I love finding out about myths and legends, so when I read a non-fiction book all about legendary places, I knew that would be a brilliant start for a Friday Library Recommendation theme.
That book is An Atlas Of Legendary Places by Volker Mehnert and Claudia Lieb. A passport to the world’s most intriguing destinations, this book is a bounty of information and gorgeous illustrations that will spark wonder and wanderlust curiosity in young readers.
Filled with the magic of myth, culture, natural beauty, and history, this introduction to eighteen of the world’s most fascinating places introduces young readers to the ineffable qualities that make these locations so special. Stunning double-page spreads offer a deep dive into each site, with fascinating invaluable information and exciting perspectives.
Readers will learn about the unique geology of Thingvellir National Park in Iceland and Namibia’s Brandberg Mountain; the legends behind Germany’s Lorelei rock and Greece’s Delphi; the diverse cultural histories of Timbuktu and Jerusalem; the architectural and natural splendor of Taishan in China and Palenque in Mexico; and even the galactic marvels of the Milky Way. Discovering these places’ unique histories, physical characteristics, and cultural lore will inspire readers to learn more about each place, and encourage their interest in travel, geography, history, and the unexpected.
Now we know all about legendary places, it’s time to meet some of the amazing characters that live in them. For our younger readers, I’ve chosen a fabulous series by Tom Easton – Hotel Of The Gods, which starts with Beware The Hellhound, where mythical guests cause magical mayhem! A hilarious new series perfect for fans of Pamela Butchart and David Solomons.
When Atlas’s parents get new jobs running a luxurious hotel he can’t believe his luck. It sounds almost too good to be true… It is!
The hotel has very unusual residents – ancient gods and goddesses, forgotten by humans who now worship TikTok celebrities. There’s a water dragon in the swimming pool, an Egyptian cat goddess demanding treats, a Viking god throwing his magical hammer around the garden, and an Aztec god who thinks Atlas is a human sacrifice! When Atlas ventures into the basement, where the Greek god Hades lives, he accidentally unleashes a closet-full of mythical monsters – including a three-headed Hellhound!
Can he get the monsters back into the basement before his parents lose their jobs?
And finally for this week, I’ve chosen the follow up series to the Coventry Inspiration Book Award winning series, Who Let The Gods Out? The Gods Squad are back with a new generation of children thoroughly unprepared to save the world from impending doom and daemons of chaos in Oh Maya Gods by Maz Evans.
The world’s worst-behaved immortals are at it again – introducing the brand-new Gods Squad taking them on! Meet Vesper, the bossy, football-mad daughter of Elliot Hooper, the original hero of Who Let the Gods Out?, and Aster, the super-bright son of Constellation, Virgo.
Together, they must recapture some villainous wrong’uns before the world ends next Wednesday. Off they head to the Maya underworld, where Kizin and his Lords and Ladies of Death are messing with astronomy, chocolate and human sacrifice …
With its irresistible blend of humour, heart, and mythology, Maz once again proves herself to be one of the funniest storytellers in children’s literature today. Book 2, Oh Mummy Mia! has just published too.
Happy reading!
