Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast retold by Alex Field, illustrated by Helene Magisson (New Frontier Publishing) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9781925059809

Reviewed by Rebecca Newman

This is a retelling of the well-known fairytale in a picture book format. The text of the story is in large clear type with lots of white space. The pared back narrative occasionally feels more like a story summary than storytelling — however, this simpler format might enable younger readers to have a go at reading the story for themselves.

I’m already a fan of Helene Magisson’s work as an illustrator and her illustrations glow with fairytale magic. The use of birdcages and butterflies in the background to symbolise imprisonment and then freedom will delight the observant child reader. The end papers give an extra twist to this element.

Beauty and the Beast is just one title in the Happily Ever After series and will be in bookshops from 1 March 2017. This is a beautifully presented hardcover book.

About the reviewer: Rebecca Newman is a children’s writer and poet. She is the editor of Alphabet Soup’s website and former editor of Alphabet Soup’s print magazine. rebeccanewman.net.au

Beowulf the Brave

Beowulf the Brave retold by Oakley Graham, illustrated by Emi Ordas

(Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781925275933

Reviewed by Anita Howard

The story opens as a dad reads ‘Beowulf, the Brave’ as a bedtime story to his son.

 Beowulf, the Brave is a re-telling of the longest poem in Old English and reminiscent of the story, David and Goliath; stories where good defeats evil. The original story of Beowulf is set in the 6th Century in Scandinavia.

In this retelling, there is a little boy who is Beowulf (who, in the illustrations, looks identical to the son listening to the story) He saves his community from a monster, with the monster’s mother followed by a dragon. His brave accomplishments are remembered through the words in a song. The exaggerated facial features, along with dramatic body language and bold colours, add to the energy that flows through this book.

Children from preschool up will enjoy the story’s liveliness and the boy’s get-up-and-go attitude. The words 'Your battles with monsters are legendary, Remembered in song to make us merry' is repeated four times, and children could be encouraged to chant these words along with the reader.

Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia

Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia retold by John Heffernan, illustrated by Kate Durack (Christmas Press) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9780994234049

Reviewed by Catherine Bauer

Long ago, in the swirling mists of Time, there lived a mighty king by the name of Gilgamesh….

What reader, no matter their age, could resist the promise of mystery and adventure conjured by such a tempting opening as this featured in the latest offering from Christmas Press? The publisher was set up in 2013 with the express aim of bringing young Australian readers in touch with a range of rich and evocative legends, myths and folklore from around the world. In this case, it’s the ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia, located in modern day Iraq, Syria and Kuwait that has given rise to some of the world’s great heroic sagas, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh.

In this thrilling and lively retelling, author John Heffernan brings to life for young readers two tales from the Epic, while the striking work of new illustrator Kate Durack, who took inspiration from ancient Mesopotamian art, perfectly illuminates the world inhabited by the heroic brothers.

In the first story, The King and the Wild Man, readers meet the brave, fierce and frightening Gilgamesh, King of Uruk. Two parts god, one part human, Gilgamesh is a tyrant whose people fear and resent him. One day the gods decide to teach the power-mad king a lesson and they create another man-god to rival Gilgamesh. The result is the rough and wild Enkidu, fashioned from a piece of clay.

News of this wild man living, who lives in the forests, reaches the king and he sends his army out to capture and deliver Enkidu to him. But the wild man is far too strong for the soldiers and easily evades capture.

After a disturbing dream, King Gilgamesh is told he will meet his brother – a star, born from the heavens, and one who will never let him down. ‘Together you will fight evil,’ the king is told.

Meanwhile, the wild man Enkidu arrives in the city to overthrow the cruel King Gilgamesh and the pair battle one another in a violent struggle that lasts all day and into the night. Finally, the king overwhelms the exhausted wild man and just as Gilgamesh is about to deliver his fatal blow, he realises that the wild man Enkidu is the brother from his dream, arrived to light his way. The king vows to change his destructive ways and the pair agree they will now unite ‘to fight against evil wherever it may be’.

In the second story, Brothers Battle the Beast, the pair does just that when they set out to vanquish the ferocious horned Bull of Heaven, Humbaba, who has been terrorising the villages of Uruk and countryside. The brothers set forth with specially made weapons and armour, in a chariot drawn by four magnificent war steeds.

The man-god brothers and Humbaba meet in a dramatic and furious life-or-death battle, featuring snorting, roaring, stamping hooves and roars that ‘shake the trees to their roots’. Eventually Humbaba is vanquished and the warriors stand in ‘a soft golden light’ that shimmers through the leaves of the forest.

Heffernan’s treatment of these epic tales results in a truly magical pair of stirring, page-turning stories that will engage and delight all ages.

Durack’s rich illustrations and Heffernan’s tight and descriptive text combine to produce what is a great introduction to the epic sagas of ancient times that also include lessons about good versus evil and the ties of family.

A great read, highly recommended.

Two Tengu Tales from Japan

Two Tengu Tales from Japan retold by Duncan Ball, illustrated by David Allan  (Christmas Press)  HB RRP  $19.99 ISBN 9780992283865                             

Reviewed by Dianne Bates                                          

Thank goodness for Christmas Press which works hard to introduce young Australian readers to legends, myths and folklore from other countries! Here is its latest offering, a lively retelling by a well-known children’s author of stories about tengu, magical beings from Japan who grant wishes to those who ask them. However, tengu are tricksters…

In the first story, ‘Kenji’s Magic Sandals’, a small boy cares for his sick, bed-bound mother. When the money runs out, Mum tells Kenji to go to Uncle Gozo to ask for medicine; she will repay him when spring comes and Kenji and his mother can sell their crops. However, after Gozo refuses, Kenji is visited by a tengu who gives him gold – but with a condition attached. Happily, it is a condition that exacts revenge – against the selfish uncle!

In the second story, ‘The Invisible Cloak’, we are introduced to Hikoichi, a sneaky and lazy fellow who meets with a tengu who has the ability to make himself invisible. Hikoichi tricks the magical being – but meets with mischief himself after he commits crimes against others. A humorous – and embarrassing -- ending to a man who deserves it!

This is a gorgeously presented book, well-designed with illustrations in the Japanese tradition which are so attractive they make you want to pour over them. In keeping with other Christmas Press folklore titles (go to http://christmaspresspicturebooks.com) the cover is presented like a series of woodblock shapes with illustrations from inside the book. These beautifully rendered illustrations are contained within blocks with fine line and wash realistic pictures. Occasionally, such as when the tengu appears – an ordinary, bearded man wearing wings and sandals – a double spread is employed. Even the fly pages in this wonderful book are interesting, with black, white and grey Japanese masks.

This is a book which will be enjoyed by all ages. Duncan Ball, David Allan and the production team at Christmas Press have done a splendid job!