Dogs of Myth: Tales From Around the World

by Gerald Hausman, Barry Moser (Illustrator)

On the first morning of the world, a man and a dog forged a solid friendship. Ever since, in cultures all around the globe, dogs have been our faithful companions -- inseparable, dependable, loyal, and loving. Gerald and Loretta Hausman retell thirteen tales that capture the spirit of our beloved friend, the many-faceted dog. Here are trickster dogs, like the well-meaning but forgetful husky who accidentally brought Death to the world. Here are guardian dogs, like the wolfhound who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his master's baby. Here are super dogs, like the poodle who could speak four languages, catch bullets with his teeth, and change shape. Here, too, is the story of that first man and dog and the promises they made -- and many more. The Hausmans beautifully evoke the varied cultures that nourished each tale -- from that of the Nyanga people of Africa to that of the Ainu of Japan and the Siberian Eskimos of Unisak -- and their rich storytelling style makes each an irresistible read-aloud. Barry Moser's brilliant watercolors gracefully pay homage to thirteen different breeds. So, dip into these pages and enjoy finding your own best friend -- in the mythic proportions every dog deserves.

Genres: Nonfiction, Dogs, Animals

83 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Gerald Andrews Hausman is a storyteller and award-winning author of books about Native America, animals, mythology, and West Indian culture. Hausman comes from a long line of storytellers and educators, and has published over seventy books for both children and adults.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well put together anthology of dog tales; you don't usually hear dog-specific stories when exploring mythology, so it was nice to read a collection from a wide variety of cultures. Some of them are, admittedly, a bit strange, but that's to be expected when it comes to mythology!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my absolute favorite dog book as a child, so much so that I had to buy it again as an adult! It is hard to find dog specific tales and legends even though numerous exist, this mentions some that I have a hard time finding online to share with friends even now! If you have a dog loving child, I recommend this!

[Jaide · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a mixed bag. The stories that I did like, I *loved*. The rest kind of fell flat for me.
However, the watercolor illustrations were full of love for dogs:)

The best tales were:
-The Gift of Fire (Democratic Republic of Congo)
-The Seven Sleepers (Middle East)

[Cat90 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like myths and dogs? Well my friend, this book is for you! it's filled with beautiful illustration and lovely "tales" (haha pun get it tail?) of how each breed got its name.

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book to easily reference if you’re looking for a story on a specific breed, not overly detailed.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of a neat dog folklore books. There were some good stories like why the rottweiler has such a ferocious growl and why the basenji doesn't bark and some that I didn't like so much, like the shar-pei that married the princess. On the whole a very interesting book.

[Gabriel Dubransky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about special dogs who have become loyal friends.