Cirrus@Austlit

'Meet a brave little girl called Masha who outwits a big bad bear with some tasty pies, and a beautiful but none too bright rooster, his long-suffering friends, and a cunning fox! Two Trickster Tales from Russia is the launch title for Christmas Press, a new Australian publisher specialising in beautiful picture books for children which feature traditional stories from many lands, retold by well-known authors and stunningly illustrated in a classic style. Two Trickster Tales from Russia includes the lively, funny Russian folktales, Masha and the Bear and The Rooster with the Golden Crest, retold in a fresh and engaging style by awardwinning writer Sophie Masson, author of more than fifty books for children and young adults. It is the first book for new illustrator David Allan, and his gorgeous illustrations are inspired by classic Russian children's picture books. Suitable for a wide age range, Two Trickster Tales from Russia is a delight to read aloud to young children, as well as for older children to read on their own, and makes a wonderful gift for Christmas and any time of the year.' (Publication summary)

'Two beautiful traditional Scottish fairy tales, The Selkie Bride and In the Kingdom of the Seals, are brought to enchanting and haunting new life by two creators who are themselves eerily linked to the magical world of the shape-shifting selkies, who are seals in the water and humans on land. For Kate's ancestors were the McPhees, who, legend says, are descended from the union of Dougal McPhee and his melancholy selkie bride, while Fiona's McDonald ancestors, lairds of the Western Isles, have a strange connection to the McPhees as well, a connection she only discovered while working on the book!' (Publication summary)

'Twin baby gods with extraordinary powers from birth; twin boys brought up by a wolf, whose quarrel will one day make the greatest city in the world: from the pen of multi-award winning author Ursula Dubosarsky comes this fresh and lively retelling of two great myths from Greece and Rome, re-imagined fro young readers, and illustrated in gorgeous classical style by David Allan.' (Publication summary)

'Japanese folklore is full of stories about the tengu, magical beings who grant wishes to those who ask them. But watch out–wishes don't always turn out as you expected!

'In this lively, engaging retelling of two fantastic tengu tales, Duncan Ball introduces young readers to the folk world of old Japan, while David Allan's beautiful illustrations set an atmosphere inspired by classic Japanese art.' (Publication summary)

'Retold in lively and authentic style by Norwegian-Australian author Margrete Lamond, and sumptuously illustrated by Norwegian-American illustrator Ingrid Kallick, these stories of magic and mischief from Norway will enthral young readers. ' (Publication summary)

'The ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia, located in what is now Iraq, Syria and Kuwait, produced one of the world's great heroic sagas, the Epic of Gilgamesh.

'In this exciting, lively retelling, popular author John Heffernan brings two stories from the Epic to engaging life for young readers, while new illustrator Kate Durack's striking illustrations, inspired by Ancient Mesopotamian art, superbly illuminate the mythical world of the heroic brothers.' (Publication summary)

'In the black velvety mantle of the night sky, two young people fall in love, only to be parted; while in a far-away time, a lonely and mistreated girl finds herself at a ball in a dress of sea green silk and a kingfisher cloak: two beautiful, magical tales from old China, The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd, and The Magic Fishbones, are here enchantingly retold for young readers by award-winning author Gabrielle Wang and evocatively illustrated by David Allan.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.