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Giants, Ghosts and Goblins
A cross-cultural anthology of folk tales carefully chosen to terrify and tantalize young readers. The mystery and magic of the stories are beautifully realized by evocative and enchanting watercolors.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
John Matthews
457 books208 followersJohn Matthews is an historian, folklorist and author. He has been a full time writer since 1980 and has produced over ninety books on the Arthurian Legends and Grail Studies, as well as short stories and a volume of poetry. He has devoted much of the past thirty years to the study of Arthurian Traditions and myth in general. His best known and most widely read works are ‘Pirates’ (Carlton/Atheneum), No 1 children’s book on the New York Times Review best-seller list for 22 weeks in 2006, ‘The Grail, Quest for Eternal Life’ (Thames & Hudson, 1981) ‘The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom’ (Element, 1994) and ‘The Winter Solstice’ (Quest Books, 1999) which won the Benjamin Franklin Award for that year. His book ‘Celtic Warrior Chiefs’ was a New York Public Library recommended title for young people.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 28, 2015
My favorite of the stories was the Chinese story "The Drinking Companions", which was sweet, steeped in friendship, and tickled my fancy.
The odd story "The Bunyip" was actually rather fun, as it explained, as only fairytales and fables can, the reason why black swans come from Australia.
"The Goblin, The Grocer, and The Student" was cute, mostly because I liked the goblin.
"Oona and the Giant" was your typical fairytale, where wits conquer strength.
"The Giant With No Heart In His Body" was very similar to "Oona and the Giant", except we had the addition of another typical fairytale element: a heart not in a chest cavity, where it belongs. Also, wits conquered strength again, yay!
"The Lass Who Couldn't Be Frightened" was charming enough, and I liked how she was pretty fierce, so long as there were no mice involved!
"The Ghost With Two Faces" was creepy beyond all belief, and also the story with the least amount of an actual story.
"Little Oonyani" and "A-Man-Among-Men" were not very memorable and the most lackluster of the bunch.
However, the illustrations for all of them were hideous and/or occasionally intensely disturbing. To the point where I would never show that to a child for fear they'd have nightmares, ex. "The Ghost With Two Faces".
The odd story "The Bunyip" was actually rather fun, as it explained, as only fairytales and fables can, the reason why black swans come from Australia.
"The Goblin, The Grocer, and The Student" was cute, mostly because I liked the goblin.
"Oona and the Giant" was your typical fairytale, where wits conquer strength.
"The Giant With No Heart In His Body" was very similar to "Oona and the Giant", except we had the addition of another typical fairytale element: a heart not in a chest cavity, where it belongs. Also, wits conquered strength again, yay!
"The Lass Who Couldn't Be Frightened" was charming enough, and I liked how she was pretty fierce, so long as there were no mice involved!
"The Ghost With Two Faces" was creepy beyond all belief, and also the story with the least amount of an actual story.
"Little Oonyani" and "A-Man-Among-Men" were not very memorable and the most lackluster of the bunch.
However, the illustrations for all of them were hideous and/or occasionally intensely disturbing. To the point where I would never show that to a child for fear they'd have nightmares, ex. "The Ghost With Two Faces".
April 29, 2023
A collection of (fairy?) tales from around the world, illustrated. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to people who like variety in their fairy tales... Although an aficionado might already have read them, at least the art is nice.
October 12, 2020
Enjoyed the stories, the first story was quite similar to an Irish traditional tale.
May 8, 2015
Please find better illustrators!
The Giant with No Heart in His Body (Norwegian) - 2 stars
The Ghost With Two Faces (Cheyenne Native American) - 3 stars
The Bunyip (Australian) - 2.5 stars
Oona and the Giant (Irish) Fun. - 4 stars
The Drinking Companions (Chinese) - 4 stars
The Goblin, the Grocer and the Student (Danish) - 3 stars
A ~ Man ~ Among ~ Men (Hausa West African) - 2 stars
(Why is there thunder? Explanation is obviously giants. Seems a popular theory across many different cultures.)
Little Oonyani (Evenk Siberian) - 2.5 stars
The Lass Who Couldn't Be Frightened (Scottish) - 3 stars
Origins of the tales are detailed in the back of the book by the author.
The Giant with No Heart in His Body (Norwegian) - 2 stars
The Ghost With Two Faces (Cheyenne Native American) - 3 stars
The Bunyip (Australian) - 2.5 stars
Oona and the Giant (Irish) Fun. - 4 stars
The Drinking Companions (Chinese) - 4 stars
The Goblin, the Grocer and the Student (Danish) - 3 stars
A ~ Man ~ Among ~ Men (Hausa West African) - 2 stars
(Why is there thunder? Explanation is obviously giants. Seems a popular theory across many different cultures.)
Little Oonyani (Evenk Siberian) - 2.5 stars
The Lass Who Couldn't Be Frightened (Scottish) - 3 stars
Origins of the tales are detailed in the back of the book by the author.
November 21, 2009
Barefoot Books are the best books. There should be a Barefoot Book of genies and magicians.
Want to Read
January 23, 2010March 3, 2010
spooky stories from all over the world.
May 27, 2021
Some of the illustrations are problematic. The author has been found to have appropriated from other cultures and other problematic issues.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews