Reviews: (by author)

Pilling, Ann. The Kingfisher Treasury of Myths and Legends. Illus. Kady MacDonald Denton. Boston: Kingfsher: Houghton Mifflin, 2003 (paperback of 1993 edition). $12.95. ISBN 0-7534-5635-4.

I often use D'Aulaires' The Book of Greek Myths in both children's literature and folklore classes. I'll use this book from now on. Not only is it more inclusive in its selections, I find the art to be superior to the D'Aulaires'. Both books cost about the same in large, sturdy paperback editions. Pilling has a fine voice as a storyteller and her prose is contemporary. Though stories are collected from many countries, they are less confusing than the welter of names in D'Aulaires' can be for college-level readers who haven't before encountered mythology. Denton's illustrations-- reminiscent of Margot Zemach's watercolors—colorfully depict the essence of the various cultures: Nigerian, Greek, Norse, Russian, Native American, capturing their characteristics and providing a lot of visual nourishment for young minds.

Highly recommended

Alida Allison, October 2003

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