Synergy: Exploring Lore

LORE is a collection of knowledge, traditions, beliefs, and stories held by a group of people and passed from through generations. Lore may be related to a specific subject, group, or location.

To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to a theme. Explore these recently published books for young people:

LEGENDS OF NORSE MYTHOLOGY: ENTER A WORLD OF GODS, GIANTS, MONSTER AND HEROES written by Tom Birkett and illustrated by Isabella Mazzanti is a highly illustrated anthology of mythological characters and stories from Norse tradition. This fascinating reference includes over thirty profiles of key figures and retellings of their stories.

AN ATLAS OF AFTERLIVES: DISCOVER UNDERWORLDS, OTHERWORLDS AND HEAVENLY REALMS written by Emily Hawkins and illustrated by Manasawee Rojanaphan features dozens of myths connected with life after death. Organized by continent, the book includes both well-known and lesser-known places examining both the fact and fiction of each location.

A MISCELLANY OF MISCHIEF AND MAGIC: DISCOVER HISTORY’S BEST HOAXES, HIJINKS, TRICKS, AND ILLUSIONS written by Tom Adams and illustrated by Jasmine Floyd explores the world of deception. From pranksters and magicians to con-artists, this beautifully illustrated picture book features a wide range of fascinating people. Along with learning the secrets of magic and famous hoaxes, readers also explore a wide range of themes such as disguises and conspiracies.

LORE OF THE STARS: FOLKLORE AND WISDOM FROM THE SKIES ABOVE written by Claire Cock-Starkey and illustrated by Hannah Bess Ross examines folklore from around the world. Six chapters explore lore connected with the sky, sun, moon, stars, planets, comets and shooting stars, and cosmos.

ARC courtesy of Wide Eyed Editions, Quarto Group.

Synergy: Mythical Places

MYTHICAL PLACES are locations that appear in tall tales, folklore, religious texts, and mythology. Atlantis and Shangri-La are examples.

Read the recently published children’s nonfiction book, then learn more at the websites:

AN ATLAS OF LOST KINGDOMS by Emily Hawkins and illustrated by Lauren Mark Baldo explores mythical places across cultures from around the world. Featuring detailed maps, and stunning illustrations, readers are immersed in both the lost worlds along with the stories of adventurers who sought them. ARC courtesy of Wide Eyed Editions from Quarto Group.

Wikipedia’s LIST OF MYTHOLOGICAL PLACES is a fascinating place to begin an exploration of the wide range of mythological places.

To visit the website, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mythological_places.

ORIGINS EXPLAINED is a YouTube channel exploring mysterious places. For instance, 10 MYTHICAL PLACES THAT ACTUALLY EXIST is a video that shares mysterious places people can actually visit.

To visit the YouTube channel, go to https://www.youtube.com/c/OriginsExplained. To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/WXakuaCnDXs.

Book Review: Begone the Raggedy Witches

BEGONE THE RAGGEDY WITCHES by Celine Kiernan is the first book in the Wild Magic fantasy trilogy.

After her father is taken hostage by witches, Mup and her family must avoid the raggedy witches to save him from the queen who also happens to be Mup’s grandmother. Along the way, she meets magical creatures and people in her quest to find her father.

Librarians will find this intermediate grade fantasy popular with children who enjoy folk fantasy, forbidden magic, and Irish mythology. This quick read can be enjoyed as both a standalone and book one of a trilogy.

Published on September 11, 2018 by Candlewick. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Collection: Bear Lake Monster

Bear Lake Monster Collection
Mountain West Digital Library

Contents: This collection includes materials related to the origins of the Bear Lake Monster legend in Bear Lake Valley (Utah and Idaho).

Classroom Connections: Students love to learn about folklore and legends. Use this digital collection to dive into the primary sources associated with the Bear Lake Monster. Ask students to browse the documents searching for evidence of the monster. Then, write about whether they think the legend is true. Pair this activity with an exploration of other monsters such as Loch Ness, Bigfoot, and others. Create a display of monster legend books.

Featured Digital Objects: 
Painting of Bear Lake Monster - https://goo.gl/VP2cQs
Interview - https://goo.gl/SZ9JiF
News Story - https://goo.gl/O9HEqP

To visit the collection, go to http://www.mwdl.org/collections/2137.php.

Book Review: The Door by the Staircase

THE DOOR BY THE STAIRCASE by Katherine Marsh is a fantasy adventure based on the Russian Baba Yaga folktales.

Designed for middle grades, this dark fantasy follows the story of orphan Mary Hayes who is adopted by the mysterious Madame Z. Mary’s new home seems ideal until she begins to realize that her savior may have a dark side.

Librarians will find this fantasy to be popular with children who enjoy folk tales. Teachers wishing to explore traditional folklore at the middle grades may consider this title as part of a literature circle focusing on folklore adaptations.

To learn more about the author, go to http://katherinemarsh.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion on January 5, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Baba Yaga's Assistant

BABA YAGA’s ASSISTANT by Marika McCoola is an engaging middle-grade graphic novel fantasy featuring a central character in Russian folklore.

Masha isn’t looking forward to a new stepmother and stepsister, so she decides to leave the family and apply for a job as Baba Yaga’s apprentice. She inherited a love of folklore and bit of magic from her grandmother, but that may not be enough to save her from this supernatural old woman who preys on children and flies around in a mortar wielding a pestle.

McCoola builds a convincing bridge between old folklore and modern society in this well-written, fast-paced graphic fantasy. Emily Carroll’s convincing illustrations draw readers into the plot. Of particular note are the beautifully bordered folktale sequences woven throughout the story.

This spooky, yet lighthearted tale will delight readers who enjoy fairy tales, but it will also be a hit with graphic novel fans. Librarians looking for age-appropriate graphic novels for middle grade children will be thrilled with this short, illustrated work. Teachers will enjoy the many curriculum connections related to folklore.

Published by Candlewick Press on August 4, 2015.

App Review: The Echidna and the Dress

THE ECHIDNA AND THE DRESS is a charming, comic-style picture book app exploring Aboriginal life. Set in the Australian Outback, the app tells the true story of the relationship between a boy and his grandmother. A small spiny creature who is able to foretell both good and bad news, the echidna plays a central role to this compelling cultural story. The echidna is a popular creature in Australian appearing on the 5-cent coin and serving as a mascot for the Olympics.

While many apps overwhelm readers with quick-moving animations, loud sounds, and distracting interactives, this delightful e-book tells a sweet story in a pleasant, nurturing way.

The beautifully illustrated e-book app includes just enough animation to make the story come alive for readers. The simple background music and sound effects contribute to the appeal. The voices perfectly match the needs of the story.

While this linear e-book app doesn’t include extras or activities, it’s a great example of the beauty found in a simple story. Perfect for cultural studies in the primary grades, the app would be an excellent addition to a school library’s collection. It could easily be shared with a class using a whiteboard.

Other digital story apps including Ngurrara and Warlu Song are also available as part of the Yijala Yala Project created by Big hART in Australia. This cultural project is intended to connect people across generations.

To learn more about the app, go to http://yijalayala.bighart.org/digital-stories/echidna-dress/.
To purchase to app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/echidna-dress-inter…/id852947501….