librarypatronus's review
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Frances Lincoln books for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review.
My kids and I love these story collections - the stories are just the right size to read aloud, the illustrations are gorgeous, and we get to talk about all the different places they are from. This might be my favorite A _____ Full of Stories yet. Definitely recommend for bedtime stories, as long as your kids aren’t really sensitive as some of the stories have death or danger.
My kids and I love these story collections - the stories are just the right size to read aloud, the illustrations are gorgeous, and we get to talk about all the different places they are from. This might be my favorite A _____ Full of Stories yet. Definitely recommend for bedtime stories, as long as your kids aren’t really sensitive as some of the stories have death or danger.
srivalli's review
5.0
**Happy Publication Day**
*****
5 Stars
Such a lovely collection of folktales and legends! True to the title, the book has stories from various continents and countries, unlike some books where the focus is limited to two continents. The book starts with stories from Europe and moves on to folktales from Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, the Middle East, and Latin America.
I was already familiar with some and read a different version of a few others. The rest were new to me but with well-known themes that dominate folktales. Kindness, good intentions, purity of thought, a touch of magic, the ill-effects of greed and jealousy, etc., are recurring themes.
However, each story is unique and has a flavor of its own that comes from its land, culture, and heritage. Nature is an integral part of many stories, and why not? So many civilizations have been, and some of us are still nature worshippers.
The illustrations are soft yet detailed. They elevate the text to the next level by providing an easy visual representation for kids. What can’t be imagined can be seen in the illustrations.
Though the book has been categorized as bedtime stories for kids, it would be a great choice for discussions at school. Kids will get to learn more about other countries and cultures. It would help them understand the underlying themes that dominate various countries from around the world.
To sum up, A Bedtime Full of Stories: 50 Folktales and Legends from Around the World is a well-researched and beautiful collection of tales abundant with life lessons, and of course, a touch of magic and fun.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#ABedtimeFullofStories #NetGalley
*****
5 Stars
Such a lovely collection of folktales and legends! True to the title, the book has stories from various continents and countries, unlike some books where the focus is limited to two continents. The book starts with stories from Europe and moves on to folktales from Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, the Middle East, and Latin America.
I was already familiar with some and read a different version of a few others. The rest were new to me but with well-known themes that dominate folktales. Kindness, good intentions, purity of thought, a touch of magic, the ill-effects of greed and jealousy, etc., are recurring themes.
However, each story is unique and has a flavor of its own that comes from its land, culture, and heritage. Nature is an integral part of many stories, and why not? So many civilizations have been, and some of us are still nature worshippers.
The illustrations are soft yet detailed. They elevate the text to the next level by providing an easy visual representation for kids. What can’t be imagined can be seen in the illustrations.
Though the book has been categorized as bedtime stories for kids, it would be a great choice for discussions at school. Kids will get to learn more about other countries and cultures. It would help them understand the underlying themes that dominate various countries from around the world.
To sum up, A Bedtime Full of Stories: 50 Folktales and Legends from Around the World is a well-researched and beautiful collection of tales abundant with life lessons, and of course, a touch of magic and fun.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#ABedtimeFullofStories #NetGalley
periparaparasakura's review
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
amalia1985's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Fifty beautiful folk tales to be read before bed, to soothe your soul, to make you travel in lands of myths and legends, perfect for young and old. From Poland to Vanuatu, from Russia to Mexico, from Serbia to Iraq, prepare yourselves for a dreamy journey.
These are my favourite tales of the collection:
Europe
The Three Gifts (Poland): The Polish version of a well-known story in which three princes are sent on a strange errand. They have to collect three extraordinary gifts. A tale about the importance of family and brotherhood.
The Emperor’s New Clothes (Denmark) and The Sword in the Stone (England), two stories that have defined the evolution of the European Fairytale.
Tsar Trayan’s Ears (Serbia): A classic tale of a king whose ears were the bane of his existence and the terror of the land’s barbers. But when the trees cry the truth, there’s no need for hiding anymore…
Three Golden Oranges (Spain): The story of a brave young man who wanted to marry the girl of his heart and a magic orange tree.
The Bag of Winds (Greece): Who hasn’t heard of Odysseus and Aelous and the idiotic curiosity of the King of Ithaca’s crew that cost them their lives?
Sadko (Russia): The story of a musician that caught the attention of the Tsar, an enchanted gusli and the nymphs of the river Volkhov, set in mystical Novgorod.
Yvon and Finette (France): A popular tale of an adventurous young man who was saved (multiple times) by the daughter of a fairy - witch.
Africa
Ladipo (West Africa): The tale of a bright boy who had the ability to shape-shift.
Paka the Cat and Pania the Rat (Zanzibar): Two friends become enemies when one of them breaks its promise as they travel to the land where Man lives…
How Wisdom Spread Throughout the World (West Africa): Kwaku Ananse tried to hide his wisdom inside a pot to keep it out of sight, but his son had a different opinion. And this is how was wisdom was shared across the world…
Asia
The Wild Goose Lake (China): The story of two brave girls who saved their people from a terrible famine.
