Goddesses and Heroines: Women of myth and legend

Description

Told afresh for a contemporary readership, Goddesses & Heroines brings alive stories from a variety of cultures with palpable energy. We meet the youthful Aphrodite; Hecate, the maths whizz; the heroic Mulan; Oshun, the Nigerian goddess whose foresight sparked a rebellion that freed slaves; and the not-so-fair-y godmother Baba Yaga, whose bone-crunching approach to life will be an inspiration to any power-hungry young thing. A section on the symbols commonly associated with each goddess provides context for each story and familiarizes readers with the symbols to spot her by. The endmatter includes information on how goddesses and heroines achieved their mythic status, how myths are passed on and evolve, and a map of goddesses from around the globe and how they are inter-connected.

Xanthe Gresham-Knight is a British performance storyteller. Her clients include the British Museum and the Smithsonian, for whom she creates bespoke performances in response to their collections. She is Lecturer in Drama and Storytelling at the University of East London and the author of two books for children, Thumbelina and Princess and the Pea. Alice Pattullo is an illustrator and printmaker based in East London, with a special interest in folklore. Her work has been exhibited at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and her clients include the V&A and the National Trust. She is the illustrator of An Animal ABC, Pride and Prejudice and the Pocket Guide series.

A refreshing revival of timeless, magical women that will inspire readers to dream their own stories... This anthology offers accessible versions of the more popular stories... The strength of this collection of tales lies in Pattullo's colorful and quirky illustrations, which capture the cultural diversity with radiance and energy.-- "Kirkus Reviews" A wonderful source for children who wish to act out these legendary tales... Pattullo's elaborate cartoon-style drawings of the women and their related symbology will provide reach inspiration for costumes... [The] breadth and diversity make the book worth a purchase.-- "Booklist" Lively, colorful, cartoon-style illustrations provide a strong and effective visual presentation... A carefully curated collection of stories that feature powerful, fantastical women.-- "School Library Journal"