The Star-Bearer: A Creation Myth From Ancient Egypt - Hardcover

Hofmeyr, Dianne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0374371814 ISBN 13: 9780374371814

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2001

Synopsis

A five-thousand-year-old story.

When the godchild Atum emerges from inky silence to begin his work of creation, he first conjures up the passionate gods of air and rain, followed by Geb, god of the earth, and Nut, goddess of the sky. But earth and sky cling to each other, sharing whispered secrets and laughter, leaving Atum no room to complete his creation. So Atum has no choice but to force them apart, infuriating Geb and leaving Nut sad and lonely . . . until Thoth, the god of wisdom, takes pity on her.

From an age-old explanation of how our starry universe came to be, Dianne Hofmeyr and Jude Daly have fashioned a dazzling and accessible picture-book introduction to Egyptian mythology.

About this title

About the Author:

Dianne Hofmeyr is the author of two previous picture books, Do the Whales Still Sing? and The Stone, both also illustrated by Jude Daly. She lives in London. Jude Daly lives in Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband, Niki Daly. She is the author and illustrator of Fair, Brown & Trembling: An Irish Cinderella Story.

From Publishers Weekly:

Hofmeyr and Daly, previously partnered for The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi, again join forces to weave a colorful picture book from one of the world's oldest storytelling traditions. Key figures in Egyptian mythology spring to life in Hofmeyr's vivid narration: the bud of a lotus flower breaks through the surface of water, and, "as the petals slowly unfurled, they spread a blue luster in the darkness. Enclosed in the center of the bloom was the golden godchild Atum." Atum, the creator, brings forth Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of dew and rain, who are the tempestuous parents of stubborn and inseparable children Geb, the god of the earth, and Nut, the goddess of the sky. When Geb and Nut's carrying on halts Atum's creation of the rest of the world ("If you stay so close to each other, there will be no room for tall trees and rugged mountains, for rivers and waterfalls..."), Atum must assert his authority to divide the siblings into the earth and sky we recognize today. Daly's stylized, willowy figures shine against elegant backgrounds of rich, jewel-like blues and greens, bathed in sun-, moon- or starlight. The paintings go far in visually bridging slight gaps in Hofmeyr's narrative. Even with such gaps, the author's lustrous imagery and poetic tone give this ancient story a fresh feel with much appeal. Ages 4-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0374371814
• ISBN 13: 9780374371814
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Daly Jude