Tetan Buri and Boca Buri (Bangladesh): The tale of a woman who understood that sharing keeps you alive.
The Magic Paintbrush (China): The tale of a magic paintbrush, of paintings coming alive, of cranes and dragons.
The Moon Maiden (Japan): The daughter of the Moon is banished to live and love among the mortals.
Oceania
The Legend of the Frogs (Australia): The Sun teaches the selfish frogs a valuable lesson and creates the beautiful dragonflies.
The Star Hunt (New Zealand): The beautiful tale of a sky spirit that fell in love with a star and the faithful Lake Princess.
America
Strong Wind, the Invisible (Algonquin): The story of a brave warrior and the kind, honest woman who became his wife.
The Star Maiden (Ojibway): The tale of the Star Maiden who loved the human race and came to live with the mortals and the spirits of the Earth.
The Crow and the Daylight (Inuit): The tale of a brilliant girl, a brave crow and the light that always shines through the darkness.
How Night Came (Brazil): The story of how Night came to be, the beauty of the moonlight and the daughter of the Sea Spirit.
The Giant’s Secret (Mexico): A daughter who has been given the ability to shape-shift exposes a giant’s secret, led by her unquenchable thirst for adventure.
Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
roshreviews's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
What a fabulous and eclectic collection this is!!! I loved it from the first page to the last!
This is a collection of 50 folktales and fables from around the world. And when this book says “around the world”, it does mean around the world, and it does so in a very fair manner. Unlike many other collections which contain most stories from the USA or European countries, some tales from Russia and just a couple of stories from elsewhere in the world, this book focusses on all parts of the globe equally. It groups the stories by regions such as Africa, Middle East, Australia and Oceania, North America, and so on. Within each region, the stories come from a variety of countries. Hardly any country is repeated. Thus what you get is a rich variety of culture and folklore from diverse narrative viewpoints. The stories too are distinct and not the typical fairy/princess kind of collection. You meet a whole variety of characters and encounter a vast range of situations. All this adds so much beauty and versatility to the book.
A few of the stories were known to me and made me feel very nostalgic as I remembered my childhood books. Most of the stories, however, were absolutely new to me. (Including the one from India! Supparaka the Mariner is a story from the Jataka fables but somehow, I had never heard of it before.) What I liked is also how the authenticity of the stories is maintained. For instance, the tale of Aladdin is exactly as the original Arabic folklore version and not the Disney movie version that so many books include. (You would know this if you know that the original Aladdin story contains two distinct genies, one from the lamp and the other from his ring.)
What works as the perfect icing on this scrumptious cake is the illustrations. They don’t overpower the stories but add subtly to their charm.
If you are looking for a beautiful bedtime stories collection for any little one in your life, this would be the perfect option! Heartily recommended to all parents and guardians and libraries and schools. (Of course, I’m not recommending it to schools as a bedtime story collection. But if teachers want an interesting and diverse story resource to narrate tales to their students, this book is perfect!)
My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group, Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC of “A Bedtime Full of Stories - 50 Folktales and Legends from Around the World”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
This is a collection of 50 folktales and fables from around the world. And when this book says “around the world”, it does mean around the world, and it does so in a very fair manner. Unlike many other collections which contain most stories from the USA or European countries, some tales from Russia and just a couple of stories from elsewhere in the world, this book focusses on all parts of the globe equally. It groups the stories by regions such as Africa, Middle East, Australia and Oceania, North America, and so on. Within each region, the stories come from a variety of countries. Hardly any country is repeated. Thus what you get is a rich variety of culture and folklore from diverse narrative viewpoints. The stories too are distinct and not the typical fairy/princess kind of collection. You meet a whole variety of characters and encounter a vast range of situations. All this adds so much beauty and versatility to the book.
A few of the stories were known to me and made me feel very nostalgic as I remembered my childhood books. Most of the stories, however, were absolutely new to me. (Including the one from India! Supparaka the Mariner is a story from the Jataka fables but somehow, I had never heard of it before.) What I liked is also how the authenticity of the stories is maintained. For instance, the tale of Aladdin is exactly as the original Arabic folklore version and not the Disney movie version that so many books include. (You would know this if you know that the original Aladdin story contains two distinct genies, one from the lamp and the other from his ring.)
What works as the perfect icing on this scrumptious cake is the illustrations. They don’t overpower the stories but add subtly to their charm.
If you are looking for a beautiful bedtime stories collection for any little one in your life, this would be the perfect option! Heartily recommended to all parents and guardians and libraries and schools. (Of course, I’m not recommending it to schools as a bedtime story collection. But if teachers want an interesting and diverse story resource to narrate tales to their students, this book is perfect!)
My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group, Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC of “A Bedtime Full of Stories - 50 Folktales and Legends from Around the World”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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