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Animalia: Thirteen Small Tales
Brief tales of wise and holy people who have lived gently with animals, from various countries and cultures, including tales of St. Francis, Buddha, and Siddhartha, and European and Oriental legends.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1982
50 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Helen Berger
12 books40 followersBarbara Helen Berger grew up loving to draw and paint. She studied Art at the University of Washington in Seattle, her home town, where she earned a BFA degree in Painting. During her five years of study, she also went to Yale Summer School of Music & Art, and to Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy. In Italy she saw the art she had loved from childhood, seen in her father's art books at home.
For ten years after college, she worked as a painter with gallery shows in Seattle. Then beginning in 1980 she turned her focus to children's books. She says, “All along, I loved writing too. My secret wish was to bring art and words together in my own books.”
Her first was Animalia, inspired by illuminated manuscripts (Celestial Arts, 1982, re-issued by Tricycle Press, 1999). Then she went on to create the picture books she is known for, including Grandfather Twilight, considered a bedtime classic, The Donkey's Dream, and A Lot of Otters, (all from Philomel Books). She also wrote and illustrated Gwinna, a fairytale in chapters (Philomel, 1990). In All the Way to Lhasa: a Tale from Tibet, she blended her style with the influence of Tibetan art (Philomel, 2002). And in Thunder Bunny, her newest book, she blends her style with the medium of collage (Philomel, 2007).
Berger's books have won awards for both the art and writing: the Golden Kite Award for Picture-Illustration, Parents' Choice Foundation Award for Illustration, the Children's Book Award from Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, and twice a Washington State Governor's Writers Award. Original paintings from her books have been exhibited around the country. She says, “From beginning to end, the process of creating is still my biggest joy.”
Ms. Berger lives on Bainbridge Island, in the Pacific Northwest. She received the honor of an Island Treasure Award in 2006 from the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council.
For ten years after college, she worked as a painter with gallery shows in Seattle. Then beginning in 1980 she turned her focus to children's books. She says, “All along, I loved writing too. My secret wish was to bring art and words together in my own books.”
Her first was Animalia, inspired by illuminated manuscripts (Celestial Arts, 1982, re-issued by Tricycle Press, 1999). Then she went on to create the picture books she is known for, including Grandfather Twilight, considered a bedtime classic, The Donkey's Dream, and A Lot of Otters, (all from Philomel Books). She also wrote and illustrated Gwinna, a fairytale in chapters (Philomel, 1990). In All the Way to Lhasa: a Tale from Tibet, she blended her style with the influence of Tibetan art (Philomel, 2002). And in Thunder Bunny, her newest book, she blends her style with the medium of collage (Philomel, 2007).
Berger's books have won awards for both the art and writing: the Golden Kite Award for Picture-Illustration, Parents' Choice Foundation Award for Illustration, the Children's Book Award from Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, and twice a Washington State Governor's Writers Award. Original paintings from her books have been exhibited around the country. She says, “From beginning to end, the process of creating is still my biggest joy.”
Ms. Berger lives on Bainbridge Island, in the Pacific Northwest. She received the honor of an Island Treasure Award in 2006 from the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 12, 2014
This is a beautiful book, now sadly out of print. Barbara Helen Berger has a real gift for portraying the power of animals in human life. One of my favorite children's picture books is her magnificent The Donkey's Dream, the nativity story told from the perspective of the donkey who carries Mary to the manger for the holy birth. This book of 13 vignettes is quietly magnificent. Berger uses tales of the Western saints with Chinese stories and legends of the Buddha's life in design much like medieval illuminated manuscripts. It works flawlessly. Children always respond to animals. This mordern beastiary is a wonderful read-aloud or reading experience. In our sad commercial culture, many children are deprived of experiences of the holy. This brief book offers a rare mystical perspective, harkening back to the beginning of books. I love the tale of the monk's illuminated book saved by an otter. Books, let us never forget, are miraculous.
February 3, 2014
This book really means small tales! The short stories are a paragraph or two of a snapshot of a moment in history or myth. The artwork was lovely, and they all wove together well. My three year old devoured this book with me in one sitting. My only complaint is that the decorative font had kerning which made this book difficult for me to read, and I did so haltingly while reading aloud.
January 30, 2013
Book #48 of 2012
It's a bit of a stretch to call these "tales," as each one is a mere paragraph or two long. Taken as what they are, though, they are quite interesting, and the illuminations and illustrations are simply gorgeous. This would make a wonderful addition to any child's library.
It's a bit of a stretch to call these "tales," as each one is a mere paragraph or two long. Taken as what they are, though, they are quite interesting, and the illuminations and illustrations are simply gorgeous. This would make a wonderful addition to any child's library.
March 20, 2008
Charming and beautiful, what I loved most about this were the lovely and vibrant illustrations, though the sage tone of the fables was comforting as well.
October 7, 2015
My favorite book as a child. Short stories with beautiful morals, animals in each, and lovely illustrations to go with them.
August 22, 2020
A lavishly illustrated volume in the style of an illuminated manuscript full of stories of humans befriending and being blessed by the animal kingdom. Saints and mystics and the purely kind-hearted populate this unique little volume. Our copy was gifted to my husband by his grandparents when he was a child, and we've just finished reading it with our little one. A magical experience.
May 4, 2017
I owned this book as a child, but recently got it out with the idea of adapting some of the stories into short plays. Re-reading it was like a trip down memory lane. One of my particular favorites was Sister Hare. These are gentle tales, with a touch of fantasy mixed in.
Want to read
January 20, 2008This might be good for my neice and nephew.
April 23, 2017
A stunningly beautiful book filled with SHORT (as in 1 - 2 pages) stories about saints, historical/legendary figures, and mythological personae interacting with animals. The content is fine for the smallest of children, but the beauty of the stories and the equally stunning illustrations make it wonderful reading for people of any age. I still find myself thinking of these little tales. They make me want to be a gentler person.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews