as much this one. Ensor's Cinderella is a pony-tailed heroine who dwells in a timeless world filled with castles and wallpaper, patent leather shoes and armor, pageantry, peasantry, and golf. The prince may be charming, but not as charming as the silhouettes that illuminate the pages, adding texture and depth to the story. What a delight!

I bought this book as a read aloud for my six year old and yes, she loved it. The illustrations and hand written notes from Cinderella to her dead mother added a degree of postmodern hilarity perfect for a smart nine to twelve year old and for me as well. This book makes a great gift.

The book expresses all of Cinderella's feelings, unlike the Disney version. When Cinderella writes a note it's sort of sloppy handwriting - but at the end it's elegant and beautiful. If I could, since it is summer vacation right now, I would tell all of my friends that it is the best book in the world.

By Helena

"Cinderella" is one of the most popular of fairy stories. It has been not only translated into about every language, it has also been modified for our diverse cultures and times. Barbara Ensor's CINDERELLA is a fun little version that is decidedly for contemporary readers. In this version Cinderella tells her story through a series of letters to her dead mother. The letters are sweet, poignant and often funny as she unburdens her heart. When she writes the letter telling of her father's remarriage, she ends with:

P.P.S. Don't worry about writing back, I don't expect miracles or anything. (We don't believe in them,) or do we?

Of course, this is a story that abounds with miracles. There are fairy godmothers, magic slippers, pumpkins turning into carriages, and all the usual magic of the traditional fairy tale. With several clever twists, however, Cinderella falls in love with a prince who is terribly spoiled and is put out when his parents aren't as concerned about finding the girl who fits the shoe and instead choose to go on a golf outing. The stepsisters are as conceited as ever, but not really as ugly as we have been led to believe:

The truth is, they were nice enough to look at, maybe not as pretty as you or Cinderella, but certainly not ugly. All right, some of what they said was ugly, yes, I agree...

So this is the book that lets us know what actually happens to everyone. Did they really just live "happily ever after?" There are some surprises here. The nasty stepsisters have to move out so Cinderella and the prince can provide a sanctuary for wild animals. Cinderella's father and stepmother are given royal dispensation and allowed to stay in the castle (provided the stepmother works double shifts on the cleaning staff). Most importantly, Cinderella and the prince learn a great deal about each other: "As the love between them grew, they began to trust themselves, even the dark scary places." No one pushes little Cinderella around anymore. So finally there is peace in the kingdom as Cinderella insists that big bombs just don't interest her in the least.

The artwork is made up of creatively rendered silhouette cutouts. Cinderella's letters to her mother are handwritten, smudged with ink and scratched out words. This book could easily translate into an animated Shrek-like film that would delight people of all ages. Don't miss this very original retelling of a beloved classic.

--- Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts (stibbetts@maine207west.k12.il.us)

This retelling of the Cinderella story offers the reader the traditional story, though slightly updated. Cinderella shares her worries and concerns about her life in letters to her deceased mother. Her father has remarried (but does not die) and her new stepmother and stepsisters are just as unpleasant as in the traditional story. Cinderella's letters to her mother are heartfelt with amusing edits so we know what she is really thinking. The silhouette cutout illustrations added a touch of whimsey and quirkiness to the story that I enjoyed.

The book was a pleasant read and offers young people the comfort of an enjoyable, familiar and very readable story.

"....In this universe of painted manuscripts [from ancient Mexico) an extraordinary volume has recently appeared--a study of the Codex Telleriano-Remensis by Eloise Quiñones Keber. This primary source for the study of Aztec history and ritual is one of the few surviving codices from this culture and presents to the reader a treasury of information about the people of Mesoamerica. This high-quality facimile edition focuses especially on the Aztecs prior to and after the Conquest. But above all, congratulations go to Quiñones Keber, whose excellent work and years of dedication and research have been recognized by the granting of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award, given...in 1996 for her 'outstanding contribution to humanistic learning.' The University of Texas Press is also to be congratulated for this superior production, as is the Getty Foundation, which has made the fine volume available to scholars, libraires, and art lovers...."

"Few codices exist that provide scholars of the Aztecs (Nahuas) with a pictorial version of native depiction of the Aztecs' origins, culture, and history prior to and after the Spanish conquest that began in 1519. Among them is a manuscript now housed in the Bibliothèque Nationale of France, the so-called Codex Telleriano-Remensis, named after the man who contributed it to the library of Louis XIV....Fifty folios in length, this fragile and irreplaceable source was microfilmed in color in 1990. Thanks to the interest of the University of Texas Press and a subvention from the Getty Grant Program, a full-color published facsimile of the images and commentary is now available to scholars, students, and others fascinated by the Aztecs. Splendidly annotated by Dr. Quiñones Keber, a well-known specialist in Mesoamerican art and iconography, this volume truly must be seen to be fully appreciated...."

