Mythology and Folklore Books

I bought this for my godsons (5 and 7) based on my own fond memories of this work. I remembered the wonderful drawings and the vividly told stories from Greek Mythology and was happy to have passed this along to another generation. Some of the stories require a bit of editing when used as bedtime storytelling ("Why did he marry his sister?"). I plan on getting the Norse Myths collection for Christmas this year.

I really like the way this book is written because each story blends easily into the next. The pictures really help the younger ones to follow along and it makes the myths more enjoyable to read. I bought this to read to my young daughter and she really enjoyed it.

This book was one of the greatest memories of my childhood. I was in kindergarden and my older brother brought it home from the elementary school library, we devoured every picture and every word. Between my brother and I we checked out and re-checked out this book hundreds of times. I loved it so much that we both bought copies of it when we grew up. I am 41 now and read it to my son, he loves it too. This book was originally published in the early sixties, so it's old but wonderful. The author also did a very similar book on Norse Mythology that is equally great...I own that as well.

This was one of the books my mom read to me as a bedtime story. The pictures and stories were so memorable I wanted my own copy to read to my daughter.

Written for the younger audience, this book is a great way for teens and under to learn about Greek mythology. There are nice illustrations to go with it. My nine-year-old loves it! He knows more about it now than I do.

My four grandsons are crazy about dragons and can tell you anything and everything about them.So, I knew that this book had to be the one I wanted for them.

My friend bought me this book for my birthday and it was the best gift I recieved. I have always loved dragons and this book provides information on the different types, their habitats, and lots more. I loved the little extras like the dragon scales and the packets of dragon dust and even my four year old loved to look at the beautiful illustrations. This book is perfect for anyone who is fascinated by these mythical creatures.

This book was well worth the buy.
I purchased this book as a gift. The recipient was 7.
Most of the book is still a little much for her yet, but she was beyond excited just the same. There was some that she thinks is interesting now, but as she gets older, there will be so much more for explore in the book. After going through the entire book, you have to remind yourself that dragons truly aren't real!

The eleven-year old who received this book absolutely adored it. It has interesting 'facts' about dragons and many interesting special inserts - it's more of a coffee-table type/reference book than a story. If you have a dragon lover, I'd highly recommend it.

I purchased this book for my 8 year old daughter... she is in love with it! Great for any child with an interest in mythical creatures. She loves the "dragon dust". Money well spent.

I thought this book was a bit simplistic in style, but it was still an enjoyable read. I wish it had been a bit more atmospheric. Between the updated, modern attitudes of the characters and the sparse descriptions, the book seemed much more modern that its intended setting. I liked it, but I felt like with a bit more effort, it could have been fantastic instead of just good.

This was the first book I read by Shannon Hale and since then I have recommended it to anyone looking for an enjoyable read. This is excellent for young and old, male and female. It is hard to find acceptable reading material for youth and this is outstanding!

Shannon Hale has committed a horrible sin; her re-telling of the Grimm "goose girl" is better than the original! The other two books in this series, Enna Burning and River Secrets, are also wonderful reads and bring back to life some of the lovable characters from goose girl.

Enjoy!

When I first started reading The Goose Girl, I wasn't really sure if it would interest me enough to be worth reading, but when it came towards the middle, it turned out to be a very interesting and hard-to-put-down book.

Ani is a reluctant crown princess, who has the gift of being able to understand and talk to animals. Her mother tries to hide and make Ani forget this gift, and bring her up as a responsible princess. But when Ani's father,the only person (except her long-gone aunt)to understand her gift dies, Ani's world is turned upside down. True personalities will be shown for good,in this tale of betrayal, surprises (both pleasant and unpleasant) and new beginnings.

I would highly recommend The Goose Girl to anyone who has the time and will give any book a chance. I am also looking forward to reading the second and third books in the series, Enna Burning and River Secrets. I hope you will try this gripping book and enjoy it as much as I did.

The Goose Girl was just absolutely delightful! It is simple and G-Rated, yet intelligently written with plenty of intrigue, excitement and adventure. It is a very entertaining (girl) story for pre-teens to adults. (I am over 40 and I loved it!)

"I think I shall be a great poetess or a distinguished novelist."
That is Emily Starr talking, the young blossoming writer, that will touch your heart, with her creative and interesting, ways and ideas.

