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Bibliography and Recommended Reading List
Here is our 20 or so page annotated
bibliography and recommended reading list for adults and children,
which would not fit into our book as published. It is divided
up into the following sections, roughly corresponding with the
section headings in Circle Round,for easy reference. We
could not possibly list all of the available books on each of
these subjects, but we hope to at least give you an idea of what
is out there as well as point out some favorites we have used.
As a service to our readers who do not live in areas served by
good independent bookstores, we have created links to amazon.com. The minimal income we receive from providing these links goes directly to fund the maintenance of this website. If you would like to support independent online booksellers, we heartily recommend Powell's Books and abebooks.com. These are particularly excellent resources for used and out of print books.
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Section Headings
Creation
The Moon
Samhain
Winter Solstice
Brigit
Eostar (Spring Equinox)
Beltane
Summer Solstice
Lammas
Mabon (Fall Equinox)
Life Cycles
Pagan Parenting
Elements
Story Collections
and Myths
Creation
General Background for
Adults:
- Graves, Robert. The
Greek Myths. Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1974.
- In two volumes, this is an indispensible
reference for the many versions of the Greek Myths. Our version
of The Goddess Dances the World Awake comes from
Vol. 1, pg. 27.
- Lovelock, James. The
Ages of Gaia: A Biography of Our Living Earth. NY, Bantam,
1990.
- Evolution described by the originator
of the Gaia hypothesis--that the earth is a living organism.
- Sahtouris, Elisabet. Gaia:
the Human Journey for Chaos to Cosmos. NY, Pocket Books,
1989.
- An excellent introduction to
evolution and the Gaia hypothesis.
- Swimme, Brian. The
Hidden Heart of the Cosmos. Maryknoll, NY., Orb's Books,
1996.
- A good introduction to a mythic/scientific
understanding of the origins of the universe.
For children:
- Fox, Matthew. In
the Beginning There Was Joy. NY, Crossroad, 1995.
- A delightful tale of origins
that can work for children of any religious tradition.
African Creation Myth:
- Teish, Luisah. Carnival
of the Spirit. SanFrancisco, HarperSF, 1996.
- This is a wonderful introduction
to African religion and seasonal celebrations--aimed at adults,
but much is applicable to families and children.
Other Cultures and Traditions:
- Gerson, Mary-Joan. People
of Corn: A Maya Story. Boston, Little, Brown & Co. 1995.
- A charming picture book.
- Hamilton, Virginia. In
The Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World. New
York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.
- Good read-aloud material for
comparing cultural creation myths. Some are translated from ancient
writings of conquering peoples, changing the earlier myths of
Goddess traditions, but this is well worth having, anyway.
- Wilson, Barbara Ker. The
Turtle and the Island. New York: J. Lippincott, 1990.
- A retelling of a folktale from
Papua New Guinea about the creation of their island.
- Also see Danu, the Earth
and other stories in Edwards, The
Storytellers Goddess.
The
Moon
- OHara, Gwydion. Moonlore:
Myths & Folklore from around the World. St. Paul, Llewellyn,
1996
- Lynch, P.J., illustrator, translated
by Sir George Webbe Dasent. East
O the Sun and West O the Moon. Cambridge,
MA: Candlewick Press, 1992.
- A beautifully illustrated picture
book, with text that reads as though a first-rate storyteller
were telling the tale.
Other Moon Stories:
- Rattigan, Jama. The
Woman in the Moon. Boston, Little, Brown & Co., 1996.
- A pitcture book that tells the
story of Hina, the Hawaiian Moon Goddess.
- Wolkstein, Diane. White
Wave: A Chinese Tale. San Diego, Harcourt, Brace & Co.
1996.
- A beautifully illustrated picture
book with a Chinese moon tale.
- Bulla, Clyde Robert. The
Moon Singer. New York: Thomas Crowell Co., 1969. (Weekly
Reader Childrens Book Club)
- A beautiful picture book about
a boy who sings to the moon at night. Well worth having if you
can find it.
Samhain
Vasa Lisa:
- Afanasyev, Aleksandr, illust.
Russian
Fairy Tales. NY: Pantheon, 1973.
- A classic version of Vasa Lisa
and many other tales.
- Estes, Clarissa Pinkola, Women
Who Run With the Wolves. NY, Ballantine, 1995.
- A Jungian analysis of how myths
and fairy tales can illumine women's development and liberation
of spirit, with a great version of Vasa Lisa among others.
- Ayres, Becky Hickox. Matreshka.
New York: Delacorte Press, 1992.
- Good picture book of Vasa Lisa
and her doll, though with the standard, unsympathetic Baba Yaga
portrayal found in most stories.
Witches:
- de Paolo, Tomie. Strega
Nona, Her Story. NY. G.P.Putnam's Sons, 1996.
- A charming picture book series
about an Italian Witch who is a healer. DePaolo has written several
Strega Nona books, all of which are delightful.
- Guthrie, Donna. The
Witch Who Lives Down the Hall. New York: HBJ, 1985.
- A wonderful story about a boy
who moves into a city apartment building, and his relationship
with the woman down the hall. His suspicions about her are treated
with gentle humor, and their friendship culminates with a Halloween
surprise.
- Barkan, Joanne. A
Very Scary Witch Story. New York: Scholastic, 1992.
- For younger readers, this glow-in-the-dark
paperback tells the story of a young witch wanting to join her
sisters at the witches ball, and what she has to do to get there.
This can be read as a nice tale about initiation.
- Willard, Nancy. The
Ballad of Biddy Early. New York:Knopf, 1989.
- Picture book of haunting, lyric
poems about Biddy Early, an historic woman healer in County Clare.
- Berry, James. The
Future-Telling Lady and Other Stories. New York: Willa
Perlman Books. 1991.
- These excellent short stories
for 812 year olds (can be read aloud to younger children)
reveal the important position of healers in Jamaican society
and paint a vivid portrait of family life in the West Indies.
- Stephens, Mary Jo. The
Witch of the Cumberlands. Boston:Houghton Mifflin, 1974.
- An excellent mystery involving
four children who move to a small town in the mountains with
their father, and the old woman who looks after them. This is
one of my (Annes) favorite childrens books about
witches, and certainly deserves to be back in print.
- Strichartz, Naomi. The
Wisewoman, and The
Wisewomans Sacred Wheel of the Year. Spencer, NY:Cranehill
Press, 1986 and 1988.
- A collection of stories about
a brother and sister who visit their neighbor friend, the wisewoman,
who lives in the woods. Very witch-friendly, with seasonal stories.
Beloved Dead:
- Walker, Alice. To
Hell With Dying. San Diego,Harcourt Brace Jovanavich,
1988.
- A loving, personal account of
an old man's preparation for death. Beautifully illustrated by
Catherine Deeter.
- Kubler-Ross, Elizabeth. Remember
the Secret. Berkeley, CA:Celestial Arts, 1982.
- A young girl understands about
the life of the spirit after death, with the help of her imaginary
friends.
Day of the Dead:
- Aldana, Patricia, Ed. Jade
and Iron: Latin America Tales from Two Cultures. Toronto,
Groundwood, 1996.
- Tales from Latin America for
early readers.
- Ancorra, George. Pablo
Remembers the Fiesta of the Day of the Dead. NY, Lothrop,
Lee & Shapard Books, 1993.
- A picture book that tells the
story of the celebration of El Dia de los Muertos in Mexico.
- Krull, Kathleen. Maria
Molina and the Days of the Dead. NY. MacMillan, 1994.
- Another picture book, this time
with a girl as the central character.
Winter
Solstice
Collections:
- Edwards, Carolyn McVickar. Sun
Stories: Tales from Around the World to Illuminate the Days and
Nights of Our Lives. HarperSanFrancisco, SF, 1995.
- A wonderful collection of sun
tales from around the worldmostly from earth based traditions,
but including also the Christmas and Chanuka stories in versions
readable for Pagan children. Highly recommended!
- Lindgren, Astrid. The
Tomten. New York:Sandcastle Books, 1990.
