LoveReading4Kids Says
April 2024 Book of the Month
What a beaut of a book! Sumptuously adorned with bright, bold artwork by an array of illustrators, Dinah Williams’s Amazing Immortals invites readers to discover the dazzling powers, personalities and histories of over eighty incredible gods and goddesses.
Being organised by theme gives this an edge, in that this structure enables myth-mad readers to appreciate the fact that myths, legends, gods and goddesses have long played a pivotal role in cultures across world, and that they share common elements. As for the themes, they cover creation, leaders, the underworld and death, the sun and moon, weather, water, nature, fire, war, wisdom, tricksters, prosperity, demigods and animals.
Each lively profile presents an engaging overview of the figure’s attributes, along with information on amazing animal companions, and fascinating facts on their modern-day resonance, and incarnation in the likes of comics, films, games and shrines.
From African and Incan creator gods and Celtic chiefs, to Aztec Lords of the Land of Death, shape-shifting Inuit sea goddesses, and many more besides, Amazing Immortals is sure to ignite an impulse to dig deeper into the magic of myths.
Joanne Owen
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Amazing Immortals A Guide to Gods and Goddesses Around the World Synopsis
A culturally diverse, fact-filled, and gorgeously illustrated introduction to over 80 gods and goddesses from around the world—a perfect introduction to mythology for young readers.
With heroic deeds, family drama, pulse-pounding battles, and shape-shifting magic, mythology fascinates us all. But even the biggest enthusiasts find it hard to keep track of who’s who!
Packed with facts and full-color, lush illustrations, Dinah Williams’s Amazing Immortals is a fascinating introduction to these larger-than-life gods and goddesses, highlighting their big personalities, famous adventures, formidable powers, family trees, animal companions, and appearances in pop culture. Organized by theme—from gods of creation to gods of death and the underworld; from gods of water to gods of fire; from gods of love to gods of war—this diverse encyclopedia features both familiar and underrepresented deities.
Filled with betrayal, intrigue, romance, and impossible feats, their captivating stories entertain us, explain our world, and help answer some of life’s biggest questions.
Includes gods and goddesses from 30 pantheons: Akan * Annang *Aztec * Babylonian * Bushongo * Canaanite * Celtic * Chinese * Efik * Egyptian * Finnish * Greek * Hawai’ian * Hindu * Hittite * Hopi * Ibibio * Incan * Inuit * Korean * Lithuanian * Maori * Mayan * Navajo * Norse * Pueblo * Roman * Shinto * Sumerian * Yoruba
About This Edition
ISBN: |
9781419761904 |
Publication date: |
11th April 2024 |
Author: |
Dinah Williams |
Publisher: |
Abrams Books for Young Readers an imprint of Abrams |
Format: |
Hardback |
Pagination: |
208 pages |
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17 illustrators contributed to Amazing Immortals:
AARON KAWAIAEA honours his native Hawaiian heritage through his paintings, which include the image of Pele on page 119.
ARMANDO NOÉ SILVA is a graphic designer and illustrator who lives in Coahuila, Mexico. His vivid depictions of Aztec deities appear on pages 36, 49, 81, 87, 103, 121, and 196.
Portuguese-born multimedia artist based in England, BEATRIZ LEONARDO’s research into folklore and mythology from every continent can be seen in the artwork that appears on the chapter openers.
Brazilian artist DENIS FREITAS is inspired by art history and Latin American traditions, as seen in his depictions of the Incan and Mayan gods on pages 26, 61, 108, 138, and 192.
DEVIN FORST’s lifelong interest in legends and fantasy is evident in his illustrations of the Celtic gods, which appear on pages 35, 90, 98, 117, 136, and 186, as well as on the cover.
DEWA PRAMA is an illustrator and digital artist from Bali, Indonesia, whose bold and colourful style can be seen in the Ma?ori and Hawaiian gods on pages 75, 106, 144, 163, and 195.
DI?NA RENŽINA’s artwork is inspired by nature, folklore, and her hometown of Riga, Latvia. Her lovely Norse and Finnish illustrations appear on pages 22, 79, 82, 124, 165, 174, and 198.
HAYELIN CHOI is a Korean designer and educator, who has a number of children’s books published in both South Korea and the United States. Her illustrations of Korean gods appear on pages 150 and 166. J.
TOENJES is a Detroit-based illustrator whose Chickasaw heritage informs her take on the Indigenous deities on pages 92, 114, and 178.
The Egyptian painter, illustrator, and jewellery designer MEEMEE MUZN brought her unique style to the ancient gods on pages 15, 50, 62, 127, 156, and 197.
PETROS BOULOUBASIS spent most of his life in Athens, Greece, where ancient culture informed his work, including the Sumerian and Hittite deities on pages 47, 77, and 148.
PRASHANT SINGH is an artist who lives in Chhattisgarh, India, who enjoys both digital and traditional illustration. His artwork of Hindu deities appear on pages 16, 39, 52, 56, 112, 130, 141, 153, 180, 184, and 199.
ROTEM TEPLOW is an Israeli artist who enjoys illustrating people, including mythological ones. Her illustrations of the ancient gods of Babylon, Caanan, and Sumeria appear on pages 32, 43, 66, 129, and 190.
SINENHLANHLA CHAUKE is based in Cape Town, South Africa, where he creates brightly coloured artwork in his studio 99Perspective, including the illustrations on pages 12, 20, 104, and 160.
YUKI UEBO is a Tokyo-based illustrator whose work is heavily influenced by the culture of the city. Her depiction of Shinto? gods can be found on pages 18, 30, 72, 94, 143,154, 172, 177, and 198.
Chinese artist ZHENG YANBO enjoys working in a variety of styles and mediums, which is evident in his work on pages 24, 40, 58, 70, 88, 132, 170, 188, and 197.
ZILVINAS ANDRIUSKEVICIUS lives in Vilnius, Lithuania, and his love of nature is evident in his artwork of the Lithuanian gods on pages 65 and 100.