From School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up-This lovely browsing book has wondrous art and just enough information to whet the appetite of fantasy fans. The work is divided into four sections-earth, air, water, and fire. Lavish, full-page color paintings of 16 real and imaginary animals, including a bear, a raven, a carp, and a dragon, are each accompanied by a facing page of text that briefly retells various legends and beliefs about the creature along with a smattering of fascinating facts. Gold borders around the pictures and the text enhance the presentation. The illustrations are the highlight of this offering.
Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 3-6. Using the elements of earth, air, water, and fire as organizational themes, this splendid book captures the rich diversity of animals as depicted in story, myth, and nature. Earth animals--the bear, the fox, the cat, and the snake--have long been honored in legend for their supernatural powers. In Navaho tradition, bears and humans have a special bond; in Japan the fox is associated with the god of food. Water animals include the dolphin, which is especially important in Greek myth, as well as the carp, the seal, and the frog. Fire animals--the falcon, the dragon, and the chimera--represent rebirth, with the legendary phoenix serving as a universal symbol for immortality. Air animals, such as the raven, sometimes symbolize peace and immortality, sometimes death and misfortune. Glorious, illuminated color illustrations, with exquisite decorative borders are certain to engage browsers, and a bibliography listing books of Greek and Norse myth, creation stories, European folklore, and Native American legends can spur children to investigate other stories.
Shelley Townsend-HudsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