"The 16th-century Codex Telleriano-Remensis was a rare colonial enterprise: an intercultural exchange between Indian artists and Spanish overseers. It was created in an attempt to understand Aztec culture in light of its transformed present. The result was a well-organized manuscript with invaluable information about the Aztec calendar, mythology, rituals, history, and politics. Through the centuries, the Codex has been a fruitful source of knowledge for academics and a source of cultural identity and power for the diminishing Aztec (Nahua) survivors. This new edition includes a full-color photographic facsimile of the entire Codex as well as an English translation of the Spanish commentaries that explain the work's intense visual imagery. It contains over 100 pages of brilliant visions of bellicose earth-mother goddesses and other mythical creatures. [Quiñones] Keber is professor of art history at Baruch College and The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York. She provides a comprehensive text that complements these images with core information about Aztec culture and gives the reader a deeper appreciation for the art of Aztec manuscript painting. Most people will never see the original manuscript, now well guarded at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, but [Quiñones] Keber provides the immediacy and excitement of actually holding a copy of the ancient text. She has opened a window onto a unique cultural fusion born of the encounter between old and new worlds. Silvia Heredia '95C"

Couple with the Herbal Codex, this lays the superfluous groundwork for the understanding of Spanish/Aztec integration and the loss of indigeniuos knowledge. What this really does is preserves the spiritual awareness the Pre Meso-American people knew as a intimate interaction with Mother Earth/Father Sky representative gods. A must for those needing to know where your place is in the world order and for those whose spiritual growth has stopped. Leads you to the Aztec Calender and, with little promting, shows the coorelational ideas of modern myths, legends, and assumptions that modern religions make. Does time really have one dimension? Does the etheral body remain on this plain or steps to make its assendence to the Higher Divine? With little knowledge of ritual rites, show materialism is a major modern flaw.This helps to bridge old mythogical rituals into understandable terms.

"....In this universe of painted manuscripts [from ancient Mexico) an extraordinary volume has recently appeared--a study of the Codex Telleriano-Remensis by Eloise Quiñones Keber. This primary source for the study of Aztec history and ritual is one of the few surviving codices from this culture and presents to the reader a treasury of information about the people of Mesoamerica. This high-quality facimile edition focuses especially on the Aztecs prior to and after the Conquest. But above all, congratulations go to Quiñones Keber, whose excellent work and years of dedication and research have been recognized by the granting of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Award, given...in 1996 for her 'outstanding contribution to humanistic learning.' The University of Texas Press is also to be congratulated for this superior production, as is the Getty Foundation, which has made the fine volume available to scholars, libraires, and art lovers...."

I love this book. It was so exciting to be reading his journey into Native American Medicine. My sister, Debby Cody, is a reader of the Medicine Cards and I admire David's expertise and his boundaries of what is best for him.

David Carson is of Choctaw descent and has studied Native American spirituality since growing up in Oklahoma Indian country, but his latest CROSSING INTO MEDICINE COUNTRY is something more than spiritual reflection. Here he pursues initiation as a ceremonial healer with Choctaw medicine woman Mary Gardener, studying plant and animal forces and human energy manipulation for three years. Health and spirituality blend in a survey of Native teachings and health insights which blends a memoir with a set of special reflections.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is one of the wisest books to come down the pike in a long while in my humble opinion. Mr. Carson is a great story teller, Medicine Man, who understands the power of humility and transformation. This book is a wide ranging exploration of events in the authors life working with some powerful healers, elders, and medicine people. He documents the road of the healer and what is required to advance on this path of solitary intent, finding pain and suffering along the way, but also openning one to some astonishing vistas of spirt. This book is probably for healers and others who have already embarked off of the shores of a status quo sensibility to find and recover the authenticity of one's soul. It certainly is not a journey for the weak of heart. As the author notes, not everyone is called to this path, but for those who are, a vigilance of courage is required to walk the winding road ahead. As one goes further down this road mystery opens to reveal something not everyone is capable of understanding at this moment in time.

This is one of the best books on Medicine Power I have read in a long time; and Mr. Carson is a guide worth the price of admission. This book speaks to more than just one's mind, it grabs hold of one's soul and teaches it something profound.

David, Thanks for sharing your gift of Storytelling!!

