Western Isles Folk Tales

Title: Western Isles Folk Tales Writer: Ian Stephen Publishing House: The History Press Date of Publication: February 1st 2015 (first published October 15th 2014) Rating: 5 stars “Where the Northern Ocean, in vast whirls, Boils round the naked, melancholy isles Of farthest Thule; and the Atlantic surge Pours in among the stormy Hebrides.”                                 Charlotte Bronté…

Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark

Title: Nordic Tales: Folktales From Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark Writer: Various, illustrated by Ulla Thynell Publishing House: Chrinicle Books Date of Publication: August 13th 2019  Rating: 5 stars ‘’In the days of our forefathers, when there was nothing but wretched boats up in Nordland, and folks must needs buy fair winds by the…

The Toys’ Christmas

Title: The Toys’ Christmas Writer: Claire Clément, illustrated by Geneviève Godbout Publishing House: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Date of Publication: November 9th 2021 Rating: 5 stars ‘’Soon, Fanfan and Mr Long Ears reach a clearing filled with other toys. There are grumpy -looking bears, smiling dolls, friendly hippos, little clowns and even unicorns! The oldest…

Hans Christian Andersen (Little People, Big Dreams)

Title: Hans Christian Andersen (Little People, Big Dreams) Writer: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Maxine Lee-Mackie Publishing House: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Date of Publication: April 20th 2021 Rating: 5 stars ‘’The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things.     Hans Christian Andersen A…

Leicestershire and Rutland Folk Tales

Τitle:Leicestershire and Rutland Folk Tales Writer: Leicestershire Guild of Storytelling Publishing House: The History Press Date of Publication: February 28th 2013 Rating: 5 stars ‘’Standing in the Great Hall, with the cold of the flagstoned floor underfoot and the dark timbers of the roof trusses above, the noise of our twenty-first century city is muffled….

Foxfire, Wolfskin and Other Stories of Shapeshifting Women

Title: Foxfire, Wolfskin and Other Stories of Shapeshifting Women Writer: Sharon Blackie Publishing House: September Publishing Date of Publication: September 20th 2019 Rating: 5 stars ”No one wants to work the land, now; they just want to sit and look out of the picture window and stare at the water. A ‘view’, they call is, as if they had nothing…

Gossip From The Forest

Title: Gossip From the Forest Writer: Sara Maitland Publishing House: Granta Books Date of Publication: November 1st 2012 Rating: 1 star I won’t write an elaborate (and boring…) Introduction about how much I longed to read this book. It was one of my most coveted treasures from the moment I bought it and I wanted to savour it and…

Prague In Legends

  Title: Prague In Legends Writer:  Anna Novotná (illustrated by Jan Klimeš) Publishing House: Práh Date of Publication: 2016 Rating: 5 stars ‘’It is said that the St Vitus bells can change their sound according to the mood of the nation.’ In Prague, History and Legend walk hand in hand and greet you in every corner. The Golden City created after…

#Fairytale Friday: Serbia

Title: Serbian Fairy Tales (Σερβικά παραμύθια) Writer: edited and translated into Greek by Momčilo Radić Publishing House: Απόπειρα Date of Publication: 2004 Rating: 5 stars Today we aren’t going to talk about a specific tale. Instead, we’re going on a trip to Serbia, guided by the most characteristic features of the Serbian fairy tale.  The fairy tales of…

Faery Tales

Title: Faery Tales Writer: Carol Ann Duffy (illustrated by Tomislav Tomić Publishing House: Faber Date of Publication: November 4th 2014 Rating: 5 stars ”Ungrateful man!”, thundered the creature. ”I have saved your life by letting you into my castle and to thank me you steal one of my roses, which I prize over everything!” My introduction to the world…

A World Full of Spooky Stories

Title: A World Full of Spooky Stories Writer: Angela McAllister (illustrated by Madalina Andronic) Publishing House: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Date of Publication: September 3rd 2019 Rating: 5 stars Confession time. Once August knocks on our door and long before my summer holidays are completed, I begin to think of Halloween reads, Halloween decorations, Halloween films and pretty much Halloween…

#Fairytale Friday: Scotland

Next stop of #FairytaleFriday is Scotland. A land made of myths and legend, steeped in History and tradition. Its corners inhabited by fairies, elves, otherworldly animals, its power forged by brave warriors fighting for independence. This is one of the most well-known Scottish myths that is firmly linked to one of the most famous clans….

Through the Water Curtain

Title: Through the Water Curtain Writer: Cornelia Funke Publishing House: Pushkin Press Date of Publication: November 1st 2018 Rating: 4 stars ‘’Fairy tales break all the rules of a good story and yet they find such powerful images for the deepest human emotions and fears that we sense deep layers of meaning in a poisonous apple or the grueling setting…

Folk

Title: Folk Writer: Zoe Gilbert Publishing House: Bloomsbury UK Date of Publication: February 8th 2018 Rating: 4 stars ‘’Listen, for the beat that runs through the gorce maze. It is an early twilight, the opening between last sun and first star, the door of the day closing until, soon, night will seal it shut. There are feet thudding in the…

Μystical Britain and Ireland

Title: Mystical Britain and Ireland Writer: Richard Jones (photography by John Mason) Publishing House: New Holland Australia Date of Publication: August 10th 2006 (first published 2003) Rating: 5 stars ‘’Those who pace its lanes and squares may yet hear the echoes of their footsteps on the sounding stones and read upon its gates…’’Who enters here leaves noise behind.’’ Charles Dickens…

The Dollmaker

Title: The Dollmaker Writer: Nina Allan Publishing House: Quercus Books Date of Publication: April 4th 2019 Rating: 5 stars ‘’In 21 cases there was death but no burial; in 10, funerals but no burials; in 8, funerals but no death.’’ Dolls never found a top spot in my favourite toys list. My mum didn’t like them at all but my…

Lakeland Folk Tales for Children

Title: Lakeland Folk Tales For Children Writer: Taffy Thomas Publishing House: The History Press Date of Publication: January 1st 2017 Rating: 5 stars ‘’I’m a teller of tales, a spinner of yarns, A weaver of dreams and a liar. I’ll teach you some stories to tell to Your friends, While sitting at home by the fire.’’ ‘’The Storyteller’’ by Mike…

Odette

Title: Odette Writer: Jessica Duchen Publishing House: Unbound Date of Publication: 29th November 2018 Ratings: 5 stars ‘’Now I talk but you don’t believe me.’’ My mother and I have a Christmas tradition that we try to follow religiously every year.  Both being avid lovers of ballet, we have associated Christmas with this beautiful form of Art. Usually,…

Vom Schicksal Das sich Wendet (Märchen von Freiheit und Glück)

Τitle: Vom Schicksal Das sich Wendet (Märchen von Freiheit und Glück) Writer: Otto Betz Publishing House: Kösel Date of Publication: 1987 Rating: 5 stars *All quotes and titles translated by me. Taken from the Greek edition.* ‘’Is the course of our fate irreversibly defined from the very start? Can we do nothing to fight against blind destiny, or are…

The Snow and The Sun (La Nieve y la Sol)

  Title: The Snow and The Sun Writer: Antonio Frasconi Publishing House: Dover Publications Date of Publication: 17 Oct 2018 (first published June 28th 1961) Rating: 5 stars ‘’Snow that hurts my feet Why are you so bad? I am not bad; The Sun is bad That melts me.’’ Progressive poems have long been a vital part in the tradition of…