An Ocean Full of Stories: 50 Folktales and Legends from Around the World

By Author / Illustrator

Angela McAllister, Sally Agar

Genre

Myths & Legends

Age range(s)

Publisher

Frances Lincoln Children's Books

ISBN

9780711295896

Format

Hardback

Published

22-05-2025

Synopsis

Sit back, get comfortable and dive into this illustrated collection of folk stories from every corner of the globe, all inspired by water ways big and small.

From the bubbling source of a river and the gentle pitter patter of rain to the powerful crashing waves of a storm and the murky depths of the oceans, this is a rich resource of folk tales old and new. Featuring stories of mermaids; ocean gods; magical fish and majestic dragons, there is something for everyone in this collection of tales inspired by watery worlds.

Expertly retold by the award-winning Angela McAllister, each story is brought to life with rich and detailed illustrations by Sally Agar that will capture imaginations and transport readers to water ways across the world. For story lovers young and old this is the perfect gift for all the family and ocean lovers everywhere.

Stories include:
Colapesce (Italy)
The Cat and the Dog (Korea)
The Land That Went to Sea (Fiji)
Thor's Fishing Trip (Norway)
Dragon Lake (Romania)
The Selkie and the Otter King (Scotland)
The Fish-Peri (Turkey)
The Siren (France)
Tambanokano (Phillippines)
Why the Crocodile Has a Wide Mouth (North America)

The World Full of... series is a collection of beautiful hardback story treasuries. Discover folktales from all around the world with these stunning gift books, the perfect addition to any child's library.

Also available from the series: A Year Full of Stories, A World Full of Animal Stories, A Stage Full of Shakespeare Stories, A World Full of Dickens Stories, A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals, A Bedtime Full of Stories, A World Full of Spooky Stories and A World Full of Winter Stories.

Reviews

Sue

The latest in this wonderful series celebrating traditional tales from around the world, An Ocean Full of Stories offers a wealth of water-related folklore. Thoughtfully retold by Angela McAllister, the 50 stories have been gathered into six sections: Fishy Tales; Crossing the Water; Pools, Lakes and Rivers; Tricks and Trials; Oceans, Gods and Water Spirits; and Beside the Sea, Beneath the Waves.

The book holds an inspiring range of tales, including familiar favourites like Dionysus and the Pirates and The Fisherman and his Wife and those which are possibly less well-known such as Tambanokano or The Octopus and the Whale. There are trickster tales, pourquoi stories, fables and creation stories - something for everyone - and all inspired by the ocean.

Like the others in this series, this book is a real gift for teachers - or anyone working with children. For an assembly or a story time, they are perfect for enriching the curriculum, perhaps linked to a 'watery' topic, for discussing and above all, for enjoying. But this collection is also perfect for families to share and enjoy, discovering story telling traditions across the world. Each story is expertly and carefully retold and accompanied by colourful, detailed illustrations. An absolute treat for everyone!

128 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher