My eldest niece was 7 on Monday. She was excited by some of the books she got as presents, books about Irish legends and heros. When I was at primary school, I loved the Irish legends - specifically the Fenian Cycle and the Ulster Cycle.
(I think my feelings about shoes has partly to do with the Finn McCool - the Fianna had to be able to run through a forest without making a noise or breaking a twig - how can you do that in high heels? That feeling was strengthened by reading more modern adventure stories where being able to creep up on someone was an advantage. Even now, if my footsteps are audible, I feel a bit uneasy. )
I want to get R a book about Scottish legends until I realised all I could think of were folk tales, not mythology or legends. Realised it was because Ireland and Gaelic Scotland shared the same language - Early and Middle Irish and so they shared the same literature. There wasn't a strong sense of what was Irish and what was Scottish then. So folk tales it will be.
I'm really pleased she is interested in them - most recent girls fiction seems to be about princesses as far as I can see. While most of the characters in the myths are men, there are some strong women there too - Meave in particular. Also my love of mythology - Greek, Norse as well as Irish - I think got me interested in SF and fantasy. I wish I had had more exposure to other mythologies, maybe I will send her stories from other cultures as well?
Next year I will get her Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass (which was my favourite for years as I read it first!) I will blog about Alice sometime.
Choosing books for my 6, soon to be 7, nieces and nephew is a bit tricky as they get older. But their mad old auntie will do her best!
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