The entire book was incredibly mesmerizing -- couldn't put it down. The experiences Mr. Carson writes about with his teacher Mary Gardener are quite an adventure and very thought provoking. This book helped validate for me that there is so much more beyond this 3-D world we live in and to trust and accept what we see and feel in all of our experiences.

Mr. Carson speaks to bringing back our awareness to living in
harmony with the natural world and in so doing to see and feel the sacredness in all life. Maybe in reading this book more people will be able see the separateness we as a whole have created from nature and how being at One with all of life brings forth healing on all levels-- individually and for our dear Mother Earth.

This book really inspired me and touched my heart on so many levels. Great stuff!!

I've had some extraordinary experiences reading this book. It feels like I'm there on the journey with him and some really amazing synchronicities have popped up again and again. Something like a holographic journey, this tale strikes a chord that goes straight to the heart of the reader. Great work, David Carson!

Again, this is from the person who is collecting books for her future (Gd-willing) children. This is beautifully illustrated by one of my favorite artists and it is another good contender for a bedtime story.

Wonderful book. I found it in the library and decided I needed to own a copy. I use it to read from in my writing workshops on finding the mysteries and depths of life. The words and illustrations are as perfectly coupled as Psyche and Cupid themselves, offering the great beauty of mystery, love and the inward journey.

Not many modern children's books have the beauty of traditional mythology or folklore, either in text or illustrations. This particular book is a refreshing change in the modern market. As an artist and writer, I find this work inspiring, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in the fantasy genre, or fairy tales and mythology. Classic tales should be introduced to new generations, and this type of book is perfect for that purpose.

I am an artist and collector of beautifully illustrated books. Not only is this book exquisite in its illustrations, it also gives a child a very comprehensive understanding of the mythological tale of Cupid and Psyche. I definitely recommend to anyone as a must.

Being a mother of two children...I buy lots of children's books. But also being an artist, I gravitate toward beautifully illustrated books. And this is one of the most beautifully illustrated books that i have ever come across. And because of this, I plan to track down other books with the same illustrator, Kinuko Craft. I love mythology and the story of Cupid and Psyche is one of my favorites. M. Charlotte Craft and Kinuko Craft deserve high praise for there superb work of Cupid and Psyche! Buy this book!!

Thanks for the quick shipping! The book is in perfect condition as described.

A great read filled with colorful illustrations & all the usual excitement you'd expect to find in a troll adventure. Of course, there is also a beautiful princess to be rescued. I don't know why Amazon lists the reading level as "baby, pre-school"!!! No baby or pre-schooler would sit through the first page. Maybe the illustrations would interest that group, but the amount of reading is far too lengthy. As a "read alone" book, I would say it is best suited for grades 3 and up.

My grandsons loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful and the tales are quaint. We will be certain to treasure this book for years.

As someone who is trying to cultivate a love of literature AND a lengthy attention span in my homeschooled children, I *did* purchase this for my pre-schooler and he sat happily through the entire book (3 evenings worth of reading for us). The d'Aulaire illustrations were, as always, engaging, soft, and encouraging to the child's imagination. Detailed without taking over the telling of the tales. Basically, it covered all of my criteria to be purchased: well written and if it has illustrations they need to be worthy of the story and worth looking at.

The down side to this book is that it is in some ways a long treatise on trolls that happens to include some stories as examples. This means that your child ends the book having been exposed to a lot of the folk beliefs of Scandinavian trolls, with a limited number of stories, and that it doesn't simple cut-off points for bedtime reading. On the other hand, it means it is a book worth revisiting as a child grows older; in our case so our children will be versed in the folklore and belief of their ancestors. A simpler bedtime book with lovely woodblock illustrations would be Lise Lunge-Larsen's "The Troll with No Heart in His Body." It is a collection of the stories with very brief intros that can be included or omitted according to the moment (at bedtime with my pre-schooler I tend to leave them out; when reading during the day I am more likely to include them).

I'm not really suggesting one book over the other. In a search for either cultural literacy or multiculturalism, both have their place and are both well told, well illustrated and will add to your child's imaginative landscape.

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I checked it out of the library over and over . The pictures just seem to come to life, the stories are enchanting. A must have for troll collectors. I purchased a copy at long last! Thanks Amazon

I enjoyed it, 400 pages is usually a lot for me to but it was a fast read. I laughed and cried.

My girlfriend got me to read this book, at first I didn't want to because one look at the cover I said Aw hell, another male-bashing book! After getting into it, I was pleasantly surprised. Two thumbs up, Sylvia!

Pretty good story, my girlfriend told me about Depth of Field and how it relates to us fathers especially fathers of daughters to own up! I enjoyed it.

I like the fact that there are good men out there, I think of my own father.

