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TopClicks
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Books
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Folklore & Mythology
Aesop's Fables - Online Collection - All the fables you're looking for are here, and some are in Real Audio files, so you can listen to them as well as read them. There are also Grimm and Andersen fairy tales, as well as a very cool scrolling time line from 1000 B.C. to A.D. 1000, showing contemporary thinkers, religious leaders, and scientists.
American Tall Tales - John Henry was a steel-drivin' man. Pecos Bill was raised by coyotes. Paul Bunyan had a blue ox named Babe. Are you familiar with these tall tales? If not, read the reports kids have written about them. They also created stamps to commemorate the stories.
Bulfinch's Mythology - This famous work, published in 1855 by author Thomas Bulfinch, is arguably one of the books most responsible for our current-day notions about Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. You may find the language somewhat quaint, but persevere and you'll discover wonderful stories that are often referred to in current literature, movies, and TV. Keep up--with the past.
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable - Are you forever forgetting the Riddle of the Sphinx? Want to know who Apollo was? Can't wait to find out what the Seven Wonders of the ancient and medieval worlds were? The current edition of this classic book is one of Net-mom's favorites, but you have to get the latest edition at the store. The 1894 edition is online and searchable.
Encyclopedia Mythica - The Encyclopedia Mythica is an on-line encyclopedia on mythology, folklore, and legend. It contains hundreds of definitions of gods and goddesses from all over the world.
Irish Literature, Mythology, Folklore, and Drama - With the current interest in Celtic music and dance, it should be clear that there's more to Irish mythology than leprechauns. This site collects stories about Irish saints, fairy and folk tales, and classic works of lore and legend. There are even Irish blessings, recipes, and language lessons.
Johnny Appleseed Homepage - His name was John Chapman, but you probably know him better as Johnny Appleseed. Sometime in the early nineteenth century, Chapman decided his life's mission was to travel through the wilderness on foot and plant apple seeds wherever he went. He hoarded seeds gleaned from cider mills, and soon the countryside bloomed with his efforts. No one knows very much about him, but recently the U.S. Postal Service honored him with a postage stamp. You can find out more about this legendary American figure here.
Legends - Visiting this site is like entering a wizard's storeroom, stocked with lots of neatly labeled jars full of strange herbs, exotic powders, and unusual amulets. There are some books left on the dusty shelf, and they are about people like Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Peter Pan. Pirates, fairies, and even artists like William Morris are represented here. Shhh--did you hear someone coming?
Myths and Legends - This impressive set of links contains pointers to resources from Australian Aboriginal myths to modern science fiction and fantasy. It is the single, best source for a comprehensive listing of world mythological resources. You'll find Celtic, Slavic, Greek, Roman, Norse, and many other kinds of stories here. A caution to parents: This site had too many links for us to explore individually.
Mythweb - Greek Mythology - Twelve Greek gods and goddesses lived in a palace on Mount Olympus, overseeing the affairs of mortals below. Learn about them as well as heroes such as Hercules and Jason. You can also read about the travels of Odysseus as told by the Greek poet Homer. The version here is much shortened, illustrated, and makes an exciting (but brief) tale.
Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster - Mark Chorvinsky has put together a remarkable Web site exploring the controversies surrounding Scotland's world-famous Loch Ness Monster. Nessie, as the lake monster is affectionately known, has been the subject of numerous credible sightings over the past 60-plus years, even though extensive scientific efforts to track it down have been a lesson in frustration. This page presents well-researched and clearly written essays on the sightings, the searchers, and the debunkers, as well as investigations into other, lesser-known lake monsters from around the world. For example, ever heard of Canada's Ogopogo? He/she's been spotted regularly since 1926 in Lake Okanagan, British Columbia.
Pegasus' Paradise - A lot of these ancient heroes and mythological beasts have really strange names: Bellerophon, Daedalus, Odysseus--how do you pronounce them? This ThinkQuest Junior site, created by kids, solves that problem. Not only can you look up animals, heroes, villains, and gods and find out all about them, but you can also hear their names pronounced! There's also a neat game that asks you to match the Greek gods with the names of their Roman counterparts.
The Camelot Project - Avalon is the mystical isle where King Arthur was taken after he was mortally wounded in battle. According to legend, Arthur is still sleeping in Avalon until a modern-day hero can awaken him. This home page offers lots of information for Camelot fans, including a list of Arthurian characters, symbols, and places. They have also collected a lot of artwork illustrating the Age of Chivalry. You'll also find links to other sites, but our favorite is Arthurian Resources on the Internet.
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