Lore of the Wild: Folklore and Wisdom from Nature

See nature in a whole new light with this enchantingly illustrated treasury of natural folklore and wild wisdom from around the world.

Did you know that people used to believe that rabbits’ ears would twitch in the direction of a thunderstorm? That lily of the valley flowers were formed from fairies’ drinking cups? And that taking dandelions into the house would make you wet the bed?

Traditional nature folklore can help us understand how our ancestors interacted with the world around them and allows us to view nature from a new perspective. Stunningly delicate and magical illustrations capture the magic and strangeness inherent in natural folklore, and cultures from around the world are represented in this comprehensive compendium.

In this book, discover the lore of:

• An array of different animals, birds and insects
• All types of flowers, plants and trees
• The weather, sun, moon and stars
• Good and bad omens, and lucky charms

Lore of the Wild inspires appreciation of different cultures, as well as an engagement with the beauty of the natural environment, and is a treasure trove of superstitions, ancient wisdom, and enchanting folktales.

• Hardcover
  
• 80 pages
• Ages 6-12

 Praise:

This delightfully discursive look at nature-themed folk wisdom is divided into six sections—“Animals,” “Birds,” “Bugs,” “Flowers, Plants, and Trees,” “Weather Lore,” and “Omens.” Each section kicks off with a short traditional folktale (mostly European, though one comes from China and another represents the Twana of the Pacific Northwest). Assorted fragments of lore, grouped by creature or topic into subthemes (“Magpies, Ravens, and Crows,” “Seabirds,” “Birds of Prey”) are then presented on richly illustrated spreads. Their decontextualized presentation can sometimes puzzle: “In Korea magpies are seen as bringers of good news and happiness. They are also celebrated in France because their chattering warns villagers of approaching wolves.” Are wolves still an issue in modern French villages? Still, the overall winsome mood is augmented by Aitch’s whimsical, vibrantly hued illustrations. Painterly and patterned, they are studded with moons and stars, flowers and smiling suns. Ages 6–12.