Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland

...sounds like the beginning of a strange and yummy recipe

Leodhas, Sorche Nic. Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland. Holt, Rinehart and Winston : New York, 1962.

Plot: A collection of folk and fairy tales from Scotland, the title offers a slightly different view of the British Isles. Faire folk and sorcerers threaten the local population, but unexpected and reliable heroes arise to counter them. Sometimes, though, the best solution stems from an unlikely source.

Genre: Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Mythical Birds and Beasts from Many Lands, A Child's Book of Fairies

Personal Thoughts: The title earned a Newbery Honor.

I really enjoyed this book's old-time stories with slightly dated phrasing. Also, I noticed a shift in fairy tales over the past few decades. In the text, pirates, fairies, and wilderness were viewed as dangerous, while elders, civilization, and clergy were considered good. While the shift between the past and current ideals has several valid and not-so-valid reasons, it still was a striking to read the difference.