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In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World
A thought-provoking collection of twenty-five stories that reflect the wonder and glory of the origins of the world and humankind. With commentary by the author. --Booklist
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
September 25th 1988
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(first published 1988)
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Cindy Kelly
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Recommends it for:
those who want to know where we come from
SUMMARY
This is an anthology of 25 culturally rich creation stories, from all over the world, accompanied by 42 color paintings by Barry Moser, a wonderful introduction placing the stories in an authentic context, and a brief exposition at the end of each story offering insights into the culture of the people from which it came. They are told in a simple voice, complimenting the simplicity of the Oral Tradition. The language is quiet and powerful. "Time was, there were no people on e...more
This is an anthology of 25 culturally rich creation stories, from all over the world, accompanied by 42 color paintings by Barry Moser, a wonderful introduction placing the stories in an authentic context, and a brief exposition at the end of each story offering insights into the culture of the people from which it came. They are told in a simple voice, complimenting the simplicity of the Oral Tradition. The language is quiet and powerful. "Time was, there were no people on e...more
This review pertains to the 1988 hardcover edition.
Virginia Hamilton presents 25 multicultural creation stories. Barry Moser’s watercolors depict gods, tricksters, and additionally illuminate concepts, such as Chaos (p. 126). http://www.moser-pennyroyal.com/moser-pennyroyal/Biography.html.
School Library Journal suggests a 6th grade or higher level. A watercolor painting introduces each story, and additional paintings illuminate ideas within some of the longer retellings. Some c...more
Virginia Hamilton presents 25 multicultural creation stories. Barry Moser’s watercolors depict gods, tricksters, and additionally illuminate concepts, such as Chaos (p. 126). http://www.moser-pennyroyal.com/moser-pennyroyal/Biography.html.
School Library Journal suggests a 6th grade or higher level. A watercolor painting introduces each story, and additional paintings illuminate ideas within some of the longer retellings. Some c...more
Virginia Hamilton retells twenty-five creation myth stories from a variety of cultures. The entire compilation allows the reader to consider the ways each group or culture believe the way the earth and humans were created. Hamilton is clear in her introduction that each of the stories are called myths and that "Myths present themselves as truth and as accounts of actual facts no matter how different these facts or truths may be from our ordinary, 'real' experience. There are myths that a...more
I chose this book as my informational selection.
This is a compilation of world creation myths. It is a very interesting and informational book; well written, and has beautiful paintings to accompany each creation myth. I find it intriguing that many cultures from around the world separated by continents, oceans, mountains, and time can have many similar characteristics and yet be all distinct and different from each other.
Cultures’ and religions’ myths featured include...more
This is a compilation of world creation myths. It is a very interesting and informational book; well written, and has beautiful paintings to accompany each creation myth. I find it intriguing that many cultures from around the world separated by continents, oceans, mountains, and time can have many similar characteristics and yet be all distinct and different from each other.
Cultures’ and religions’ myths featured include...more
An nice selection of creation myths from around the world followed by a paragraph about their origins. This books can help students understand why myths were developed and compare and contrast different creation myths from around the world. I break students into small groups and focus on one of the myths and then present it to the class. While the Greek, Egyptian, Christian and Jewish creation myths are all included, I tend to select the myths that are less familiar to the students such as man...more
![Tori [Book Faery]](http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1301449340p2/3322973.jpg)
This book is a collection of diverse myths from around the world that explain the origins of death, blindness, men, women (and their tempers), dogs, animals in general, fire, etc. I found the stories – which spanned three to five pages – to be lacking. They were interesting concepts, and I think that children would enjoy them, but for me, it was too brief and too bland. For that reason, I was unable to truly appreciate the stories for what they were worth... which is disappointing since I wante...more
From ancient histories, people were questioning about the creation of the world and the creatures. This book by Virginia Hamilton gives us an idea of how people in the different parts of the world were thinking in back time and how different cultures affected their stories. For the people who are interested in the ancient stories and the cultures around the world, this book is for you.
I wanted to love this book. The artwork for each story is amazing and concept of the book is wonderful. I just couldn't get past the staccato prose used to tell each creation myth. Even though it's targeted at young adults I expected more flowery storytelling given the grandeur and scope of the myths.
Traditional Fantasy
Classroom Use: Good comparison/contrast for study of folktales which most children could relate to. It's possible to use these as models for children writing their own folktales to explain something in nature.
Classroom Use: Good comparison/contrast for study of folktales which most children could relate to. It's possible to use these as models for children writing their own folktales to explain something in nature.
I didn't really care for this book. This was an interesting collection of creation stories or myths. Some of these I was familiar with, but others, I had never heard of. I find it fascinating how each myth “explains” how man and life came to earth. While there is an abundance of myths from Africa and North America, I was disappointed to see that no Aboriginal myths were included in this compellation. I enjoyed reading the ones from India and Russia. The one from the Middle East is similar to an...more
One qualm: Putting the Genesis account last gave it a place of primacy, in an otherwise "culturally relativistic" project.
An interesting look at 25 creation myths from around the world with short explanations after each.
Great introduction to various world creation myths and thus cultures. The illustrations are fun too. My son enjoys looking at the drawings. The text is pretty simplified.
Some of the author's comments are not super helpful (she comments after each myth), and she is biased toward Christian mythology, though not unexpectedly.
But overall a great addition to our library!
Some of the author's comments are not super helpful (she comments after each myth), and she is biased toward Christian mythology, though not unexpectedly.
But overall a great addition to our library!
Good book for myths from around the world.
Nice selection of creation myths.
This book was okay. Some of the stories were interestng while others were almost frightening such as the one called Death the Creator from the Kono people of Guinea. The one that offered the most hope is from the Holy Scriptures. I thought it was interesting to see some of the common threads and the contrast that each story bore, as well as the different belief systems.
1989 Newbery Honor book
1989 Newbery Honor book
This is an interesting book with twenty-five creation stories from cultures all over the world.
Reading the diverse beliefs of people around the world, both ancient and contemporary, broadens our understanding of others.
Reading the diverse beliefs of people around the world, both ancient and contemporary, broadens our understanding of others.
Fascinating. Great for telling to young folks, or children. Also nice for when you have writer's block; its a very positive source for creativity.
My oldest sister gave me this gift when I was little. I spent hours staring at the hauntingly beautiful illustrations.
Creation myths from many cultures to read aloud and tell. Good collection of archetypes.
Lafcadio
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Carlos, the Pea Pod Man
Recommended to Lafcadio by:
Ms. Healy
We did skits of these stories in 6th grade. Found the book again later. Good stuff, yo.
L.S.
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