Celtic Myths - Hardcover

Mcbratney, Sam

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0872265617 ISBN 13: 9780872265615

Publisher: Brighter Child, 2002

Synopsis

This book features a beautifully illustrated collection of marvelous stories retold from classic legends and ancient mythology. The tales are lively, well-written versions that make the drama and excitement of each story accessible to children of all ages.

About this title

Reviews

Grade 3-5-McBratney introduces readers to the magical, entertaining, and violent lore of Northern Ireland and the British Isles. Among the 15 tales retold here are the popular Gawain and the Loathly Lady and that of "The Green Man"; the Welsh legend of Pryderi's birth and coming to throne; a pourquoi story of Stonehenge; and the story of Cuchulainn winning his name: the Hound of Ulster. In a wild variety of tales, animals transform into people and vice versa. The fools include a midwife who lets the fairies know she sees them, a king who tries to hide his ridiculous ears, and a fool-hero who contends with an all-devouring sea monster in order to win a kingdom. Several selections, such as "Gelert," in which a faithful hound is falsely accused of killing a baby, and "Wee Johnnie's Revenge," a ghost story in which the lad's heartless mother serves him up in an Irish stew, may be too grisly for some listeners, but fine for those who want thrills and poignancy. Gaelic pronunciations at the bottom of pages are a great help. There are no source notes. Well-composed, hauntingly grotesque watercolors edged in ink or pencil heighten the affect of the stories. Modified Celtic knots and jewels illuminate each page and frame the full-page illustrations, thus unifying the book. Overall, good stories, glowingly illustrated and freshly told, but not for the faint of heart.
Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From McBratney (The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, 1996, etc.), brief retellings of 15 stories from the British Isles, with appearances by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Children of Lir, a Selkie story, and an interesting version of King Midas. Every one is accompanied by a full-page painting and several smaller ones; McBratney often provides comments for his competent, workmanlike retellings, but variations of all the stories are widely available. The illustrations are odd: The technique is rich and confident, and Player is skilled, but he makes the faces almost uniformly ugly, even when the text describes the characters as handsome or beautiful. The paintings don't match the text in other ways as well, e.g., a boy described as seven or eight appears to be about sixteen. (index) (Folklore. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Brighter Child
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0872265617
• ISBN 13: 9780872265615
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 62