Enter the mermaid’s realm, where brightly colored fish dart through strands of seaweed and noble octopi guard the gates of underwater palaces. From the ice floes of Alaska to the islands of the Mediterranean Sea to the reefs of New Zealand, the power of a magical water maiden is matched only by her unpredictability. For who can guess what may happen when a mermaid finds herself face-to-face with a human? Gathered from the diverse cultures, the stories in this collection tell of mortals who strive to capture mermaids–and mermen–as well as those who seek to rescue them from peril; mortals who entice mermaids to live on dry land, and those who dare follow mermaids under the waves. And here, too, are the fates of those fortunate–or follish–enough to listen to the mermaid’s appealing song. Renowed author and folklorist Shirley Climo presents tales of mystical merfolk from around the globe. Accompained by stunning illustrations from Jean and Mou-sien Tseng, the stories are woven together with threads of international mermaid lore, presenting a world of watery enchantment.A catch of international mermaids, from a Japanese ningyo and a Swiss nix to an Irish merrow and an Alaskan nuquot, swim through the pages of this elegant gift volume. Drawing on the folklore of diverse cultures, renowned author Shirley Climo presents a multi-faceted view of merfolk, exploring the promises and perils of meeting these creatures. Accompanied by stunning paintings from the brushes of Jean and Mou-sien Tseng, the stories in this collection are woven together with insightful introductions comparing and contrasting the myths of many lands. Lavishly designed and illustrated, this beautiful book is the definitive collection of mermaid lore. A catch of international mermaids, from a Japanese ningyo and a Swiss nix to an Irish merrow and an Alaskan nuquot, swim through the pages of this elegant gift volume. Drawing on the folklore of diverse cultures, renowned author Shirley Climo presents a multi-faceted view of merfolk, exploring the promises and perils of meeting these creatures. Accompanied by stunning paintings from the brushes of Jean and Mou-sien Tseng, the stories in this collection are woven together with insightful introductions comparing and contrasting the myths of many lands. Lavishly designed and illustrated, this beautiful book is the definitive collection of mermaid lore.
Short Stories – Anthologies – Collections
Animal Tales, The Dial Book Of: From Around The World
Gathers nine animal folktales from diverse traditions around the worlds, from the Cherokee “Grandmother Spider” to the Aboriginal “The Greedy Frog.”
Dragons
A wondrous anthology of ancient dragon tales to enchant readers young and old. “Do you believe in dragons? “Just a few hundred years ago, sightings of dragons were common. Ordinary people saw them; so did kings, knights, archbishops, and monks. Learned scholars wrote about them. Today, most naturalists say dragons never existed. So what exactly were the dragons that people claimed to see?” In this richly illustrated anthology, David Passes invites us inside the fantastic world of dragon lore. This superb collection of heroic myths, stories, and folktales from the storytelling traditions of India, Greece, England, Wales, Sweden, and China are brought to life by the fabulous illustrations of renowned fantasy artist, Wayne Andersen.
Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal
Once upon a time, in Mexico… in Ireland… in Zimbabwe… there lived a girl who worked all day in the rice fields… then spent the night by the hearth, sleeping among the cinders.
Her name is Ashpet, Sootface, Cendrillon… Cinderella. Her story has been passed down the centuries and across continents. In this anthology, Paul Fleischman crafts its many versions into one hymn to the rich variety and the enduring constants of our cultures.
Featured in WOW Review Volume X, Issue 3.
Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys
Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys presents the author’s retellings of fifteen traditional tales heard during his childhood in southern Texas.
Tales of Terror from the Black Ship
When Ethan and Cathy fall ill during a storm, their father must leave them to fetch the doctor. . .but they are not alone for long. A sailor comes begging for shelter. So, the children agree to let him sit out the throes of the storm as they listen to his grisly tales. But something about the man puts Ethan on edge, and he is anxious for the storm to blow over, their father to return and the long night to come to an end. Storms whistling through the sails, evil pirates pacing the floorboards, and of course, a haunted ship of ghostly beings… All this and more is waiting to give you goose bumps in an atmospheric and thrilling collection of spooky seafaring tales.
The Lion Tamer’s Daughter and Other Stories
Four stories tell of ghostly doubles who reach out across time, space, and magical barriers to rescue and change others, including a girl who discovers she has a second self, living another life entirely.
Stopping for a Spell
In three magical stories, Chair Person finds being a chair easier than being a person, Angus Flint is a visitor who refuses to leave, and four grannies come to care for Emily and Erg.
Tales from Outer Suburbia
These are the odd details of everyday suburban life that might forever go unnoticed, were they not finally brought to light by Shaun Tan. An exchange student who’s really an alien, a secret room that becomes the perfect place for a quick escape, a typical tale of grandfatherly exaggeration that is actually even more bizarre than he says… These are the odd details of everyday life that grow and take on an incredible life of their own in tales and illustrations.
See the review at WOW Review, Volume 3, Issue 2
Demons and Shadows: The Ghostly Best Stories of Robert Westall
Contains some of the author’s best ghostly tales, including “Rachel and the Angel,” “The Creatures in the House,” and the previously unpublished “Graveyard Shift.” By the author of The Stones of Muncaster Cathedral.