- Everyone on the lonely farm
is sleeping, except the Tomten, a kindly ancient troll who lives
in the hayloft by day and guards the farm by night. A great Winter
story.
Mother Winter:
This story is found in collections
of the Brother's
Grimm under the title Frau Holle.
Amaterasu, Other Versions:
- Davis, Hadland F. Myths
and Legends of Japan. Singapore, Graham Brash, 1989. Order from Powell's Books
- A scholarly collection of myths
aimed at adults.
- Edwards, The
Storytellers Goddess, p.20
- A good version for children.
- More Japanese myths can be found
in Martin, Rafe. Mysterious
Tales of Japan. NY, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1996.
Chanukah:
- Edwards, Sun
Stories (see: Winter Solstice) has a version of the Chanuka
story.
- Sydelle, Pearl and Skortsheva,
Rossita author. Elijah's
Tears: Stories for the Jewish Holidays. NY, Holt, 1996.
- Wonderful myths and tales from
the Jewish tradition.
- Waskow, Arthur. Seasons
of Our Joy: A Celebration of Modern Jewish Renewal. Toronto,
Bantam, 1982.
- A classic introduction to the
Jewish Renewal movement, with a good chapter on Chanukah that
includes discussion of its Pagan origins and seasonal aspects.
Christmas:
- Edwards, Sun
Stories (see: Winter Solstice) has a good version of
the Christmas story.
- Moeri, Louise. Star
Mother's Youngest Child. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.,
1975.
- A charming story about a young
star and an old woman. Emphasizes the spirit of giving, not the
Bible story.
Kwanzaa:
- Riley, Doroty Winbush. The
Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest. NY,
HarperCollins, 1995.
- Explanations, stories, directions
for ritual, biography, and readings for Kwanzaa. For adults and
older readers, with stories that can be read to young children.
Brigid
General Background for
adults:
- Berger, Pamela. The
Goddess Obscured: Transformation of the Grain Protectress form
Goddess to Saint. Boston, Beacon Press, 1985.
- Good academic background that
ranges over northern Europe and the Middle East, with a small
section on Brigid.
- Condren, Mary. The
Serpent and the Goddess.
- A scholarly yet readable history
of the Goddess in Ireland, her transformation into Saint, and
the changing status of women. Highly recommended!
- Edwards, The
Storytellers Goddess, has stories for Brigid, Cerridwen
and Pele.
- Paul, Francis. To
the Land Where the Sun Might Never Set: The Story of Newgrange.
Boulder, Roberts Rhinehart.
- A picture book that shows the
history and construction of the ancient Irish sacred places.
- Stewart, R.J. Celtic
Gods, Celtic Goddesses. London, Blandford, 1994.
- Part reference book, part art
book with many color illustrations, he has good sections on both
Cerridwen and Brigid, as well as others.
The Cauldron of Cerridwen
- Graves, Robert. The
White Goddess. NY, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1966, 1992.
- The classic though hard-to-follow
work on the Goddess tradition and poetry. He analyzes this myth
in detail. For adults.
- R.J. Stewarts book Celtic
Gods, Celtic Goddesses has a version of this story.
- Thomas, Gwyn. Tales
from the Mabinogian. Woodstock, The Overlook Press, 1996.
- More Welsh myths and stories.
Illustrated, good for older children and adults.
-
Eostar
Demeter and Persephone
General background for
adults:
- Christine Downing, ed. The
Long Journey Home: Revisioning the Myth of Demeter and Persephone
for Our Time. Boston and London, Shambala, 1994
- An excellent compliation of
material on the myth, including translations of several early
versions and much commentary, both historical and psychological.
Highly recommended.
- Graves, The
Greek Myths I, 89-96.
For children:
- Edwards, The
Storytellers Goddess, has a version.
- McFarlane, Sacred Myths
also has a version of
the story.
- Spretnak, Charlene. Lost
Goddesses of Early Greece. Boston, Beacon, 1978.
- A wonderful collection of Greek
myths retold by a feminist for her own daughter. A classichighly
recommended.
- Waldherr, Kris. Persephone
and the Pomegranate. NY: Dial, 1993.
- A picture book version with
stunning illustrations.
- Birrer, Cynthia and William.
Song
to Demeter. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1987.
- Picture book with illustrations
made of applique and embroidery, that turns the story into a
tapestry!
Other books on Spring:
- Cole, Brock. The
Winter Wren. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1984.
- Charming picture book about
the adventure of a boy and his younger sister, the year that
Spring doesnt come to their medieval village.
Beltane
Thomas the Rhymer
- Stewart, R.J. Earth
Light: The Ancient Path to Transformation, Rediscovering the
Wisdom of Celtic and Faery Lore. Longmead, Dorset and
Rockport, MA; Element, 1992.
- A good magical introduction
to working with Faery, that includes a version of the ballad
of Thomas the Rhymer and an analysis as well as meditations and
guided trances.
-
Summer Solstice
The Twelve Wild Swans
Hundreds of different variations
on this tale exist in folklore from all over Europe. Sometimes
the brothers are swans, sometimes geese, ducks, or ravens. I once
had a graduate student do a search for me on this story, and she
came up with over eighty versions, ranging as far away as Finland
and the Azores! You might start with:
- Andersen, Hans Christian. The
Wild Swans. English version by Naomi Lewis. New York:
Peter Bedrick Books, 1984.
- A lovely picture book version,
if you can handle Andersens anti-witch sentiments.
- Lang, Andrew. Yellow
Fairy Book. Longmans 1906. The Six Swans.
- Grimm, J.L.C. and W.C. Fairy
Tales.
- Any complete collection should
have both The Seven Ravens and The Twelve Brothers.
- Yeats, W.B. Fairy
Tales of Ireland. London:Diamond Books, 1996.
- The Twelve Wild Geese.
This edition has selections from Yeats fairy and folk tale
collection, with illustrations by P.J. Lynch.
Quetzalcoatl
General Background for
adults:
- Gloria Anzaldua, Entering
into the Serpent, in Plaskow, Judith and Carol Christ.
Weaving
the Visions: New Patterns in Feminist Spirituality. San
Francisco, Harper & Row, 1989.
- Leon-Portilla, Miguel. Pre-Columbian
Literatures of Mexico. Norman, OK, Oklahoma University
Press, 1986.
- For adults and the academically
inclinedtranslations of the texts and myths.
For children:
- Aldana, Patricia, Ed. Jade
and Iron: Latin America Tales from Two Cultures. Toronto,
Groundwood, 1996.
- More tales from Latin America
for early readers.
- See Fifth Sun in
Edwards, Sun
Stories.
Summer SolsticeGeneral:
- Osuchawska, Isia. The Gift:
A Magical Story About Caring for the Earth. Boston:Wisdom,
1996.
- A picture book with a theme
that reinforces the Solstice message about giving.
- Griffith, Helen V. Nata.
New York:Greenwillow Books, 1985.
- A delightful story about Nata,
a young fairy who sheds her wings each summer, and the animals
who share her world.
Lammas
The story of Lugh is
adapted from:
The Second Battle of Mag
Tured (Moytura) pp165-167 in John Matthews, ed. A
Celtic Reader:Selections from Celtic Legend, Scholarship and Story.
London, The Aquarian Press (Harper/Collins), 1991.
R.J. Stewart, Celtic
Gods, Celtic Goddesses also has a section on Lugh.
The Queen Bee
is adapted from:
Grimms Fairy Tales, Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1971.
Inanna
- Pritchard, James B. Ed. The
Ancient Near East, Volume 1: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures,
Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1973 pp. 80-85.
- A translation of a slightly
later version in which the Goddess who descends is Ishtar.
- Jacobsen, Thorkild. Treasures
of Darkness: A History of Mesopotamian Religion. New
Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1976. 47-73.
- Translations of the original
text along with interpretation. This book also contains some
of the best erotic poetry from other Inanna myths and sacred
marriage texts.
- Wolkstein, Diane and Samuel
Noah Kramer. Inanna,
Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer.
New York, Harper & Row, 1973.
- A storyteller and scholar collaborate
on a poetic retelling of the Inanna myths. Good for adults, older
children and teens.
