From Kirkus Reviews
Defining creation liberally, Pilling (Realms of Gold, 1993, etc.) includes pourquoi tales among the 16 here, retold in a uniform, easy style that does indeed lend itself to reading aloud--especially since the typeface is large and well-leaded. Presented in three general groups--beginnings, warmth and light, and animals--the familiar stories include the opening chapter of Genesis and the myth of Persephone (``How a Girl Brought About The Seasons''), while those less familiar range from the somber Norse ``How Everything Came from Fire and Ice'' to a tale from Sri Lanka in which an irritated servant girl whacks the low clouds with a broom until they float up beyond reach. Foreman's many illustrations only occasionally evoke a particular culture; in general they are his own interpretations, featuring small, sketchy figures placed on radiant backgrounds done in what looks like watercolors applied to wet paper. Pilling does not cite specific sources for each story, and next to Virginia Hamilton's In the Beginning (1988), this collection seems limited and scattershot; still, the selections are well- chosen for sharing, and for showing how cultures may differ while the big issues remain the same. (bibliography) (Folklore. 10-12) --
Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Ingram
Ann Pilling gathers a collection of stories from around the world that seeks to answer the ancient mystery of our creation. Award-winning illustrator Michael Foreman's spellbinding art accompanies Creation, making it an anthology that will be enjoyed again and again--just as the legends it contains have been for thousands of years. Full color.
