Chelli Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Sorry, I'm really picking y'all's brains this week.... I need a good compilation of Norse myths to use for my upcoming eighth grader's study of mythology. I'm using Bullfinch's Age of Fable for Greek/Roman, but I need something comparable for Norse myths. There is one chapter in Bullfinch's that touches on Norse mythology, but I would like an entire book. I saw that the d'Aulaire's have a book of Norse myths, but I thought it might be too childish. My second problem is finding a good book of Eastern/Asian mythology. I would really like to introduce her to this part of the world via myths since we haven't focused much on the eastern hemisphere so far. However, finding a book of Asian myths is proving harder than finding a unicorn. Any suggestions for either of these would be greatly appreciated, fiction or non-fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddlemomma Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 My DD loves Mythology as well. She has picked it as one of her 9th-grade electives next fall. I purchased a used copy of Mythology, The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth & Storytelling. It's a huge book and covers Eastern & Northern Mythology as well. There are quite a few copies available right now on Amazon starting at $3.25 for the hardcover (which I recommend because it's such a large book.) Since DD will also be embarking upon learning Japanese, I plan to integrate the Japanese myths from this book into her foreign language class as well. Another resource you may want to purchase for Norse mythology would be the Poetic Edda. I'm hoping to get this for DD at some point as well, but for next year, she wants to focus more on Mesopotamian myths. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 D'aulaire wasn't babyish. My Norse copy lives in the bedroom of my 18yo mythology lover and he still rereads it occasionally. It's a decent overview. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 (edited) For mid-grades and up, I really liked Padraic Colum's Odin's Children: The Book of Northern Myths; D'Aulieres for younger. For "Eastern", that's a huge area, encompassing many different religions and cultures. One very common story in China is Monkey; for older kids (middle school and up?) they could read something more complete like Arthur Waley's translation; for younger kids there's a great version of it by Ji-Li Jiang. Monkey is a trickster and gets into all kinds of mischief. This tale is known by everyone in Chinese-speaking countries; there are comic books and animated films galore. For Indian stories, I had my kids read juvenile versions of the Mahabarata and Ramayana. (I hesitate to call these myths, as Hinduism is alive and well. But these are the main source of Indian stories of gods and men and heroes). There are also tons of picture books with stories from these sources, on Rama/Sita, Hanuman, Krishna, Arjun, the Bhagavad Gita, and many more. You could also look for stories about Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesha. I also have a book called Japanese Children's Favorite Stories. Edited May 27, 2017 by Matryoshka 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 (edited) Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology is pretty good as an audiobook - he reads it and he is an excellent reader. I was kind of disappointed in it because I wanted it to be amazing, and it was just pretty good. But it is pretty good :) There are some adult spots, so you may want to preread or prelisten for an 8th grader. Edited May 27, 2017 by Penguin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Oh, and you didn't ask for Africa but Tales from Africa (Oxford Myths and Legends) is good. We discovered it through the National Mythology Exam. I see that the series has volumes for India and China. I think they would be worth a look, based on my experience with the African one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Oh, and you didn't ask for Africa but Tales from Africa (Oxford Myths and Legends) is good. We discovered it through the National Mythology Exam. I see that the series has volumes for India and China. I think they would be worth a look, based on my experience with the African one. We're doing this as a read aloud right now and enjoying it. =) My oldest (11) read D'Aulaire's Norse Myths this year also. =) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 I doubt D Luaire's (I never spell that right, I know.) is too babyish. We used the Greek one this year for my 7th grader and 9th grader while studying for National Latin Exams, and it was a lot of fun and very informative. I haven't read the Norse one yet, but have it in my cart for next year for Middle Ages study for my then 8th and 10th graders. Both of mine have read the Tales From Africa listed above as well. I actually haven't read that one in full, so I can't say if I like it. But they seemed to. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 My second problem is finding a good book of Eastern/Asian mythology. I would really like to introduce her to this part of the world via myths since we haven't focused much on the eastern hemisphere so far. However, finding a book of Asian myths is proving harder than finding a unicorn. This book was recommended by Well Trained mind Japanese Tales and Legends by Helen McAlpine I have it from the library but we haven't started it yet. I hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales by Grace James illustrated by Warwick Gobel https://smile.amazon.com/Green-Willow-Other-Japanese-Fairy/dp/1606600737/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497129743&sr=8-1&keywords=Green+willow+and+other+japanese+fairy+tales+grace+james+calla+edition The other (less expensive) editions on amazon seem to be from those cheap reprint publishers. I have the Calla edition and it is beautiful and worth the money, but still... expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahW Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 I believe that the Norse equivalent of Bullfinch is Geurber's Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas. I'm not sure if it's still in print. I have an ancient old Dover edition. It's okay, I think. The illustrations in my edition aren't worthwhile, but the stories are written interesting enough, though you'll get the usual smattering of "heathen times" talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. A Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 I second Padraic Colum's book for Norse myths. The reader who reads it on librivox is awesome! We've been enjoying Tales of a Chinese Grandmother and Tales of a Korean Grandmother for eastern stuff. None of these are quite the same as Bulfinch, but they're fine for gaining familiarity with the stories. Also, don't forget Arabian Nights! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 I haven't seen this one in particular, but I've enjoyed the other Brian Bruya translated books on Chinese philosophy, so this might be good: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Wizards-Spitting-English-Chinese/dp/7514320504/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1497285881&sr=1-18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in KS Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 (edited) Puffin Classics is good. https://www.amazon.com/Myths-Norsemen-Puffin-Classics-Lancelyn/dp/014134525X Edited July 7, 2017 by amy in ks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Another good one for Norse myths is Kevin Crossley-Holland's. His and Padraic Collum's are excellent. I haven't read Neil Gaiman's yet. It's in my queue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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