Mabon
The Oldest of Animals
General background for
adults:
- Ford, P.K. trans. The
Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales. Berkeley, University
of California Press, 1977.
- For the full, unexpurgated version!
- Matthews, Caitlin. Mabon
and the Mysteries of Britain: An Exploration of the Mabinogian.
London and New York, Arkana, 1987.
- A full discussion of the mysterious
Mabon in the context of Welsh Mythology and the Western Mystery
Tradition. Also has good information on Gwion/Taliesin.
Other books about Autumn:
- Beskow, Elsa. Woody,
Hazel and Little Pip. Edinburgh:Floris Books, 1990.
- The story of two mischievous
acorn children and their adventure one Autumn day. All Elsa Beskow's
picture books, though not explicitly Pagan, can enchant young
children, and are available through Floris Books.
Life
Cycles
For children:
- Frasier, Debra. On
the Day You Were Born. New York:HBJ & Co., 1991.
- A beautiful picturebook to tell
young children of their beginnings and their place in the world.
- Lobel, Arnold. Grasshopper
on the Road. New York:HarperTrophy, 1978.
- This learn-to-read book has
delightful tales of grasshopper's journey, parables for many
life experiences.
- Cohen, David, ed. The
Circle of Life: Rituals from the Human Family Album. San
Francisco:HarperSanFrancisco, 1991.
- This incredible coffee-table
photography book chronicles the stages of human life through
initiations, rites, and ceremonies from around the world. A priceless
treasure.
For adults:
- Nabhan, Gary and Stephen Trimble.The
Geography of Childhood: Why Children Need Wild Places.
Boston:Beacon Press, 1995.
- Rich, thought-provoking essays
that consider questions of where children play, and how our sense
of worth grows from our early connection with the earth.
- Johnson, Cait and Maura Shaw.
Tarot Games: 45 Playful Ways to Explore
Tarot Cards Together.
New York:HarperCollins,
1994.
- Lots of creative ideas for exploring
divination and intuition with children.
Rites of Passage and
Sacred Sexuality Education (***
=especially for teens)
- Bell, Ruth, other co-authors
of Our Bodies, Our Selves, and members of the Teen Book
Project. Changing
Bodies, Changing Lives. New York: Vintage, Random House,
1988.***
- Bingham, Mindy and Sandy Stryker.
Things
Will Be Different For My Daughter. New York: Penguin
Books, 1995.
- Debold, Elizabeth, Marie Wilson,
Idelisse Malave. Mother
Daughter Revolution. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publ.
Co., 1993.
- Gardner-Loulan, Joann, et al.
Period. Volcano, CA:Volcano Press, 1992.
- A thorough, factual yet humorous
treatment of menstruation for girls and adults. With cartoon-ish
illustrations.***
- Hawthorne, Nan. Loving
the Goddess Within. Oak Park, IL: Delphi Press, Inc.,
1991.
- Jukes, Mavis. It's
a Girl Thing: How to Stay Healthy, Safe, and In Charge.
New York: Knopf, 1996.***
- Powell, Elizabeth. Talking
Back to Sexual Pressure. Minneapolis, MN: CompCare Publishers,
1991.
- Reese, Lyn, et al, editors.
I'm
On My Way Running: Women Speak on Coming of Age. New
York:Avon Books, 1983.
- Suitable for teens and up, an
invaluable collection of short memoirs, poetry and prose on becoming
a woman, from many different cultures.
- Silverstein, Olga and Beth Rashbaum.
The
Courage to Raise Good Men. New York: Viking, Penguin
Books, 1994.
- Taylor, Dena. Red
Flower: Rethinking Menstruation. Freedom, CA: The Crossing
Press, 1988.
- Terkel, Susan Neiburg. Finding
Your Way: A Book About Sexual Ethics. Danbury, CT:Franklin
Watts, 1995.***
- An excellent, well thought-out
guide for teens (and adults) to sort out our values and ethics
surrounding love, intimacy, and sexuality. The author has also
published other books on clarifying ethics and thinking critically
about other controversial issues.
Skadi:
Adapted from Picard, Barbara.
Tales
of the Norse Gods. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1953.
Pagan
Parenting
Recommended Books on
Pagan Parenting:
- Cortlund, Yana, Barb Lucke & Donna Miller Watelet.
Mother Rising: The Blessingway Journey into Motherhood. Honeoye, NY:Seeing Stone Press, 2004.
- A wonderful resource for designing blessingway ceremonies for mothers-to-be. Filled with information and inspiration.
- Johnson, Cait and Maura Shaw.
Celebrating
the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for
Parents and Children. Rochester, VT:Destiny Books, 1995.
- This artful book presents a
wealth of information and activities for celebrating the wheel
of the year with children.
- Carson, Anne. Spiritual
Parenting in the New Age. Freedom, CA:Crossing Press,
1989.
- Includes sections for each stage
of life, with articles and essays, and lots of good ideas.
- Clifton, Chas. Witchcraft
Today, Book 2: Modern Rites of Passage. St Paul:Llewellyn,
1993.
- Part of an excellent series
on modern Paganism, this book of essays covers issues such as
childbirth, childraising, and a Pagan look at the stage of late
adolescence and early adulthood.
- McArthur, Margie. WiccaCraft
for Families: The Path of the Hearthfire. Custer, WA:Phoenix
Publishing, 1994.
- An introduction to bringing
the Old Ways into your family life, with ritual, food and fun,
including sample rituals for mens, womens and childrens
rites of passage.
- OGaea, Ashleen. The
Family Wicca Book: The Craft for Parents & Children.
St. Paul:Llewellyn, 1993.
- Discusses many issues facing
Pagan parents today and presents a picture of a modern Wiccan
family, with activities, rituals, magic.
- Serith, Ceisiwr. The
Pagan Family: Handing the Old Ways Down. St. Paul:Llewellyn,
1994.
- Another invaluable resource
of customs and celebrations, prayers, offerings, and rituals.
- Sheehan, Kathryn and Mary Waidner,
PhD. Tulsa, OK:Council Oak Books, 1991.
- Huge resource book on cultivating
a childs sense of wonder at the natural world.
Celebration and Tradition
- Carey, Diana and Judy Large.
Festivals,
Family and Food. Gloucestershire, UK: Hawthorn Press,
1982.
- A useful resource for seasonal
customs and celebrations, drawn from both Christian and Pagan
traditions.
- Fitzjohn, Sue, et al. Festivals
Together: A Guide to Multi-cultural Celebration. Gloucestershire,
UK:Hawthorn Press, 1993.
- A wonderful mix of stories,
songs, recipes and activities from all over the world, focussed
on the turning of the seasons.
The
Elements
- Kraul, Walter. Earth, Water,
Fire and Air: Playful explorations in the four elements.
Edinburgh:Floris Books, 1984.
- From toddlers to teens, there
are toys to make, games to play and other sorts of fun to be
had by mucking about with the elements.
Air
- Foreman, Michael. Land
of Dreams. New York:Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1982.
- An enchanting tale about a boy
who rescues lost dreams from the drifts of memory.
- Kulpach,Vladimir. Ahaiyute
and Cloud Eater. San Diego, Harcourt Brace & Co. 1996.
- A picture book story about a
Zuni myth about rain.
- McLerran, Alice. Dreamsong.
New York:Tambourine Books, 1992.
- A lovely picturebook about a
young boy who sets off one day to find the source of the song
he hears in his dreams.
- Milord, Susan. Tales
of the Shimmering Sky. Charlotte, VT:Williamson Publishing
Co, 1996.
- A wonderful collection of 10
brightly illustrated global folktales, with activities after
each to connect children to the phenomena and mythology of the
sky. Perfect for teachers and parents, this is a great introduction
to the air element for ages up to adolescence. I only wish there
was one for each element!
Fire
- Goldin, Barbara and Will Hillenbrand.
Coyote and the Fire Stick, San Diego, Harcourt Brace & Co.1996.
- Picture book story of Coyote
stealing fire.
Water
- Levin, Ted. Sacred
River. N.Y. Clarion, 1995.
- Beautifully illustrated picture
book about the Ganges.
- Wolfson, Margaret. Marriage
of the Rain Goddess. N.Y. Marlowe and Co. 1996.
- A South African mythbeautiful
picture book!
- Humphrey, Margo. The
River that Gave Gifts, an Afro-American Story. San Francisco:Childrens
Book Press, 1987.
- About a girl and her playmates
who decide to give gifts to an elder woman who is going blind,
and the power of light and the river.
Earth
- Bruchac, Joseph and Michael
J. Caduto. Keepers
of Life. Golden, CO, Fulcrum, 1994.
- Native American stories and
environmental education focusing on trees and plants. Excellent,
as is their entire series!
- Bruchac, Thomas. Between
Earth and Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places.
San Diego, Harcourt Brace & Co. 1996.
- Ten American Indian legends
tied to sacred places. Beautifully illustrated and highly recommended!
- Carrier, Lark. A
Trees Tale. NY, Dial, 1996.
- American history told from the
point of view of a marker tree on a pathway.
- Shaw, Kathryn. Maya
and the Town that Loved a Tree. NY, Children's Universe,
1992.
- A picture book that teaches
an ecological lesson.
- LeSueur, Meridel. Little
Brother of the Wilderness: The Story of Johnny Appleseed.
Stevens Point, WI:Holy Cow! Press, 1987.
- A great childrens book
about this famous man of the trees.
- Cherry, Lynne. The
Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest.
New York:HBJ & Co., 1990.
- The importance of the Kapok
tree, as told to a logger by the animals of the jungle, with
beautiful illustrations.
- See also Gardening Resources
in our Mail Order and Web Resources page.
Story
Collections and other Myths
- McFarlane, Marilyn. Sacred
Myths: Stories of World Religions. Portland:Sibyll.
- This collection has sections
on Christianity, Hinudism, Judaism, Buddhism, Native American
and Sacred Earth (Goddess) traditionsa great way for children
to see our tradition included on equal footing with others! Also
a good way to introduce them to some of the common cultural stories
from other traditions.
- Edwards, Carolyn McVickar. The
Storytellers Goddess: Tales of the Goddess and Her Wisdom
from Around the World.
- A wonderful, multicultural collection
of Goddess tales.
- Waldherr, Kris. The
Book of Goddesses. Hillsborough, OR. Beyond Words Publishing,
1995.
- A gorgeously illustrated picture
book of thirteen Goddesses from around the world.
- Styles, Showell. Welsh Tales
for Children. Ruthin, Denbighshire:John Jones Publishing,
1989.
- An entertaining collection of
9 tales, with glossary of Welsh terms. Distributed by Welsh Books
Centre, Llanbadarn Industrial Estate, Aberystwyth.
- Martin, Claire. The
Race of the Golden Apples. New York:Dial Books, 1991.
- Picture book of the story of
Atalanta and Hippomenes, from Greek myth. Wonderful for all ages.
- Matthews, John. Boadicea,
Warrior Queen of the Celts. Dorset, UK:Firebird Books,
1988.
- Part myth, part well-researched
and illustrated history of Queen Boadicea, the ancient Celts,
and the Roman invasion of Britain. Great for older children.
- Hodges, Margaret. Saint
George and the Dragon. Boston:Little Brown, 1984.
- A poetic, gorgeously illustrated
retelling from Spensers The Faerie Queene, that pairs a
great adventure story with a positive treatment of the realm
of Faery.
- Owens, Yvonne. The Cup of
Mari Anu. Victoria, BC:Horned Owl Publishing, 1995.
- Historical fiction for young
adults, this new myth tells of an ancient time when the people
forget the Goddess, a drought falls on the land, and only a mute
girl can bring life back to her people.
- Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz.
American Indian Myth and Legend. NY, Pantheon, 1984.
- An excellent compilation of
stories from many different tribes and earlier collectionsa
good reference text.
- Van Leen, Nancy. In
A Circle Long Ago: A Treasury of Native Lore from North America.
NY, Apple Soup Books (Knopf), 1995.
- A collection of Native American
stories for early readers.
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