Lore of the Deep

‘Lore of the Deep’ brings together a collection of water-based folklore from around the world. It is a wonderful addition to this series which includes ‘Lore of the Wild’, ‘Lore of the Land’ and ‘Lore of the Stars’. Each volume is beautifully illustrated by a different artist.

Divided into six sections - Mythical Seas and Oceans, Creatures of the Seas and Oceans, Seafarers, Stormy Waters, Ocean Landscapes and Ominous Oceans - the book plunges the reader into every aspect of the watery world and the stories humans have created to explain its wonders and mysteries. Each section starts with a traditional tale on the theme, followed by snippets of folklore and wisdom.

A comprehensive index includes cultural references which is a useful addition- perhaps a world map highlighting these locations would also have been helpful. Like the other volumes in the series, ‘Lore of the Deep’ is a real treasure trove, offering a book which can be returned to again and again and one which teachers are sure to find useful for enriching the curriculum with some of those little details and stories which children love!

Lore of the Deep: Folklore and Wisdom from the Watery Wilds

Claire Cock-Starkey, illustrated by Stacey Rozich

Wide-Eyed ISBN: 978-0711287709

You can read my review of ‘Lore of the Stars’ here

Lore of the Stars

Divided into six sections-The Sky, The Sun, The Moon, The Stars, Planets, Comets and Shooting Stars and The Cosmos, ‘Lore of the Stars’ is bursting with fascinating tales of ancient wisdom. Following the structure of the two previous books in this series, ‘Lore of the Wild’ and ‘Lore of the Land’, each section is opened by a traditional tale from a different culture like the Nigerian tale which explains why the sky is so far away and the Indian Santal folktale of why the moon was created.

There are spreads which take a general theme- moon lore, auroras…- and explore beliefs from different cultures, allowing readers to see the similarities and differences between myths and legends from around the world. There is so much here to enjoy- so many different tales to explore. Some are more familiar like the tales of the ancient Greeks, but there are many less well known stories to discover.

The book is beautifully illustrated, marrying perfectly with the other titles in the series and adding brilliantly to any collection of books on mythology, legend and folklore. This is a must-have series to be returned to again and again.

Lore of the Stars: Folklore and Wisdom from the Skies Above

Claire Cock-Starkey, illustrated by Hannah Bess Ross

Wide Eyed ISBN: 978-0711282001