I related to Noelle and a few others in this book, it should be a movie

If you love the pioneering work on mythology done by Edith Hamilton, then this book is a necessary companion for you. Although she always covered the figures and places fairly well, obviously it becomes simpler when you have a dictionary beside you as an extra source (and at times the one and only) pointing us all in the right direction. If Greek and Roman mythology have ever stumped you beyond what you thought was repair, I promise that this book has the potential to clear that obscurity up. And look at the used price, you can actually AFFORD it, too! YAY! So if you want to better understand Hamilton, or even Joe Campbell, purchase this buddy. It's well worth the investment! Enjoy!

Whenever I want to know about anyone from Greek or Roman mythology, this is the first book I grab. They're all listed alphabetically & there is a satisfyingly concise description of each. Entries tend to be so short that this book is by no means the only one to read about mythology in, but it's an indispensible place to start.

This is quite possibly the best, inexpensive reference material ever. This is very good. The entries are clear and concise. The names have pronunciation guides and where they are mentioned. It also has entries over the authors who wrote the works. The entries also have cross-references to other entries in the book. The font of the book is clear and there is enough white space to where the words do not seem cluttered. While this may seem not that important, when you are having to look up a character very fast so you can respond to a question, you will be thankful. I have only one problem with this book. Some of the entries on the groups of characters, such as the muses, only reference you to the names of the characters, not what they did together as a group. Even with this, this book is something you can buy and not worry about making a wrong buy.

Its a wonderful mini reference to the Gods and Goddesses of the Greek pantheon.

This book has one thing most (as far as I can tell) classical mythology references don't have: PRONUNCIATION for every entry. It's clear and complete, with even obscure references, and includes main sources.

At any price, this is an excellent resource.

Great news for anyone interested in the traditional folk ballads known as the "Child Ballads" that Francis James Child's late 1800s compilation "The English and Scottish Pupular Ballads" is now republished in a fully corrected and revised edition with the traditional tunes reunited with the texts. The new edition by Loomis House Press (...) is now available in paperback and cloth editions - so far volumes 1, 2 and 3 (of 5) are issued. Amazon lists them but the three volumes are hard to find on the Amazon site. The earlier 1965 facsimile edition by Dover has also now been republished - but the Loomis House Press edition is greatly superior - and is available from Loomis in USA and Springthyme in UK as well as from Amazon.

Child's "English and Scottish Popular Ballads" is THE sourcebook for anyone interested in the traditional ballads of the British Isles, and also invaluable to all aficionados of European folklore and folksong in general. For those not up on their terminology, a ballad is a folksong with a plot, and Child's collection covers everything from foul murders to star-crossed lovers to Robin Hood, in five volumes.

I am extremely happy that someone has finally issued an edition incorporating the various addenda and corrections that Child made before his death. There is nothing here that Child did not write, so if you are looking for additional scholarship or commentary you will be disappointed; but the Loomis House edition vastly improves over the Dover facsimiles in completeness and convenience. Additional variants, comments and even some tunes (the one big omission in the original) are placed conveniently near the main text of each category rather than buried in appendices (most of which aren't included in the Dover editions at all). It's well worth the few extra dollars over the Dover books.

My one quibble is that they do not reproduce some of the typographical distinctions that Child occasionally used to indicate different features of a text, but this is overshadowed by all the good points of this edition.

Overall this is a wonderful and affordable edition; I fervently hope that all five volumes are issued as planned (it's been almost a year since Volume 3 came out...). I have no idea why Amazon makes these books so hard to find on their site: fix this, guys!

In summary: Buy this book. Now if someone would only reprint Bertrand Bronson's "The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads" as well....

I first heard of the Child ballads when I was about 13 years old and have been looking for a copy ever since. I was delighted to discover they have been brought back into print. This publication is particularly exciting since the editors have chosen to include musical notation collected by Child but not included in the original publication. Many of the ballads still sung today in Eastern Canada and the US were derived from these ballads, so these books are a facinating study of the earlier origins of these and many other ballads from the british iles.

The English and Scottish Popular Ballads are, as noted here, out of print in their Dover edition ... but fear not, they are being re-issued (in 5 volumes, 2 of which are actually done) by the folks at Loomis House Press. (I am not affiliated with Loomis in any way; do a Google search if you want to find 'em.) The books are authoritative and complete, and it's disappointing that Amazon doesn't list them.

Superb. For anyone interested in either the words or origins of English & Scottish folk music this is essential. You can settle those arguments (over a beer) as to who has the correct words or the origin.

The biblography needs some getting used to but when you understand it you will find this book a good companion.