Within just the first chapter of the book, you'll already be intrigued by Emily's charm, and her topsy-turvy imagination. All through the story, Emily meets new people and friends. Some will help her on her way to becoming a writer, "a painter that uses words". Others will shoot her dreams down, as if they were nothing but mere dust. Just watch her take on all the distressing incidents that she overcomes with an intellect beyond her years.

She's always on a new enchanting romp, that'll keep you guessing. From giving up her beloved cat, to clashing with Miss Brownell (her unjust schoolteacher), to unraveling an age-old puzzle with her whimsical mind, you'll stay right by Emily's side the whole time.

Here's a small excerpt that I especially enjoyed:
"But there is a destiny which shapes the ends of young misses who are born with the itch for writing tingling in their baby fingertips, and in the fullness of time this destiny gave to Emily the desire of her heart---gave it to her, too, on the very day when she most needed it."

Personally, I have to state that this book is very inspirational for anyone endeavoring a priceless dream. I have read the entire set of the "Anne of Green Gables" books (that are written by the same author), but in my opinion, "Emily of New Moon" is much more enthralling! It is at the top of my list of my favorite books.

It is difficult for me to write an objective review about this beloved classic. Emily is like a childhood friend to me. Created by the author of Anne of Green Gables, she is a more complex character than Anne - introspective, determined, and deeply sensitive to life's joys and shadows. Her love for writing, or her need to write, defines her; indeed, much of the story is told through her writing. And yet this first book of the Emily trilogy is mostly lighthearted, though not without its passages of intense experience. Emily is orphaned in the beginning of the book, and moves to the farm of New Moon to live with two estranged aunts and one uncle, their brother. She thrives and flourishes in the beautifully prosaic, quaint world of New Moon and Blair Water on Prince Edward Island. Though she is a private and secretive person, she gives lavishly of herself in her closest friendships.

Montgomery's writing is at times indulgently over-descriptive, but not without vividity, wryness, feeling, and rich character development. Perhaps the most eloquent aspect of Emily of New Moon is its flavorful honesty about life both light and dark. Emily is a complex character, full of both faults and virtues, neither of which are expressed simplistically. The reader's sympathies are always with her. Montgomery's indirect insights into the writing life are also very valuable. Emily has writing in her blood, sees it as something intrinsically personal and sacred but wants to share it, does it with abandon yet later throws it away, and yearns to climb the ladder of fame. In this sense, I feel more kinship with her than with her more popular sister Anne Shirley.

Sheltered by her loving father, 10-year-old Emily Byrd Starr has never minded her isolated life. What child notices poverty and a lack of playmates when her intelligence and imagination make each day special and exciting?

Then one terrible day, Emily finds herself an orphan. A mass of never-before-met aunts and uncles descend upon Emily, criticizing and making plain the fact that whoever takes the child is only doing so out of their sense of duty.

Still reeling from the loss of her father, Emily must also leave her beloved little home and pets for New Moon, her mother's childhood home, where unmarried aunts Elizabeth and Laura currently reside. It is with stern matriarch Elizabeth, gentle, loving Laura and "simple-minded" Cousin Jimmy that Emily must now learn to form a family.

Despite the hardships, Emily's new life is quickly filled with many joys, as she makes friends at the village school and develops her interest for writing. Emily also experiences -- at the most unexpected moments -- "the flash," her word for the brief startling glimpses of other-worldliness, which has the power to change both her life and the lives of others around her.

Ask most people what they associate with L.M. Montgomery, and they'll likely say Anne of Green Gables. Yet despite the fame of Montgomery's "other orphan," the Emily books are quite possibly even more memorable and beautifully written. Like Anne, Emily is thrust into an unfamiliar world, where she must make the best of circumstances; but unlike Anne, Emily is possessed of a strangely adult maturity even at the tender age of ten, a glimpse of darkness which will accompany her through the years. This streak makes readers both more concerned for her well-being and perhaps more able to relate, as she is not nearly as happy-go-lucky and childlike as Anne in her early years.

If you enjoy this book, be sure to read "Emily Climbs" and "Emily's Quest," which follow the girl through her years at high school, through romantic relationships and her writing career as a young woman.

It's a shame that most people like either Anne or Emily; I've avoided the whole question by loving them both. The Emily books give a picture of a girl with lights and darks, reacting naturally (and therefore not always cheerfully) to the events of her life. She is far from perfect, but as L.M. Montgomery says about her, you may like her, you may hate her, but you'll never forget her.

If what you love about Anne is the sparkling, bubbly world she creates around herself, then you probably won't like Emily. But if you like L.M. Montgomery and would like to see her go a different route, the Emily trilogy is a great read!!

From the opening pages the reader is submerged in Emily's world.

In my mind Emily of New Moon is the begining of one of the best book trilogies ever written. A story about the courage it takes to be true to ones self no matter the opposition, the power of real determination and true friendship. One cannot help but be moved by the powerful truths, and innocent loveliness contained in this book. EONM is quite simply a multi faceted masterwork that could hardly be improved upon in any way. A deeply moving and relavent novel who's beauty only grows with time. Mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, read this book then gift it to someone you love.

I LOVE THIS BOOK ABOUT FAERIES. I READ IT OVER AND OVER.
THANK YOU
PEGGY BOND

I've begun a bit of Faery book collecting and this was a great selection to sort of tie my many books together. The book is just like new and I saved quite a bit on the price. I am very faery happy!

The illustrations are hauntingly beautiful and the whole book just flows wonderfully. Really lets you feel as if you know all about the fairies...both good and bad!

This particular book is highly reviewed by many people. It is a love/hate kind of book. Either you love the story and lore, or you hate the imagery. If you want a book with a light hearted story and fluffy lore with beautiful pixies/faeries; this is NOT the right book. The ads for this book deceptively illustrated a different set of contents. So please check the negitive reviews too!

Alan Lee and Brian Froud's timelessly classic volume on fairies was published in 1978 to critical acclaim and instant popular success, making this enchanting book a must have for any child at heart. I know liking fairies is very girlie but I just can't help it! I love them oh so much and have since I owned Cicely Mary Barker's little "flower fairies" books as a young child. With its pencil drawings, numerous colour illustrations throughout and witty text the book is a pleasure to look at time and time again, one always discovers something new. This charming book dwells not just upon the innocent fairies but encompasses all the denizens of the world of faery from the sweet natured and gentle nature sprites to several of their much darker elemental cousins. Faeries is evocative of another era in time when people truly believed in fairies, elves, dwarves, brownies, hobgoblins and the like. Focusing primarily on the fairies and related creatures of The British Isles it is an eccentric and lovely journey into the Anglo-Celtic folklore of these green and verdant island nations. This collaborative effort by Alan Lee and Brian Froud is probably one of their most beloved books and one can immerse oneself in their imaginative world for hours, you really do lose track of time.

Although both artists careers have gone on to grander things like working as conceptual artists on big budget films and TV shows this first effort at the beginning of their careers stands as an enduring testament to their combined talents. The art of both men is quite different in style, character and tonal value but in Faeries they complement each other in an aesthetic marriage of shared vision and belief. Brian Froud after all these years is still thoroughly immersed in the world of faery with many books on fairies and goblins to his credit, like for example Good Faeries/Bad Faeries. He also went on to work in film as a conceptual artist, bringing his idiosyncratic and unique talent to bear on two of the late Jim Henson's fantasy films, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Alan Lee went off on a different course illustrating books on ancient myth and legend and perhaps painting his most famous book illustrations for the sweeping and elegiac novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. In recent years Alan Lee was hired to work on the film versions of The Lord of the Rings as the chief concept artist (along with John Howe) his work on these three groundbreaking movies gave them a credibility they might not have had otherwise.

But this wondrous volume is still for me one of their most outstanding achievements and although many such books were published in the 1970s, Faeries is definitely at the top of the heap. This sumptuous 25th anniversary edition of Faeries has eight extra pages with twenty new pieces of artwork and newly updated introductions so it is definitely a must have for the serious fairy lover and fan of the original book. I only ever owned the softcover of the original book... so when this special edition came out in hardback I rushed to my local bookstore and purchased it immediately. Mr. Lee and Mr. Froud implore us to believe in the world of faery once again, and to be honest in this sterile modern world it would be nice to believe it actually does exist. Sprinkle some fairy dust on yourself and go out and buy this entrancing book and bring a bit of glamor into your life!

My daughter is still a bit too young to enjoy this book although she does enjoy the lovely illustrations. I think I really got this book for me : ). I only wish all the illustrations were in full color because the full color pictures are so enchanting. Its really a wonderful book with mesmerizing stories.

This book isn't as well made as the edition I had as a child, but what wonderful pictures! I used to pour over them for hours, finding new details all the time.

I purchased this for a young grandchild, and though the illustrations are lovely and interesting, they are
not interspersed among the text but are on separate pages. It is hard to sustain the interest of a young
child without pictures for them to look at. Too much text grouped together. Traditional story telling
is also lacking.

I first became acquainted with the "Golden Book of Fairy Tales" back in the 1950s, under the previous title "The Fairy Tale Book." I loved the book, especially the illustrations of Adrienne Segur. I was extremely pleased to see the book go back into print a couple of years ago, and immediately purchased two copies.

I just bought several more copies to give away as Christmas gifts. The illustrations are more than worth the price of the book. In particular, the illustrations to "Kip, the Enchanted Cat" and "The Wild Swans" are powerful in a strange, indescribable way. I recently asked Golden Book Publishing to offer large poster size prints of these illustrations, but never received a reply.

Bottom line: BUY THE BOOK!!! You will not be disappointed.

This book is a classic. I received this book as a gift from my Aunt and Uncle in 1958. I was 4 years old. It introduced me to my favorite fairy tale, "The Tinder Box" which I don't remember seeing in any other fairy tale books. It was my favorite book and I have kept it with me all these years. It sparked my imagination then and still does today, but in a different way. I love this book!!!!

it's a great book, filled with all kinds of pirate facts, legends, stories, and "artifacts" . My godson got a real kick out of it. He loves pirates and the book is written as if first-hand by a privateer (a pirate commissioned by the government to hunt down enemy state vessels, and rogue pirate ships).

This book will definitely be one he enjoys for many years. Some of the subject matter is just within his attention level and understanding, but the more intricate details and artifacts will prove fun discoveries as he gets older and has the patience to read over each part carefully. i'm a big fan of the whole series.

This book was received timely, and my son loves it! All the books in this series are great!

My 7-year-old son could not wait to sit down and start looking through this. The day it arrived we had some younger children visiting, and he "wowed" them all by showing them different parts of the book. He is very excited about it, and I am a happy mother for finding another great book for a young reader.

AWESOME Book, Awesome illustration, and just plan fun to read. This book is a very high quality constructed book and should last for many years.

Hehehe, what a great book!!! I specially like the little GOLDEN DUST bag that comes inside it...Well, the book is amazing as all the other in the '...ology' series, with lots of things to discover and explore trough the book. Very good...YES! Pirates!!!!!

I wasn't expecting much from this book, really.

It was given to us as a gift, and I sort of set it aside in the book basket. My wiley children pulled it out one day for a read, and it has been on the top of the heap ever since.

The text isn't much.

But oh, the illustrations. The pictures are full-page cut-paper collages and they will suck you in, as your kids point out all these little details. The people are hilariously real -- you can recognize people you know in their expressions.

Each page has a little peep-through to the next -- we love that!

The paper has a wonderful heaviness -- this is a high-quality book. I need to write another thank-you note to the giver, now that months have gone by and we really enjoy it.

Oh, even the animals in the story have funny little personalities. It's just a darling book.

And the moral of the story is, even when you have nothing, you can make something of it.

This is a great book! My son loves it, and I enjoy reading it to him. The pictures are interesting and there's a lot on each page to entertain the eye. Plus, the story is really cute.

i love this book. the illustrations are great and the story is simple yet enjoyable for all ages.

We were introduced to this book on Between the Lines. I found it at the library and once we got it home, my 3 yr. old feel in love. The message is great, the images fun and the story enjoyable. My son loved the book, but he wanted us to sing the song in the back. We did a poor job, then I found the audio book at the library. We listened again and again. Even my 1 yr. old enjoys it. Whenever my son sees sheet music he pretends to read it and sings "I Had a Little Overcoat". How could I not treasure this book forever?

