Books in Myths from Around the World series

It is found among the old, old histories of the Tibetans that a female demon living among the mountains in Northern India mated with a monkey from the forests of Tibet, and from this union sprang the Tibetan race of people. The greater part of their literature is of a sacred nature, telling of their creation, of the formation of the world, of Buddha and his miraculous birth and death, of his reincarnations and the revisions of his teachings. A kind of almanac, a little astronomy, plans for casting a horoscope, and many books filled with religious teachings and superstitions, including the worship of devils and demons, are about all that can be found. The 49 little stories in this book are told as the people sit around their boiling tea made over a three stone camp-fire. They are handed down from father to son, from mother to daughter, and though often filled with their superstitious beliefs, through them all run a vein of humor and the teachings of a moral truth which is quite unexpected. These tales were gathered by Dr. A. L. Shelton on his trips among the Tibetans, around their camp-fires at night, and in their black tents high up in the mountains. Every country has its folk-lore tales that have always been a joy and pleasure to the children, not only of their own land, but of other lands as well. May these stories add a little to this pleasure and enjoyment everywhere, in whatsoever tongue they may be translated or in whatever land they may be read. Flora Beal Shelton 1925

It is not widely known that the Caucasus corridor, geographic home to the nation of Georgia, was a well travelled arm of the famous Silk Route that linked Asia and Europe. Silk, merchandise, and stories were traded through this region for countless generations. On one hand, Georgia shared a religious and political connection with Byzantium (Christendom), and on the other a constant cultural discourse with Persia and Turkey (Islam). In later years, links to Russia further enriched the cultural traditions of this crossroad of civilisations. It is therefore not surprising that the nation of Georgia overflows with folklore. We invite you to enjoy Georgian Folktales, a short collection of thirty-eight traditional stories from Georgia, Mingrelia and Guria translated by Marjorie Wardrop in 1894. Princes, kings, viziers, wicked stepmothers, princesses, fools, speaking serpents, and simple folk who make good abound in the pages of this delightful volume. The twenty-eight Mingrelian proverbs are a bonus and provide additional insight into the culture of the region. Many of the themes in these stories are also reflected in European folklore, giving credence to the claim that folklore originated in Asia eons ago and was transported to Europe by the Gypsy and Roma folk. Indeed, some of these stories closely parallel those published in Abela Publishing's Gypsy Folk Tales and Roumanian Folk Tales. A percentage of the sale from this book will be donated to scholarships for the underpriviledged in Georgia.

Fifteen beautiful young dancers from all around the world share with girls their dreams and feelings. This book lets young readers discover the world through dance and music. Through anecdotes, the reader will discover the dancers' love for dance enhanced with wonderful illustrations by Sybile.Gr 3-6- Fifteen young women worldwide enthusiastically describe the dance form they love and practice. Each one talks about the music, the steps, and the dance's history, and imagines herself in a particular role. In some cases, she describes a real performance. The styles vary greatly-ballet, ballroom, folk, Kabuki, Senegalese, Flamenco, Tahitian, etc. The text is written in a casual, diarylike format that is appealing. The colorful double-page illustrations with some foldouts feature elongated figures with the same idealized dancer's body in attractive costumes and appropriate settings. The text is often on colored pages that sometimes seem a bit opaque for the print to be able to stand out. A useful addition for collections that need more information about the various forms of dance.--School Library Journal“Dancers of the World" is a magical vignette of 14 graceful dancers from locations, traditions, and cultures around the world. Beautifully illustrated with fold-out painted scenes, dancers like Heloise, from the Parisian ballet, or Maeva, a Tahitian dancer, or Cynthia, an American rock and roll dancer adorn these incredible pages. Each dancer has a brief biography that includes specifics about the origin of the type of dance she specializes in. From Aram, a Bollywood dancer in Omandur, South India, to Akiko, a kabuki dancer in Japan, here are beautiful examples of many styles of exotic, graceful dance traditions. "Dancers of the World" is a treasure chest book especially appealing to young girls who hope to follow their own dance dreams.--Midwest Book Review