ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gresham-Knight (Wild Swans, 2018, and other fairy tale adaptations) is a performance storyteller, and her retelling of the stories of 13 women of myth will be a wonderful source for children who wish to act out these legendary tales. Fittingly, Pattullo's elaborate cartoon-style drawings of the women and their related symbology will provide rich inspiration for costumes. On the page, the tales are necessarily compressed and can even read as a little disjointed. Still, this source not only gathers stories about mythological characters likely to be familiar to library patrons hrodite, Mulan, and Baba Yaga, for example t also introduces magical women from cultures that are too often missing from the mythology shelves (Inanna from Iraq and Mayahuel from Mexico, to name just two). This breadth and diversity make the book worth a purchase. Valuable, too, are the closing pages that discuss goddess symbols and provide nonfiction details on the tales included. Consider this wherever stories of strong women, mythology, or drama are popular.

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

This collection of mythical goddesses showcases global legends associated with deities ranging from ancient Greece's Aphrodite to the West African sea goddess Osun.Though each of these goddesses figure in many timeless tales, this anthology offers accessible versions of the more popular stories, such as the well-known Egyptian drama of Isis and her twin brother, Osiris, killed by their jealous brother, Set, only for Osiris to be resurrected by Isis. Readers are also likely to be familiar with Mulan, China's mighty girl warrior who pretends to be a boy in order to fight for her family, but its vision of Brigit, the British Isles' "shape-shifting ancestor," appears in a contemporary, even cheeky tale of newspapers, snakes, and skyscrapers. Other regions represented include Iraq, Russia, India, Mexico, Tibet, Japan, and Iran. The collection ends with an appendix that explains the symbols that give each of the goddesses their powers. The strength of this collection of tales lies in Pattullo's colorful and quirky illustrations, which capture the cultural diversity with radiance and energy. Parvati, from the Hindu tradition, bathes in the Ganges and becomes "her big self"-a human-shaped agglomeration of blooms; from the murdered Mayahuel sprouts the maguey plant relied upon by the Aztecs. A closing bibliography lists sources, sometimes several, for each tale. Figures from the Abrahamic religions are absent.A refreshing revival of timeless, magical women that will inspire readers to dream their own stories. (Folklore. 10-14)

School Library Journal (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 5-7 This collection provides 13 original goddess tales, including modern takes derived from countries and cultures around the world and ancient traditions. Many of the stories come from Asia and the Middle East; one tale is from Mexico, three hail from Europe, one is Nigerian, and one is from India. Gresham-Knight selected 13 stories because the number has special significance: "Thirteen was the lucky number of Palaeolithic goddesses, for whom the thirteen cycles of the moon made up a year." Pourquoi, trickster, and origin tales are featured; some discuss modern-day problems, such as pollution and warfare. However, one tale features details that some educators, caregivers, and parents could view as unsettling for the target age demographic: The Tibetan offering includes an emotionally and physically abusive aunt, a predatory husband, and adolescent death as a result of excessive physical abuse. The ancient sources of the tales are interesting and explained in a back matter spread about the goddesses' symbols, which are incorporated into the stories and artwork. Lively, colorful, cartoon-style illustrations provide a strong and effective visual presentation. All characters are rendered in a similar style, though ethnic differences are depicted through skin tones, facial features, and culturally specific icons and symbols. VERDICT A carefully curated collection of stories that feature powerful, fantastical women. Recommended for libraries where gaps in multicultural folklore may exist or for readers with a budding interest in global mythology and folklore. Carol Goldman, formerly at Queens Lib., NY