About the Author:
Steve Zeitlin co-authored While Standing On One Foot and The Cow of No Color. He is the director of City Lore, which documents and presents the living cultural heritage of New York City.
Chris Raschka is the Caldecott Honor illustrator of Yo! Yes! and other highly praised books, including Simple Gifts. He lives in New York City with his wife and son.
From Booklist:
Gr. 7-12. "No culture is content just to see and describe its universe--we always want to learn where it came from and where it is going," says the author in his thoughtful introduction to this collection of world cosmologies. Grouped according to common theme ("Between Two Parents, Earth and Sky," "Cycles of Creation and Destruction," etc.), the selections represent a wide range of both ancient and modern cultures and religions: Greek, Maori, Egyptian, Norse, Hindu, Jain, Iroquois, Chinese, and Haitian, as well as an excerpt from the Book of Genesis and a highly readable introduction to the big bang theory. Zeitlin introduces each entry with cultural and historical background, written, like the myths themselves, in powerful, straightforward language that brings a concise simplicity to such broad, abstract concepts. Chris Raschka's stylish, culture-specific graphic designs enliven the text without literally translating the stories. A conclusion calling for tolerance across cultures and extensive source notes round out this intriguing volume that will find wide curricular support. Gillian Engberg
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