Mythology of the world

Gr. 8-12. More for research than for storytelling, this dense volume collects myths from across the world. Philip combines detailed, scholarly analysis about mythology and culture, first in general and then about each region of each continent, with brief versions of particular myths, commentary on their origins, and their connections with history, geography, spirituality, and more. There's just too much for one volume, and the book design doesn't help. Each double-page spread is crammed with boxed insets, illustrations, and captions in tiny print. What's more, the type, on colored backgrounds, is not easy to read. But Philip is a scholar who writes with passion and authority, and older students researching specific cultures and the links between them will welcome his clear discussion of how individual myths express people's values. Philip's lengthy discussion on myth and society is as fascinating as the particulars of each story. The gorgeous cover art will draw browsers. --Hazel Rochman Copyright 2004 Booklist

Gr 9 Up-Not only is world myth a rich source of story and motifs, but familiarity with other cultures is a great goal for a shrinking globe. Philip's large-format compendium is beautifully designed and illustrated, combining colorful, well-selected photos, maps, and drawings. It begins with a dozen engaging pages on cultural, spiritual, functional, and other general aspects of myths. Geographically organized sections give most coverage to Europe and Asia, less to the Americas, and least to Africa and Australia/Oceania. These proportions are similar in Philip Wilkinson's Illustrated Dictionary of Mythology (DK, 1998) and Sheila Keenan's Gods, Goddesses, and Monsters (Scholastic, 2000), volumes with a comparable focus, layout, and scope. All three are attractive and reliable. There is remarkably little overlap in the illustrations. With four different type sizes, Philip's book spreads out its text over more pages. One main difference is that this collection tends to cover lesser-known myths, sometimes at the expense of the better known. Philip includes unusual myths, e.g., from indigenes in India, Malaysia, Japan, and Siberia, and touches occasionally on history and current events. Packing a lot into small type, Wilkinson's book is probably the best buy, though Philip's would be a wonderful complement to either one.-Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Attempting to cover a world history of mythology, while connecting the modern beliefs of some indigenous people with their ancestors+ myths, the author succeeds only in relating snippets of knowledge. A wealth of images, including contemporary photographs, newly created illustrations, and photos of artifacts, overwhelms the text. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Gr. 8-12. More for research than for storytelling, this dense volume collects myths from across the world. Philip combines detailed, scholarly analysis about mythology and culture, first in general and then about each region of each continent, with brief versions of particular myths, commentary on their origins, and their connections with history, geography, spirituality, and more. There's just too much for one volume, and the book design doesn't help. Each double-page spread is crammed with boxed insets, illustrations, and captions in tiny print. What's more, the type, on colored backgrounds, is not easy to read. But Philip is a scholar who writes with passion and authority, and older students researching specific cultures and the links between them will welcome his clear discussion of how individual myths express people's values. Philip's lengthy discussion on myth and society is as fascinating as the particulars of each story. The gorgeous cover art will draw browsers. ((Reviewed December 1, 2004)) Copyright 2004 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 9 Up-Not only is world myth a rich source of story and motifs, but familiarity with other cultures is a great goal for a shrinking globe. Philip's large-format compendium is beautifully designed and illustrated, combining colorful, well-selected photos, maps, and drawings. It begins with a dozen engaging pages on cultural, spiritual, functional, and other general aspects of myths. Geographically organized sections give most coverage to Europe and Asia, less to the Americas, and least to Africa and Australia/Oceania. These proportions are similar in Philip Wilkinson's Illustrated Dictionary of Mythology (DK, 1998) and Sheila Keenan's Gods, Goddesses, and Monsters (Scholastic, 2000), volumes with a comparable focus, layout, and scope. All three are attractive and reliable. There is remarkably little overlap in the illustrations. With four different type sizes, Philip's book spreads out its text over more pages. One main difference is that this collection tends to cover lesser-known myths, sometimes at the expense of the better known. Philip includes unusual myths, e.g., from indigenes in India, Malaysia, Japan, and Siberia, and touches occasionally on history and current events. Packing a lot into small type, Wilkinson's book is probably the best buy, though Philip's would be a wonderful complement to either one.-Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.