Girls, Goddesses and Giants: Tales of Heroines from Around the World

Description

A selection of brilliant folk tales about heroines from all around the world. In these stories it's the girls who save the day through their courage, cunning or kindness - whether they are facing up to wolves, demons, dragons, enemy tribes, or the sun itself! Handsome princes need not apply - these girls are doing it for themselves. With stories from every corner of the world (from Cameroon to Scotland, India, Japan and the Americas) this inclusive anthology of girl power is stunningly illustrated in paper-cut style.

Lari Don spent ten childhood years living beside a distillery, a river and a railway line, giving her lots of opportunities for incredibly dangerous outdoor games. She was the Scottish National Party's Press Officer for many exciting and sleepless years and then a researcher and producer at BBC Radio Scotland. She won the Canongate Prize in 2001. She now lives in Leith, and is a fulltime children's writer and storyteller.

This is the best collection of heroine folklore aimed at young readers that I have read. The pace and imagery of the stories are thrillingly intense, and the writer addresses the reader in a direct, lively voice...in the manner of Angela Carter or Susan Price. They are excellent for reading aloud. This outstanding collection is embellished with Francesca Greenwood's spirited silhouettes of characters and motifs. -- George Hunt, Lecturer in Education, University of Edinburgh * Books for Keeps * The heroines throughout are brave and ingenious. The stories are written with verve and would be good for either reading or telling. * The School Librarian * I found it refreshing to read a book aimed at girls that avoided being stereotypically 'girly'. Each tale is the perfect length for a bedtime story. Girls, Goddesses and Giants stands out as a book that both parent and child will be happy to return to again and again. Accessible and readable, with a host of strong female characters and a diverse, multicultural range of stories, it has become a firm favourite... -- Hereward L.M. Proops * booksquawk.com *