Bane, T. (2013). Encyclopedia of fairies in world folklore and
mythology. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
ISBN: 9780786471119
428 pages
Formats: Paperback, ebook
Price: $75.00
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: This encyclopedia includes entries for more than 2500 varieties of fairies and nature spirits, organized alphabetically by name or species, with individual bibliographies. Each entry elucidates the origin and development of the lore surrounding each type of being, and includes name variations and translations. Entries vary in length from one paragraph to several pages. A broad spectrum of religions, mythologies, and cultures is represented, including Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The volume includes cross-referencing, a general bibliography, and an index, but unfortunately, no illustrations.
Justification: Though author Theresa Bane is an independent scholar not affiliated with a University, she is well known as an expert in the area of the paranormal. Booklist and Library Journal both give her commendations on the thoroughness of her research, and Booklist indicates that all creatures appearing in this encyclopedia have their origins in folklore and mythology, not in popular culture (e.g., Tinker Bell). Though ARBA recommends this title for public and academic libraries, it could be a useful ready reference tool for school librarians.
Campo, J. E. (2009). Encyclopedia of world religions: Encyclopedia of Islam. New York, NY: Facts On File.
ISBN: 9780816054541
800 pages
Formats: Hardcover, ebook
Price: $85.00 print, request quote for ebook
Series: Encyclopedia of World Religions
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: This is one volume from the Encyclopedia of World Religions, but according to reviewers, it works as a stand-alone resource. An introduction gives an overview of Islam, from its beginning in the 6th century with the birth of Mohammed to the modern era. It includes information about history, practice, belief, traditions, Islamic cultures, and Islam’s relationship to other religions. The 550+ entries that follow are arranged alphabetically and cross-referenced. The volume includes maps, black and white illustrations, bibliography and index.
Justification: The author, J. E. Campo, Ph. D., is a professor of religious studies at UC Santa Barbara. This volume (unlike others in the series) is well reviewed by Booklist and other publications, and made NYPL’s Best of Reference 2010 list. Though much of the content is historical in nature, there are also entries along mythological/folkloric lines (e.g., Arabian Nights). Reviews indicate that this resource is highly accessible to those with no prior knowledge of Islam, and that it is an appropriate resource for high school students.
Elswit, S. (2009). The East Asian story finder: A guide to 468 tales from China, Japan and Korea, listing subjects and sources. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
ISBN: 9780786495481
288 pages
Format: Hardcover
Price: $45.00
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: This volume is a collection of stories summarized by the author rather than presented in their entirety. Variations on the stories are presented, along with information on their origin, contexts in which the story might be told, and bibliographic sources. Summaries are organized into 14 themes, for example, “animal fables” and “strange events and ghostly encounters”. The book is indexed by story and by subject. Appendices include a lists of stories by country of origin and a glossary. The bibliography includes online resources and bilingual resources.
Justification: Sharon Elswit, a longtime librarian and folklorist, authored this thoroughly researched work. It would serve nicely as a ready reference resource for the teacher librarian to assist teachers and students in locating appropriate stories on a particular theme. This book received positive reviews in Feliciter, Australian Library Journal, School Library Journal, and Reference & User Services Quarterly.
Elswit, S. (2012). The Jewish story finder: A guide to 668 tales listing subjects and sources (2nd ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
ISBN: 9780786448234
416 pages
Format: Paperback
Price: $75.00
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: Predecessor to The East Asian Story Finder, this volume similarly treats Jewish folktales by summarizing 668 of them and organizing them into themes such as mitzvahs (good deeds), justice, and community. Stories originate from a variety of geographical locations, including Turkey, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Chile. Each entry includes a story summary, variations on the story, what context the story might be used in, and a list of retellings by author and title. Backmatter includes an appendix with lists recommending stories for different ages, a bibliography, and cross-referenced index.
Justification: Sharon Elswit, a longtime librarian and folklorist, authored this thoroughly researched work. It would serve nicely as a ready reference resource for the teacher librarian to assist teachers and students in locating appropriate stories on a particular theme. This book received positive reviews in Choice, AJL Newsletter, Jewish Book World, and ARBA.
Gods and goddesses of Greece and Rome. (2012). Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Reference.
