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Animal Lore and Legend: The Wisdom and Wonder of Animals Revealed
What makes owls wise and foxes sly? How did the lion become the king of beasts, and why do serpents symbolize evil? This survey of legends, folk tales, myths, and superstitions chronicles the human fascination with the animal kingdom. Assembled by a noted naturalist, Ruth Binney, this charmingly illustrated collection abounds in animal lore from around the world and throughout history.
Binney provides captivating examples of attempts to explain nature's wonders and mysteries with animal-related proverbs and folk wisdom. She explores the historic associations of wild and domestic animals with kindling romance, bringing good and bad luck, and fostering improved health, as well as their roles in forecasting weather and serving as omens of everything from sudden wealth to imminent death. A gallery of mythical figures features dragons, werewolves, mermaids, and other creatures with supernatural powers. Brimming with enchantment, this compilation of folkloric traditions will delight animal lovers of every stripe!
Binney provides captivating examples of attempts to explain nature's wonders and mysteries with animal-related proverbs and folk wisdom. She explores the historic associations of wild and domestic animals with kindling romance, bringing good and bad luck, and fostering improved health, as well as their roles in forecasting weather and serving as omens of everything from sudden wealth to imminent death. A gallery of mythical figures features dragons, werewolves, mermaids, and other creatures with supernatural powers. Brimming with enchantment, this compilation of folkloric traditions will delight animal lovers of every stripe!
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
144 pages, Hardcover
Published January 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 14, 2019
I have to say that I expected more from this author. With a natural sciences degree from Cambridge University, one of the most prestigious universities it the world, Ruth Binney is a very proficient writer. I was looking forward to reading this so much. However, there are quite a few major issues. Firstly, this book tries to do too much at once, and although described in the title as focusing on lore and legends much of the information is presented as fact. Obviously, those two are mutually exclusive, so that is my first problem. There are even errors in the information stated as factually correct.
The second sticking point is the structure; it's barely readable. It's literally all over the place. On the other hand, the cover is vibrant and enticing, but, unless I have the wrong idea, it appears to be aimed mainly towards children. I know that I wouldn't let any of the kids in my family loose with it given the mistakes. This has the potential to be a fantastic book for both adults and children if it were fact-checked and restructured.
Many thanks to Dover Publications for an ARC.
The second sticking point is the structure; it's barely readable. It's literally all over the place. On the other hand, the cover is vibrant and enticing, but, unless I have the wrong idea, it appears to be aimed mainly towards children. I know that I wouldn't let any of the kids in my family loose with it given the mistakes. This has the potential to be a fantastic book for both adults and children if it were fact-checked and restructured.
Many thanks to Dover Publications for an ARC.
January 8, 2019
A fun book about animal legends and lore. A lot of it wasn't known to me! I love that the author also writes about the animals of the zodiac signs, I've always wondered why they are the animals that they are. The part on healing diseases and how animals are believed to help with that is very amusing. Monsters and spirits are also explained. And even dragons!! A very enjoyable read.
A minor peeve of mine is that some of the text is a little randomly placed on the pages. Usually just a small tidbit or example is placed on the page alongside the main text, and sometimes this little tidbit isn't surrounded by a border and other times it is. A border really makes the page in total easier to read, and the tidbits without border make the page random and busy looking. I also noticed some things are double. For example, the information about Robins in the chapter "Harm them at your peril" was also in the chapter about robins.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free.
A minor peeve of mine is that some of the text is a little randomly placed on the pages. Usually just a small tidbit or example is placed on the page alongside the main text, and sometimes this little tidbit isn't surrounded by a border and other times it is. A border really makes the page in total easier to read, and the tidbits without border make the page random and busy looking. I also noticed some things are double. For example, the information about Robins in the chapter "Harm them at your peril" was also in the chapter about robins.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free.
January 11, 2019
Animal Lore and Legend by Ruth Binney is just that. All Legends and false facts. Maybe it could be better if there were some real facts in it. The cover is eye-catching and the illustrations on it are wonderful. But the illustrations inside the book are something else. There was no color, which is important if the intended audience are children. Random beliefs are filled on the pages in every space available. I liked the information on mythical creations and the topic of loch ness monster was interesting as I didn't know about it. The book also includes Chinese years and the animals that symbolize them along with their characteristics. It was an okay book, but not for someone looking for more depth.
January 23, 2019
*Book provided via NetGalley for an honest review.
This book had a lot of what I expected: Old Wive's Tales about animals, animal roles in mythology, how some beliefs about animals may have formed. I'll admit, I wasn't expecting the information on the mythological animals (though I should've guessed from the unicorn on the cover). I did learn several things from this book that I didn't know before. Unfortunately, it was kinda boring and was very Western Culture oriented. There were references to Japanese and Chinese mythology and an entire chapter dedicated to the Chinese Astrology, but they weren't very informative. The entire Chinese Astrology chapter was almost painfully basic. I got more from the Western Astrology chapter. Ultimately, it was an okay book but there's a lot of room for improvement.
This book had a lot of what I expected: Old Wive's Tales about animals, animal roles in mythology, how some beliefs about animals may have formed. I'll admit, I wasn't expecting the information on the mythological animals (though I should've guessed from the unicorn on the cover). I did learn several things from this book that I didn't know before. Unfortunately, it was kinda boring and was very Western Culture oriented. There were references to Japanese and Chinese mythology and an entire chapter dedicated to the Chinese Astrology, but they weren't very informative. The entire Chinese Astrology chapter was almost painfully basic. I got more from the Western Astrology chapter. Ultimately, it was an okay book but there's a lot of room for improvement.
January 16, 2019
Animal Lore and Legend by Ruth Binney
Filled with folklore and other tidbits about animals this book covered a lot of ground with snippets that included beliefs about animals and how people perceive them. There was some mention of animals in the Bible as well. The first section of the book deals with animals ways, folklore, beliefs, religion, and some ethnic variations on how specific animals are perceived. The second section dealt with love, luck, more folklore, history, dreams and animals in astrological signs. The book ended with animals as gods,
spirits and monsters. The book is mostly words but does have a few black and white simple illustrations. I believe this is a simple book that could have had more detail but perhaps is geared toward children rather than adults.
Thank you to Net Galley and Dover Publications for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Filled with folklore and other tidbits about animals this book covered a lot of ground with snippets that included beliefs about animals and how people perceive them. There was some mention of animals in the Bible as well. The first section of the book deals with animals ways, folklore, beliefs, religion, and some ethnic variations on how specific animals are perceived. The second section dealt with love, luck, more folklore, history, dreams and animals in astrological signs. The book ended with animals as gods,
spirits and monsters. The book is mostly words but does have a few black and white simple illustrations. I believe this is a simple book that could have had more detail but perhaps is geared toward children rather than adults.
Thank you to Net Galley and Dover Publications for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
July 1, 2019
I won this book in a folklore competition.
This is a beautifully illustrated little hardback that works well as a simple reference guide. It would be ideal for someone introducing their child to folklore and legend. Unfortunately there isn't much to the book beyond that.
Each section is far too brief and simplistic. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of basic mythology will struggle to find anything new here. The book feels rushed and unfinished, like a homework assignment where the bare minimum is covered with no referencing.
Still, it looks good and feels nice. It would make a nice coffee table book if it were a bit bigger.
Someone needs to do some fact-checking, too. I noticed quite a few errors. The mythology is also presented as fact and the source of the tales are never mentioned.
This is a beautifully illustrated little hardback that works well as a simple reference guide. It would be ideal for someone introducing their child to folklore and legend. Unfortunately there isn't much to the book beyond that.
Each section is far too brief and simplistic. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of basic mythology will struggle to find anything new here. The book feels rushed and unfinished, like a homework assignment where the bare minimum is covered with no referencing.
Still, it looks good and feels nice. It would make a nice coffee table book if it were a bit bigger.
Someone needs to do some fact-checking, too. I noticed quite a few errors. The mythology is also presented as fact and the source of the tales are never mentioned.
January 4, 2019
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book needs someone to fact check it in places. I noticed this early when it presented crocodiles getting their teeth cleaned by birds as a fact but figured that since it was about lore and legends that I would give it some slack as this is a legend. However, when it got to rats, the diseases said to be spread by fleas were just wrong. There are other examples, but I would not give this book to a child because of the incorrect facts. Second, the book is disorganized and boring. The pictures are limited, and it seems to go randomly from one animal to the next. On the plus side, I like the idea of the book and the cover is lovely.
This book needs someone to fact check it in places. I noticed this early when it presented crocodiles getting their teeth cleaned by birds as a fact but figured that since it was about lore and legends that I would give it some slack as this is a legend. However, when it got to rats, the diseases said to be spread by fleas were just wrong. There are other examples, but I would not give this book to a child because of the incorrect facts. Second, the book is disorganized and boring. The pictures are limited, and it seems to go randomly from one animal to the next. On the plus side, I like the idea of the book and the cover is lovely.
February 9, 2022
Interesting collection of concepts and views around the world of animals. Some I knew, others I didn’t. For example, a snake’s shedded skin would prevent a house burning. A lot of sayings, beliefs from myth and religion, including illnesses cures and prevention. At times felt like it jumped around a bit, and more specific on which country or culture of origin would help, but these points are minor. Would recommend this book. A fun reference book.
January 6, 2019
*ARC received from Dover Publications via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Animal Lore and Legend is one of the most interesting non-fiction book's I've read. Each animal has it's story and the lore and legends come from all over the world. It covers origins of sayings like 'scape goat' and 'cunning as a fox' as well as legends about the creatures.
The ARC however has some formatting issues with not all illustrations being present, but where they are there, they are beautiful.
Animal Lore and Legend is one of the most interesting non-fiction book's I've read. Each animal has it's story and the lore and legends come from all over the world. It covers origins of sayings like 'scape goat' and 'cunning as a fox' as well as legends about the creatures.
The ARC however has some formatting issues with not all illustrations being present, but where they are there, they are beautiful.
November 24, 2020
It was a lot of fun reading about all the legends and lore! I wish that the stories connected more somehow and brought you to the next. It read more as an encyclopedia rather than something strung together somehow. That being said, there were a lot of fun little things I learned that I hadn’t expected to!
June 22, 2025
offers some nice backs info and myths for animals coming from various mythology sources. a lot of references to biblical stories which is nice to see but i think could’ve been more appreciated if there was more info overall. the organization of the book was kinda odd to me as well
February 22, 2023
Hera is Zeus’s WIFE, not consort.
Hippos are NOT the “Behemoth” of the Bible because “tail like a cedar.” Ain’t no hippo got no cedar tail.
She is objectively WRONG about multiple things.
Hippos are NOT the “Behemoth” of the Bible because “tail like a cedar.” Ain’t no hippo got no cedar tail.
She is objectively WRONG about multiple things.
November 1, 2019
Poorly structured and poorly edited. Also, do not get me started on all the factual errors! Why was this not better edited? Why was so little care taken when presenting ideas? Too many things were stated as facts that simply were not and others were greatly implied to be wholly true when they were flights of fancy. This was a chore to read.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. (They may regret this.) Any and all quotes were taken from an advanced edition subject to change in the final edition.
Want to Read
April 26, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 8, 2019
An engaging and interested book. I appreciated the content, the illustrations and the style of writing.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Dover Publications and Netgalley for this ARC
Recommended!
Many thanks to Dover Publications and Netgalley for this ARC
February 5, 2019
I ind the idea of this book quite interesting as it explains us how come some expressions about animals. It is great if you want to lern interesting facts about animal expressions. The formatting is great and easy to read but the graphics were not really well visible, which I hope will be of better resolution on paper.
February 9, 2019
this was a quick read with short snippets of interesting info. maybe it was the e-reader version but there was a lot of off spacing and sentences would stop to be interrupted by bold font and then sometimes they resumed and sometimes they didn't. the format was not conducive to easy reading
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews