Myths and Legends

Jean Laffite and the Big Ol’ Whale

When a huge white whale gets stuck between the banks of the Mississippi River causing the water to stop flowing, Jean Laffite finds a way to get the river moving again.

The Adventures of Young Krishna, The Blue God of India

Diksha Dalal-Clayton retells the stories which enchanted her as a youngster–stories told to her by her grandmother, stories passed down through the generations. For centuries, the adventures of the young Krishna, the god who was always getting into trouble because of his boyish pranks, have delighted Indian boys and girls. Because he embodies both the human and the divine, the child-like and the god-like, Krishna is a favorite with both the young and the young at heart. Stories of the young Krishna’s adventures with gods and kings, his battles with demons, his flirtations with the girls of his village, are all retold with charm, grace and wit. Richly detailed illustrations enhance the text and rouse the imagination. These classic tales from Hindu mythology will open your child’s eyes to the richness and splendor of ancient Indian civilization.

Five Heavenly Emperors: Chinese Myths Of Creation

Just about every civilization has stories of creation. The myths and legends of the ancient Greeks and Romans are very well known, but these 12 myths from ancient China are just as fascinating. Between Pangu separating the sky from the earth and the Northern Emperor separating man from gods, we have an array of deities as busy and colorful as those in Greek and Roman myths. They create men out of clay, mend the broken sky after the flood, and shoot down suns so that life on earth will not die.Inspired by the art of the Ming Dynasty, this is a wonderful collection of Chinese myths of creation, illustrated by award-winning artist Song Nan Zhang.

The Moon Maiden And Other Asian Folktales

Twelve folktales of China & East Asia come alive in this brightly illustrated children’s book. A great addition to world folktale collections.

The Adventures of Thor the Thunder God

He is the biggest and mightiest of the gods. If he tightens his belt, he doubles his strength. If he swings his hammer, lightning flashes. When he races his billy goats across the sky, their hooves kick up huge thunderclouds. And when the folks below in Middle Earth hear a boom of thunder, they always smile, for they know their loyal Thor, protector and defender of civilization, has once again brought order to the universe.

Pegasus, the Flying Horse

It is ancient Corinth. Young Ios and his father are off to buy the boy his first horse. Along the way they meet a beggar who tells them the story of a magical flying horse.

That horse, winged Pegasus, belonged to the goddess Athena. No mortal man had ever ridden him. But one man–the beggar said-desired to ride Pegasus more than anything else in the world. He was Bellerophon, a handsome young Corinthian who felt he was equal to any god.

With the story of Bellerophon’s ride goes the warning: “To fly too high is to fall too far.” And who knows this better than the beggar himself?

 

The Moon Princess

An old bamboo cutter finds a tiny child in the hollow of a bamboo stalk. Thus begins the beloved story of the Moon Princess, whose unearthly beauty brings her fame and would-be husbands from throughout the land, but whose destiny shines far off in the sky. The delicate color and detail of Kancho Oda’s illustrations, painted over half a century ago, create a mood of charm and mystery, admirably accompanied by the lilting verse of writer, translator, and lyricist Ralph F. McCarthy.

Chinese Mythology

“This slim book offers high visual interest along with concise introductions to an important body of myths. . . . Full-page and vignette illustrations in traditional style with strong ink lines emphasize vitality and movement. Chen’s evocative and richly colored paintings add value to this compact edition.”-“School Library Journal”