East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends

By Author / Illustrator

Eva Wong Nava, Jocelyn Kao

Genre

Myths & Legends

Age range(s)

Publisher

Scholastic

ISBN

9780702325236

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

14-03-2024

Synopsis

A beautiful new edition of retellings of classic folktales, myths and legends from China, Korea, Japan and beyond. Follow the journey of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac, explore the history of major festivals and meet legendary figures - such as the famous Hua Mulan - in this beautiful collection of folktales richly retold for young readers by Eva Wong Nava.

Includes 18 East Asian folktales, myths and legends in a perfect, child-friendly package. Part of the Scholastic Classics collection: introducing generations of book lovers to timeless stories, repackaged especially for younger readers.

Features traditional favourites, including the widely popular story of Mulan and the fairy tale of Chang'e, Hou Yi and the rabbit in the moon, featured in the animated film On the Moon.

Reviews

East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends, the latest title in the Scholastic Folktales, Myths and Legends series, offers a collection of stories from East Asia, thoughtfully retold by Eva Wong Nava. The anthology includes tales from China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and Mongolia and is a much needed and very welcome addition to the range of traditional stories available.

The book opens with an excellent introduction which clarifies much for readers who are not familiar with these stories or the countries where they originate. It explains how these stories spread, why there are themes and tales common to more than one location and celebrates the oral tradition of storytelling. It also reflects on religious and social influences which have shaped the stories. It makes a fascinating read and adds much to the enjoyment of the book.

Organised into five sections - Origin and Discovery Tales, Festival Stories, Animal Tales, Tales of Good, Wise and Brave, and Ancient Love Stories - each story has a brief introduction, offering background knowledge and context. The tales are beautifully retold and are wonderful to read aloud, making them a joy to share. I have always loved the story of Momotaro and really enjoyed the version included here!

I can't recommend this collection highly enough as it is sure to introduce new readers to the joy of some wonderful traditional tales and inspire them to share these with others.

Ages 8+ / 272 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher