The Four Branches of the Mabinogi
by Siân Lewis, illustrated by Valériane Leblond
Interest age: 7 to 11
Reading age: 8+
Published by Rily Publications, 2015
About this book
Ancient feuds, giants, magic spells, dramatic landscapes, revenge, betrayal and a plethora of kings, princesses and supernatural happenings teem onto every page of this prize-winning book of legends.
Revel in the stories of: Pwyll, a cheerful but foolhardy prince; Branwen, married to a foreign king in order to keep peace between nations; Manawydan, whose happiness is blighted by magic spells and a desire for revenge; and Blodeuwedd, who was conjured out of wild flowers by a well-meaning wizard.
This lavishly illustrated retelling of the four character-led branches of the Mabinogi successfully simplifies some very complex tales and is a great introduction to the ancient storytelling heritage of Wales.
The inclusion of Mabinogi maps and a useful guide to pronunciation for non-Welsh speakers add to the accessibility of this story collection and ensure it can be enjoyed by anybody.
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Lists of recommended reads
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Children's books set in Wales
Wales lends itself naturally to some brilliant stories, with its incredible, varied scenery: towering mountains and tumbling hills and gasp-worthy coastline. It's also a country of storytelling, full of myths and legend: dragons and witches and tales of King Arthur. If you live in or are from Wales (or just going for your holidays), you may be looking for books set there to share with your child. Here are just a few of our favourites for you to check out.
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Stories to read out loud in Welsh and English / Storïau i'w darllen ar goedd yn Gymraeg a Saesneg
To celebrate National Storytelling Week in Wales, we’ve put together our favourite books that are best read aloud. Gather round for dramatic tales from Welsh mythology, magical fairy tales, and beautiful songs and poems. I ddathlu Wythnos Genedlaethol Adrodd Stori yng Nghymru, rydyn ni wedi llunio rhestr o’n hoff lyfrau sydd wych i'w darllen ar goedd (yn uchel). Dewch ynghyd am storïau dramatig o chwedlionaeth Cymru, storïau tylwyth teg hudol, a chaneuon a cherddi hardd.
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A look at Celtic legend
We jumped at the chance to celebrate some of the mythology that comes from Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Scotland. Incredible to think that we still tell these spellbinding stories today, thousands of years later... Prepare to be bewitched.