ISBN: 9780761479512
320 pages
Formats: Hardcover, ebook
Price: $85.64 print, $59.95 ebook
Audience: Grades 6 and up
Description: This volume contains 76 articles on the major and lesser known deities of Greece and Rome, with separate entries for Greek and Roman counterparts. Arranged alphabetically, entries include origin and context of the god/dess, how they were worshipped, a representative story, and a discussion of the deity’s appearance in art, along with a short bibliography and cross references. Additional features include family trees, a pronunciation guide, further reading suggestions, ample glossy illustrations, and a thorough index and bibliography.
Justification: This work was favorably reviewed in Booklist, Library Journal, School Library Journal, and Library Media Connection. It won the Middle/High School Merit Award at the 2012 New York Book Show. The visually attractive format will appeal to both students and adults; this, combined with concise writing and thoughtful layout, makes the text accessible to younger readers and those in need of differentiation.
Hatfield, C., Heer, J., & Worcester, K. (Eds.). (2013). The superhero reader. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.
ISBN: 9781617038020
368 pages
Formats: Hardcover, paperback
Price: $65.00, $30.00
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: This book is the first of its kind, a collection of scholarly commentary on superheroes and the emergence of comics as a legitimate literary genre. It includes articles and book snippets dating from 1930 to 2011 on topics such as “comic book masculinity” and “the epic hero and pop culture”. The publishers state: “The primary aim of this reader is twofold: first, to collect in a single volume a sampling of the most sophisticated commentary on superheroes, and second, to bring into sharper focus the ways in which superheroes connect with larger social, cultural, literary, aesthetic, and historical themes that are of interest to a great many readers both in the academy and beyond.”
Justification: This book has been nominated for the 2014 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award in the category of Best Academic/Scholarly Work. Editor and contributing author Charles Hatfield is a comics scholar and professor, lending authority to the work. In addition to aiding teachers and students in exploring superheroes as mythological archetypes, this collection can also help teachers and teacher librarians lend credence to the use of comics and graphic novels in the classroom, thereby filling a developing niche in the reference collection.
Heroes and heroines of Greece and Rome. (2012). New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish Reference.
ISBN: 9780761479529
320 pages
Formats: Hardcover, ebook
Price: $85.64 print, $59.95 ebook
Audience: Grades 6 and up
Description: This title is a companion to the above mentioned Gods and Goddesses of Greece and Rome. It contains 94 alphabetically organized articles on the most renowned heroes, demigods, and other mortal creatures. Unlike the Gods and Goddesses volume, the Greek and Roman counterparts share one article rather than meriting separate ones. This volume includes ample illustrations, cross references, a pronunciation guide, a list of major figures, Internet resources, and further reading suggestions.
Justification: Twenty scholars contributed to this work, which was favorably reviewed in Booklist, Library Journal, School Library Journal, and Library Media Connection. The visually attractive format will appeal to both students and adults; this, combined with concise writing and thoughtful layout, makes the text accessible to younger readers and those in need of differentiation.
Leeming, D. A. (2009). The Oxford companion to world mythology (Reprint ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
ISBN: 97801955387087
512 pages
Formats: Paperback, ebook
Price: $24.95 print, contact vendor for ebook pricing
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: This encyclopedia includes over 1500 alphabetically arranged entries covering a range of cultures, offering breadth over depth, and including entries on folktales and fairy tales as well as myths. Religious figures are also included. Many black and white illustrations of mythology-inspired artworks illuminate the entries. Some notable features include entries categorized by culture, cross-referencing, family trees, and equivalent deity charts.
Justification: Both School Library Journal and Booklist praise the scholarly merit and readability of this work, which was authored by a professor of comparative literature. The brevity of entries would make it a good resource for ready reference. It is inexpensive, and therefore, worth adding to the collection.
Monaghan, P. (2014). Encyclopedia of goddesses and heroines (Rev. ed.). Novato, CA: New World Library.
ISBN: 9781608682171
448 pages
Formats: Paperback (earlier edition available in hardcover and ebook from ABC-CLIO)
Price: $29.95
Audience: Grade 9 and up
Description: This encyclopedia holds more than 1000 alphabetically arranged entries, categorized into five geographic regions: Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Asia and Oceania, Europe, and The Americas. Each section begins with an introduction. Though some entries are sparse, each includes at least one reference source.
Justification: Author Patricia Monaghan was a leading scholar on goddess studies. This volume was favorably reviewed by Library Journal, which states that, “No other book on this topic is as complete.” Though this work is geared toward an adult audience and Monaghan’s feminist perspective, it would lend balance to a collection that is likely dominated by male characters. Though it lacks the illustrations found in the earlier edition, the paperback volume can be acquired at a reasonable cost.
Parks, R. (Ed.). U.X.L. encyclopedia of world mythology. (2009). Detroit, MI: U.X.L./Gale.
ISBN: 9781414438467
5 volumes, 1200 pages
Formats: Hardcover, ebook
Price: $395.00 print, request quote for ebook
Audience: Grades 5 and up
Description: This encyclopedia provides comprehensive coverage of 45 civilizations’ mythologies, both obvious and obscure. The 300+ entries are alphabetical and categorized into 5 broad topics identifiable by icons: heroes/characters, gods/goddesses, major myths, global themes/motifs, and national/cultural myths. Some standout features include a timeline, glossary, pronunciation guide, color plates, cross-reference text boxes, supplemental fiction and nonfiction bibliography, enrichment activities, discussion starters, and connections to modern life.
Justification: This set was published by UXL, a division of Gale, and was well reviewed by Library Journal, School Library Journal, Library Media Connection, and Booklist. Its comprehensive coverage of cultures and the cross-referencing rubrics it provides make this encyclopedia well worth the expense.
"Knowledge of work mythology is basic to a study of literature and history. For that reason, the U*X*L Encyclopedia of World Mythology should be available in every school library from fifth grade up. It offers excellent broad overviews of large topics like Greek and Egyptian mythology as well as defining more arcane subjects such as trolls and Golem. The set is sturdily bound and should stand up well to the use it deserves to have. The U*X*L Encyclopedia of World Mythology contains such a wealth of information it should rank high on all school libraries' must-have list.." --ARBA, February 2010
— Kay O. Cornelius
Sherman, J. (2009). World folklore for storytellers: Tales of wonder, wisdom, fools, and heroes. Armonk, NY: Sharpe Reference.
ISBN: 9780765681744
432 pages
Format: Hardcover
Price: $95.00
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: This volume is a collection of nearly 200 folk and fairy tales from around the world. It includes well known stories such as Cinderella, as well as lesser known ones. The introduction defines and contextualizes folklore. Stories are then grouped by theme into the following categories: wonder tales, hero tales, tales of kindness repaid and hope and redemption, and tales of fools and wise people. These groupings allow easy comparisons across cultures. Each tale is followed with an individual bibliography. The volume includes color plates, a general bibliography and index.
Justification: ARBA and Library Journal give this work favorable reviews. Selling points for the reference librarian are its multicultural emphasis, and its potential as ready reference with so many folktales in one volume.
“This collection of stories is good for those seeking a story on a particular topic, a researcher seeking to compare stories, or one who is looking for a specific tale's iteration. This is a valuable addition to any collection; the hard part will be deciding whether to include it in juvenile or adult collections as the value is evident for both audiences.” - ARBA, 2011
Van Deusen, K. (Ed.). (2011). World folklore: Far north tales: Stories from the peoples of the Arctic circle (B. C. Marshall, Trans.). Santa Barbara, CA.: Libraries Unlimited.
ISBN: 978-1-59158-761-3
290 pages
Format: Hardcover
Price: $40.00
Audience: Grades 9 and up
Description: This collection of 30 stories represents many cultures whose oral traditions are in danger of being lost, including tales from Siberia, Scandinavia, Greenland, Alaska, and Canada. Stories are organized by themes such as creation stories and trickster tales. Background geographical, historical, and cultural information is included, as well as notes on the stories. Some features include photographs, glossary, and an index that includes cultural objects, historical events, festivals and celebrations, and more.
Justification: This book was published by ABC-CLIO, a recognized reference materials provider. Positively reviewed by Library Journal, this rare collection of stories will complement the folklore collection. Because the stories it contains are rarely seen elsewhere, it will serve as a one-of-a-kind reference resource for folklore from the arctic regions. At $40.00, the price is right.
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