The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures [Hardcover]

Burleigh Muten (Author), Helen Cann (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Drawing from traditional tales and sacred texts worldwide, Burleigh Muten presents eight brave and powerful goddesses who struggle with their own unique set of challenges as they strive to assert their independence and authority. This is an experience to share and to treasure.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Eight different goddesses from Egypt to North America to Nigeria take center stage in The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures retold by Burleigh Mutan, illus. by Helen Cann. Readers learn about saintly goddesses such as Kuan Yin, who has been worshipped for centuries in China as the "goddess of kindness, mercy and grace" as well as deities with a darker side, such as Freya, the Scandinavian goddess of love and desire, sorcery and magic, war and death.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Eight myths present the common theme of the powerful goddess while highlighting differences in the folklore of various cultures. Kuan Yin (Chinese), White Buffalo Woman (Lakota), Oshun (Yoruba), and Cerridwen (Welsh) are among the figures whose stories are retold here. The retellings read well and retain details that make them appear to be accurate, although in the retelling of Persephone, Hades does not trick her with the pomegranate seeds-she makes the conscious decision to eat them, having considered the consequence. Though there are no notes specific to each story, a single list at the end implies that Mut‚n consulted several sources regarding each goddess. Cann's colorful and romantic spot and full-page watercolor, graphite, and collage illustrations will appeal to readers. The artist uses cultural symbols and patterns in these paintings and borders, though the people all have similar features, and the human postures are occasionally awkward. Readers will appreciate this complementary selection of stories.

Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841480487
• ISBN-13: 978-1841480480
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #908,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stories for Pagan Kids, January 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures (Hardcover)

My 8 year old daughter fell in love with this book when we visited the local Pagan bookstore, and was thrilled to get it as a Yule gift. She has sat every night, by herself, reading the stories and then talking to me about the Goddesses they describe, relating them to our family's own practices and beliefs. The illustrations are beautiful, and the stories well-written and aimed at kids 8-12 (my daughter has had to ask the meanings of some words, but not too many). It would make great bedtime stories for younger kids, too. :)

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goddess Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot, November 20, 2001

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures (Hardcover)

This beautiful book tells the folktales of ten Goddesses from different cultures around the world. The illustrations are truly lovely with colorful detailed costumes and borders on the pages filled with diverse flora from water lilies to hazel branches, to cherry blossoms. You will discover many different faces of the Goddess and young girls in particular will benefit from these positive role model examples. The stories are purely good yarns which have stood the test of time and when combined with the artistry of Helen Cann they sparkle! Invite Isis, Kuan Yin, Cerridwen, Freya, White Buffalo Woman, Oshun, Ama-terasu, Persephone, Demeter, and Hekate in when you enjoy this bountiful treasure of stories and add balance and beauty to your life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful re-telling of Goddess lore, September 10, 2009

By 

Morgaine Swann, H.Ps. "Morgan" (Eastern KY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lady of Ten Thousand Names: Goddess Stories from Many Cultures (Hardcover)

This belongs in every child's library, and most adult ones, too. The writer manages to tell the stories in a way that is interesting but she glosses over some of the sexual aspects of the myths that might be beyond a younger reader's scope. The illustrations are lovely, too. Highly recommended for kids of all ages.