STORYTELLING STAR [Sep 20, 2001] James Riordan and Amanda Hall

These unusual and alluring tales will familiarize children with the stars, constellations, sun, and moon as well as introduce them to the storytelling traditions of the world's ancient cultures. James Riordan has spent many years researching these myths and legends, discovering that, from China to South America, the stars and planets have inspired the earliest storytellers. An Aztec myth tells of a timid goddess who must compete with the vain God of the Snails by jumping into a raging fire to become the sun. The story of the birth of the stars is taken from ancient Inca folklore, while "The Battle of the Northern Lights" is a tale of the Saami people. This marvelous collection is enhanced with the splendid illustrations of Amanda Hall.

James Riordan is Professor of Languages and Head of the Department of Linguistics and International Study at the University of Surrey. He has travelled extensively around the world to observe the traditions of different cultures and to record their stories. Also published by Pavilion is The Songs my Paddle Sings, his collection of Native American Indian legends. Amanda Hall lives in Cambridge, and has illustrated numerous books, including for Pavilion. Robi Dobi, and Kipling's How the Leopard Got His Spots and How the Camel Got His Hump.