This wonderful series collecting older short stories, folklore, poetry and excerpts from longer literature was released by UK publisher Hamish Hamilton in the 1960s. The selection of tales included in each book was made by a famous children’s author of the time, and wonderful illustrators with distinctively different styles were chosen for each volume as well.
Many of the books were released in paperback by Penguin under their Puffin imprint, and a couple by Beaver, as well as a few hardbacks in the US by Zwalk, but the complete set is only available in the Hamish Hamilton hardbacks. Each book works fine as a stand-alone thematic volume, but together they do make a lovely set if you’d like the whole collection.
Hamish Hamilton's "A Book Of..." Myths, Legends & Magical Tales
Introduction
This wonderful series collecting older short stories, folklore, poetry and excerpts from longer literature was released by UK publisher Hamish Hamilton in the 1960s. The selection of tales included in each book was made by a famous children’s author of the time, and wonderful illustrators with distinctively different styles were chosen for each volume as well.
Many of the books were released in paperback by Penguin under their Puffin imprint, and a couple by Beaver, as well as a few hardbacks in the US by Zwalk, but the complete set is only available in the Hamish Hamilton hardbacks. Each book works fine as a stand-alone thematic volume, but together they do make a lovely set if you’d like the whole collection.
List of books
A Book of Dragons – edited by Roger Lancelyn Green, illustrated by Krystyna Turska
A collection of over 40 dragon stories from literature and folklore.
Forty-two tales, legends, and poems from various countries, including Japan, India, and North America, about giants, goblins, demons, and other supernatural creatures.
No paperback issued. The similarly titled Puffin’s A Book of Kings and Queens by Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon (illustrated by Robin Jacques) is a collection of poetry, each dedicated to a different king or queen.
A Book of Kings – edited by Eleanor Farjeon and William Mayne, illustrated by Victor Ambrus
A collection of poems, short tales and excerpts of longer literature about both real and imaginary kings.
No paperback issued. Not to be confused with the large (and wonderful) Ruth Manning Sanders “A Book Of…” series that was published by Methuen and Dutton, and illustrated by Robin Jacques.
A Book of Magical Beasts – edited by Ruth Manning-Sanders, illustrated by Raymond Briggs
A collection of magical animal tales from around the world.
No paperback issued. The similarly titled Puffin’s A Book of Kings and Queens by Eleanor and Herbert Farjeon (illustrated by Robin Jacques) is a collection of poetry, each dedicated to a different king or queen.
A Cavalcade of Queens – edited by Michael Brown, illustrated by Victor Ambrus
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