Blog Tour: Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins

I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for the very wonderful ‘Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins’ by the equally wonderful Claire Fayers! As a great lover of myths, legends, fables and folklore, I collect these stories wherever I go and am always thrilled when a new collection appears.

Before you have even opened it to discover the delights within, it has to be said that ‘Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins’ is a beautifully produced book. The green hardback perfectly complements the gold lettering and design of the cover by Becka Moor, making this a book to be gifted, treasured, loved and passed on. And (as one of those weird booklovers who can always be found sniffing books!) it smells great too!

In this collection, Claire has taken seventeen traditional Welsh tales and has used her own special magic to re-imagine them for a new generation. In doing so, she has created a treasure trove of tales, offering something new whilst acknowledging the old, allowing readers to investigate the stories which inspired her should they wish to do so.

Each story starts with an author’s note which sets the scene and sometimes offers guidance on pronunciation- essential support for anyone sharing these at a story time. I particularly enjoyed ‘The Green Lady of Caerphilly Castle’ which, inspired by the story, I am planning to visit very soon! But then, I am planning to spend quite a lot of time exploring Wales due to this book!

In some stories, such as the Green Lady, Claire has stayed fairly true to the original; others, she has cleverly altered to offer a new or different take on the tale. In ‘Sir John and the Dragon’, the addition of Mags, a lively, intelligent orphan, which allows a far more satisfactory conclusion to the story of Denbigh’s dragon.

I could easily write about each of the stories and how much I enjoyed them, but that would make this piece far too long. Suffice it to say that for those who love folklore, this is an essential collection. For those who don’t, this is the collection you need to change that!

Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins

Claire Fayers, illustrated by Becka Moor

Firefly Press ISBN: 1915444707

You can find out more about Claire and her books on her website: https://clairefayers.com/

Many thanks to the lovely people at Firefly Press for inviting me to take part on this Blog Tour!

…And I Hear Dragons

I make no secret of the fact that I love poetry and am always excited to explore a new collection! Conceived and edited by the National Poet of Wales, Hanan Issa (who is also partially responsible for ‘We Are Lady Parts’, one of my all-time favourite programmes!), ‘…And I Hear Dragons’ is a wonderful collection featuring the work of Welsh poets and illustrated by Eric Heyman.

In her introduction, Hanan shares the fact that she used to have a book of dragon poems as a child which inspired her to gather together all the magic and wonder of those ‘unruly, mythical creatures’ in this new anthology- and what a fabulous ‘dragon-focused’ selection it contains!

‘Dragon Dreams’ is one of two poems in the collection contributed by Alex Wharton (Daydreams and Jellybeans and Doughnuts, Thieves and Chimpanzees) and would make a lovely poem to share and discuss with a class. Similarly, Emma Barton-Smith’s ‘The Dragon in my Pocket’ would spark plenty of ideas, perhaps inspiring children to write their own poems on this theme.

The collection is rich in its celebration of Wales- the country, its language, its culture, and its people. Some of the poems use/introduce (depending on your position!) Welsh words. E. L Norry (Fablehouse) entitles her poem ‘Hiraeth’ (a Welsh word that has no direct English translation, but is likened to homesickness tinged with grief and sadness) , a term which I had to look up, making her words even more poignant. Other poems feature short glossaries or quick notes to support the reader’s understanding- like ‘Marged Fwyn ferch Ifan’ by Grug Muse which led me on another voyage of discovery!

A veritable cornucopia of dragon-y delights, this collection offers a wealth of wonderful words!

…And I Hear Dragons

edited by Hanan Issa, illustrated by Eric Heyman

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1915444578

The Sleeping Stones

The Sleepers are hungry and the sea is waiting…

Gruff loves his life on the farm which has been in his family for generations, but times are hard and the family is struggling to stay on the small Welsh island. When the ‘New Neighbours’ move in to what used to be the blacksmith’s cottage, Gruff tries not to resent them and be friendly towards Mat- or Matylda- who has moved there with her family. Mat finds herself inexplicably drawn to the Sleepers, six dark stones leading out from the beach into the sea, ‘like the stepping sones of giants’. But as more and more islanders find themselves being drawn by the lure of the stones, Mat and Gruff must work together to solve the mystery of the Sleeping Stones and save the island community.

Full of rich descriptions of life on the Welsh island, ‘The Sleeping Stones’ is full of the magic and mysticism of Welsh folklore and tradition, old songs and mythological creatures. The sense of place is further enhanced by the use of dialogue and phrases in Welsh (translated into English for non-Welsh speakers).

The story cleverly mingles the love of home and the farming tradition, the sense of belonging to a place and the devastation losing this would bring, with the mystery of the legend of the stones. Gruff is so in love with his life, his farm, his community that the reader becomes really invested in the threat of loss he is facing as they watch him struggle with the situation, doing whatever he can which he thinks will help. His anger at being kept in the dark by his father and Nain (his grandmother) make him a very relatable character as does the jealousy and resentment he feels towards Mat who is starting a new life on the island just as his might be ending.

The sense of belonging Gruff feels on the island is in stark contrast to the lack of belonging felt by Mat who was born in Poland, but who has lived in seven different places in four years. For reasons which I won’t reveal so as not to spoil the story for anyone who has not yet read it, Mat feels the pull of the sea intensely, causing Gruff to remind her that home is ‘where you choose it to be…where you choose to make it’.

Sure to inspire readers to learn more about Welsh mythology and folklore, ‘The Sleeping Stones’ is a great read!

The Sleeping Stones Beatrice Wallbank

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1915444059