This is a great book! It has wonderful illustrations, hence The Caldecott Medal, and an engaging story. My son loves this book, especially turning the pages to find out what the overcoat will become next. This is not just a children's book, since I gave it to my professor and his wife and they both loved it. This is one of the books that I don't get tired of reading over and over.

I LOVE Jan Brett's books! I buy them anytime I see them whether on sale, old ones on Amazon as remainders, or new.. They make great gifts. I have a backup of many to give to children, particularly my granddaughters. The illustrations in this one are so beautiful it is really a keepsake to save as well as enjoy. Give it as a gift and you will make some child very happy and a parent happy,too.

Beautiful illustrations reprinted from over 40 sources. All illustrations are credited on last page. Book measures 9"X11.5" Only down side was that the price changes by the day. One day it's almost $11 another it's $8.97. But that's just the way Amazon works; something to be aware of. (It's worked in my favor often while shopping at midnight--price suddenly went down!)

it's a classic, so of course you can't go wrong, but as far as the best one being out there... well, I'm sure there are much better illustrated ones out there than this one

I bought this for my grandchildren last Christmas. The wording is traditional, and the illustrations are wonderful! This has become a part of the Christmas Eve tradition at my daughter's house.

These illustrations are the best ever for The Night Before Christmas...Stunning even! A worthy heirloom Christmas Book. The illustrations cover both sides of the page for a large panoramic view seldom seen in other books...

My boyfriend's father convinced me that, as an art history major, I needed to read this book. I was a little hesitant, but after the first chapter I was completely hooked.

This was a truly powerful book. No matter that it is not a true biography, it was beautifully written and moving. I would recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest in art.

Amazing book and so very well written as all of Stone's other books are...I have always been mesmerised by Van Gogh's paintings, especially when I saw an exhibit of his in London.The colours were so wonderful that I just stood there infront of those pieces of art like a zombie ! I loved this book !

I loved this book. For someone like me, with just a passing knowledge of art and art history, it was pretty amazing to learn about Van Gogh's development as an artist and the Impressionist art movement. In addition, I think that its two major themes of expression and immortality are going to have a lasting effect on me.

By expression, I mean that Van Gogh put all his time and energy into expressing himself in a way that he felt was making the best use of his skills. For him, his calling was a new form of art, and he stuck with it despite receiving no recognition or profit for his work during his lifetime. By immortality, I mean that although Van Gogh was not successful in his lifetime, his work lives on and is hung in the most important museums in the world.

Highly recommended.

This is a beautiful novel about a beautiful human being. If you love Van Gogh's paintings (he is my personal favorite of all painters) then by all means, you need to read this wonderful book. In his prose, Stone is able to paint a vivid, vibrant, illuminating portrait of an amazing artist. I was truly blown away and completely consumed from the first chapter on. I actually read this fine story after visiting the Musee d'Orsay (Museum Orsay) in Paris and seeing first hand the magnificent works of this illustrious Impressionist. Of all the great many paintings presented at the Louvre and d'Orsay, it was the Van Gogh's that captivated me more than all the others (which is saying a lot, because the whole place is captivating!). I couldn't believe some of his self-portraits. What really fascinated me the most was the despondency in those steel blue eyes of his. This is what led me to read this story. I wanted to know where all that pain and suffering came from. Irving Stone answered all of my questions and then some. He is a brilliant and insightful writer and I will be looking forward to reading his novel "The Agony and the Ecstasy" which is based on the life of another favorite artist of mine - Michelangelo.

Anyone who is struggling to become an artist needs to read this! Talk about sacrifice and desire and heart and passion... this man Van Gogh was a true original. A man like no other before or since.

"...for by sadness the countenance of the heart is made better."

I can't recommend this one enough.

I should have read this biography sooner. I used to be in love with his paintings, and even fantasized that IF I were to travel back in time, I would've married him -- all this BEFORE I read this book. After I read it I found out that there was one such infatuated woman (Margot), and also a tragic unrequited love story that led him to religion and then to painting. Anyone who is creative will sympathize with the extent to which pain can be transformed into the strength to create. The creative path is not always materially rewarding, and even if it is all an artist has, it will continuously change others' lives. I absorbed every word of this book and was hooked until the very end. Poverty and disinterest is ephemeral... belief in oneself is revolutionary.