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Lonely Planet Kids A Treasury of Traditional Tales: 20 Spellbinding Stories from Across the Continents | Meet Brave Princesses & Magical Elves | Beautifull Illustrated
144 pages, Hardcover
Published October 22, 2024
About the author
Lonely Planet
4,147 books949 followersOUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 19, 2024
4.5 Stars
A wonderful children's book filled with traditional tales from across the world!
This book is an absolute joy to read and has stunning illustrations that bring the stories to life.
It is split up into different areas of the world which was really well done. All of the stories were well written and engaging and fantastic for children aged around 9 - 12 years old. It teaches some really important values and themes through the stories which I loved. Some were definitely better than others but I really enjoyed reading them all. The traditional and cultural aspects really added a lot of interesting information!
The African tale "Why the owl flies at night" was a particular favourite because of all the different african birds in the story! I'm a huge bird lover and knew a lot of the African birds so that was wonderful for me.
I had never heard the English or Welsh tales which was a surprise but thoroughly enjoyed them.
I have to say the illustrations are absolutely stunning and so well done. They are detailed and perfect for each story. There was a perfect balance to story and images too.
The only issue was a few spelling mistakes here and there. I also wish there had been a big world atlas at the beginning to show the full world so Children can put the smaller maps into perspective.
Overall, a wonderful book full of traditional tales from around the world. Would make a fantastic gift for any children that enjoy stories! Highly recommend!
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderful children's book filled with traditional tales from across the world!
This book is an absolute joy to read and has stunning illustrations that bring the stories to life.
It is split up into different areas of the world which was really well done. All of the stories were well written and engaging and fantastic for children aged around 9 - 12 years old. It teaches some really important values and themes through the stories which I loved. Some were definitely better than others but I really enjoyed reading them all. The traditional and cultural aspects really added a lot of interesting information!
The African tale "Why the owl flies at night" was a particular favourite because of all the different african birds in the story! I'm a huge bird lover and knew a lot of the African birds so that was wonderful for me.
I had never heard the English or Welsh tales which was a surprise but thoroughly enjoyed them.
I have to say the illustrations are absolutely stunning and so well done. They are detailed and perfect for each story. There was a perfect balance to story and images too.
The only issue was a few spelling mistakes here and there. I also wish there had been a big world atlas at the beginning to show the full world so Children can put the smaller maps into perspective.
Overall, a wonderful book full of traditional tales from around the world. Would make a fantastic gift for any children that enjoy stories! Highly recommend!
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2024
Showcasing the amazing variety the world holds, each continent stands in the spotlight with legend and myth richness.
This band is broken down into six main chapters according to the six, inhabited continents. There are around five or so tales in each one, each coming from a different region and portraying a different type of myth or legend. There is a general map at the beginning of each chapter, and some of the tales show one as well with a indication of where the tale originates. The legends cover everything from creation to gods to wisdom and more. The characters involve animals and people from various time frames and situations. There are some similarities between several of them but only light, allowing the vast variety to leave an impression.
I don't believe I've read any of the tales before, and it's fun to discover all sorts of new legends and myths. Some carry a hint of familiarity, but these are put together well to keep diversity in characters, cultures, and plots high. Each one is written by a different author to make sure these stay authentic to their area and carry a different voice. Still, the editing follows a similar line to give enough harmony to make this a smooth read no matter which one is picked up. The tales are a little longer (several pages) and are designed to be read one-by-one and not in one sitting (although that is possible, I guess). This makes these great for a story time or broken down sharing for theme presentations or just visiting as time or desire allows.
The text flows nicely and stays in narrative form. The tales are written for the intended age group and steer away from longer descriptions or heavy word dumps. Each tale speeds along nicely and keeps the entertainment value in mind. The illustrations support each tale and offer a visual insight into the culture. Some of these take a slightly more modern twist, while others demonstrate tradition or even fantastical elements. I do wish that each tale held a map but appreciate the number that exist and enjoyed the balance of facts and fiction.
This is a lovely collection for anyone wanting to discover new tales or learn about other cultures.
This band is broken down into six main chapters according to the six, inhabited continents. There are around five or so tales in each one, each coming from a different region and portraying a different type of myth or legend. There is a general map at the beginning of each chapter, and some of the tales show one as well with a indication of where the tale originates. The legends cover everything from creation to gods to wisdom and more. The characters involve animals and people from various time frames and situations. There are some similarities between several of them but only light, allowing the vast variety to leave an impression.
I don't believe I've read any of the tales before, and it's fun to discover all sorts of new legends and myths. Some carry a hint of familiarity, but these are put together well to keep diversity in characters, cultures, and plots high. Each one is written by a different author to make sure these stay authentic to their area and carry a different voice. Still, the editing follows a similar line to give enough harmony to make this a smooth read no matter which one is picked up. The tales are a little longer (several pages) and are designed to be read one-by-one and not in one sitting (although that is possible, I guess). This makes these great for a story time or broken down sharing for theme presentations or just visiting as time or desire allows.
The text flows nicely and stays in narrative form. The tales are written for the intended age group and steer away from longer descriptions or heavy word dumps. Each tale speeds along nicely and keeps the entertainment value in mind. The illustrations support each tale and offer a visual insight into the culture. Some of these take a slightly more modern twist, while others demonstrate tradition or even fantastical elements. I do wish that each tale held a map but appreciate the number that exist and enjoyed the balance of facts and fiction.
This is a lovely collection for anyone wanting to discover new tales or learn about other cultures.
October 17, 2024
Copy provided by the publisher
Our sixth grade used to do a massive folk and fairy tale project that involved students reading a story from one specific culture, then choosing a country from a completely different continent, and retelling the tale with details from the new country. I vividly remember my younger daughter retelling the German tale of Clever Gretchen, but setting in India. The language arts standards have changed, but I still have a collection of global tales, and this will certainly be one that students enjoy.
Lonely Planet, which publishes a lot of travel books, does a great job of grouping the stories by continent, and each one lists the specific country or culture of origin. While there isn't a large map at the beginning of the book (they have conditioned me to always look for a map!), there is a smaller inset of the continent with the location highlighted for each tale. There is also a brief introduction for each tale.
The thing that really amazed me about this collection was that I wasn't familiar with any of these stories! The sixth grade project went on for a long time, so I have a pretty good knowledge of what's out there, but these were all new to me. There are only so many versions of Cinderella that I need to read, or different variations on Tales of the Brothers Grimm that I need in my collection. This is a fresh crop of intriguing tales, and the colorful illustrations make it even more appealing.
This collection of retold traditional tales boasts quite the array of authors. I've read books by David Bowles, Anita Ganeri, and Shirley Marr, and am glad to have other authors to investigate. There are thumbnail drawing of the authors with short biographies at the end of the book, which might have been my favorite part.
Our sixth grade used to do a massive folk and fairy tale project that involved students reading a story from one specific culture, then choosing a country from a completely different continent, and retelling the tale with details from the new country. I vividly remember my younger daughter retelling the German tale of Clever Gretchen, but setting in India. The language arts standards have changed, but I still have a collection of global tales, and this will certainly be one that students enjoy.
Lonely Planet, which publishes a lot of travel books, does a great job of grouping the stories by continent, and each one lists the specific country or culture of origin. While there isn't a large map at the beginning of the book (they have conditioned me to always look for a map!), there is a smaller inset of the continent with the location highlighted for each tale. There is also a brief introduction for each tale.
The thing that really amazed me about this collection was that I wasn't familiar with any of these stories! The sixth grade project went on for a long time, so I have a pretty good knowledge of what's out there, but these were all new to me. There are only so many versions of Cinderella that I need to read, or different variations on Tales of the Brothers Grimm that I need in my collection. This is a fresh crop of intriguing tales, and the colorful illustrations make it even more appealing.
This collection of retold traditional tales boasts quite the array of authors. I've read books by David Bowles, Anita Ganeri, and Shirley Marr, and am glad to have other authors to investigate. There are thumbnail drawing of the authors with short biographies at the end of the book, which might have been my favorite part.
February 25, 2025
An enriching children’s book that takes readers on a captivating journey through various cultures with engaging stories. The book is beautifully illustrated, with each image perfectly complementing the tales it accompanies. It’s organized by region, which makes it easy for children to explore the diversity of traditional stories from across the globe. I liked the map-cutout with each story, showing where the stories came from.
Aimed at middle-grade readers, especially those looking for more challenging and thought-provoking tales. Each story teaches valuable lessons and themes, and would be great as a teaching tool and to spark conversation. I especially appreciated how each story offers a glimpse into the unique traditions and cultures from which they come. The Canadian Indigenous story was my favourite (and being Canadian, it was familiar to me!) and I am glad it was included.
The illustrations throughout the book are absolutely stunning—detailed and vibrant, they really bring each story to life. For younger readers, there could be more illustrations, allowing them to better connect with the stories and stay engaged.
Overall, this book is a fantastic collection of traditional stories, and would make a great addition to a school library or as a gift for young readers who enjoy these types of tales!
Aimed at middle-grade readers, especially those looking for more challenging and thought-provoking tales. Each story teaches valuable lessons and themes, and would be great as a teaching tool and to spark conversation. I especially appreciated how each story offers a glimpse into the unique traditions and cultures from which they come. The Canadian Indigenous story was my favourite (and being Canadian, it was familiar to me!) and I am glad it was included.
The illustrations throughout the book are absolutely stunning—detailed and vibrant, they really bring each story to life. For younger readers, there could be more illustrations, allowing them to better connect with the stories and stay engaged.
Overall, this book is a fantastic collection of traditional stories, and would make a great addition to a school library or as a gift for young readers who enjoy these types of tales!
November 16, 2024
When I was younger, I really enjoyed books with stories from around the world and this book gives me the same nostalgic feeling.
The illustrations are beautiful. They really bring the stories to life and make reading even more enjoyable. I also appreciate that the stories teach important lessons about bravery, kindness, and respecting nature. For now, my oldest did enjoy listening to these stories when we picked out 1 each night for bedtime.
The illustrations are beautiful. They really bring the stories to life and make reading even more enjoyable. I also appreciate that the stories teach important lessons about bravery, kindness, and respecting nature. For now, my oldest did enjoy listening to these stories when we picked out 1 each night for bedtime.
December 8, 2025
A really nice collection of folk tales from around the world.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews