Tales of the Sea: Traditional Stories of Magic and Adventure from around the World

Tales

by Maggie Chiang

Let this collection of seafaring folktales sweep you away with gorgeous illustrations and captivating stories.

A secret path leads across the water to a dragon's kingdom. A mermaid avenges the death of a human girl. A monstrous squid guards the most beautiful pearl in the world. This collection of traditional folktales captures the mysterious and magical power of the ocean. As you sail uncharted waters from Norway to New Zealand and Ghana to Korea, you'll encounter underwater palaces, brave seafarers, and monsters of the deep. Each story is paired with luminous contemporary art. With creamy paper, a ribbon marker, and a cover adorned with shimmering foil, this handsome hardcover is truly a book to treasure.

POPULAR The Tales series gives new life to traditional stories. Celebrating the richness of folklore around the world, and featuring the work of beloved contemporary illustrators, these books are beloved by adults and teens alike.

GORGEOUS SPECIAL A mesmerizing full-page illustration brings each story alive, while creamy paper, a ribbon marker, and a foil-stamped cover offer a deluxe reading experience. This keepsake edition is perfect for gifting and display.

CELEBRATING Featuring stories from around the world, this collection honors the dazzling diversity of different folk traditions—as well as the common threads that weave them all together.

PERFECT FOR OCEAN From whales to giant squids, and from selkies to mermaids, there's something here for anyone who feels the magic of the sea.

Perfect

• Fans of fairy tales and folklore
• Ocean lovers
• Swimmers, divers, fishers, and beach combers
• Illustration and art lovers
• Adults and teens
• Collectors of illustrated classics
• Fans of the illustrator Maggie Chiang

Genres: Mythology, Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories, Folklore, Anthologies, Short Story Collection

160 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2022

Reviews

[Vic Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of traditional tales of the sea from around the world is a storehouse of folk wisdom. They all reflect a certain set of ideas; always keep your word, good deeds will be rewarded and bad deeds punished, submit to your elders and/or rulers, don't be greedy, be honest, be humble, and never sniff a gift fish (ok, I made the last one up). in other words, uphold traditions at all costs.

The stories vary in quality from insightful and wise to mundane and banal. Some don't end so much as just peter out. There is also the constant of magical creatures, some of whom take human shape for a while but always return to their original form. Lots of stories of damsels in distress being rescued and then marrying their rescuer. Women are largely portrayed as either fickle or foolish or victims of their husband or father. Heroes are honest, strong, and devout in their reverence for authority and age. I mean, they're ALL like that. It gets a bit boring. There are a few instances of individuals asserting themselves but they are almost always punished for doing so.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in traditional stories or to a young adult but with the caveat that they understand the stories contain a set of values they may find uncomfortable in places but still very much worth learning about even if one doesn't agree with everything they set out to teach.

[Samantha Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the collection's diversity, and even though I was personally disappointed by the fact that so many of the tales end on a sour note, I respect that (in keeping with the reality of the ferocity and dangers of the ocean) they're not all happily-ever-afters. That being said, a lot of the tales just seem to fall flat, and I think there are way too many exciting sea tropes (sea creatures, pirates, spirits, etc.) from all of these cultures for that to be the case. On the other hand, I loved The Betrothed of Destiny (Armenia). Female trickster characters are hard to come by, and I'm glad this tale was included. It and The Mermaid's Vengeance (Cornwall) are my favorites from this collection. Overall, not bad, just wish it had been a little more exciting.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that each story about the sea is from a different nationality (Armenia, Russia, China, New Zealand, Norway, Inuit Nunangat, Hawaii, Cornwall, Iceland, Korea, Ireland, Germany, Ghana, the Phillipinnes, Bahrain, and Japan.) Each story is authentic, and each nation was called by its original name. The pictures are simple and beautiful for kids too.

My favorite stories in this book (which I'd like to write as a chapter book someday) were The Betrothed of Destiny and The Black Pearl. I also really liked The Old Man Who Became A Fish.

[Jacob Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this, liked the short story format so there was a nice variety of different stories. As expected, gravitated/enjoyed some more than others but just personal preference. A book for teens and adults.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful recollection of small tales from some countries. Some I already knew others were new to me. It was worth my time.

[Seeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a great collection, and I loved the illustrations as always.

[Moki-Mori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve said it before and I'll say it again, I love this series. Each book covers a culture or theme within it going over many of the core folktales and fables of them in great detail. It's not dry or textbook like at all, it reads like you're listening to a grandmother recount stories her grandmother once told her around the fire.

Really great comprehensive and entertaining introduction into folktales and mythology, im really impressed and pleased with this whole series!

[Ravenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This being the fourth of the Tales series that I have had the pleasure to read, I am happy to say that the series continues being excellent. I have a strong emotional pull to the sea, so this felt like a natural next read. I absolutely adored every second of this short story collection. I am excited to continue reading more of the Tales books.

[Carrie Brownell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun collection of fairy tales from around the world, thematically tied together by the salty ocean sea.