Goddesses Heroes And Shamans

A guide to the great myths and legends of the ancient world explains how certain myths developed, explores common themes shared by different regions, and includes the more diverse cultures of Siberia, India, and the Amazon.

A guide to the great myths and legends of the ancient world explains how certain myths developed, explores common themes shared by different regions, and includes the more diverse cultures of Siberia, India, and the Amazon

The book tells the story of the peoples of the world and their vast, imaginative array of mythical characters, animals, places, and events.

How was the world as we know it created? What does it mean to be a hero? Where do we go when we die? Why are flood myths so ubiquitous? Anyone who has pondered these and other questions about humanity's ancient beliefs will be fascinated by The Friendly Guide to Mythology. Focusing on Greek and Roman mythology but including myths from Africa, Asia, Australia, northern Europe, and the Americas, The Friendly Guide to Mythology is filled with compelling stories of gods, goddesses, mortals, and monsters. Beautifully ornamented with photos, line drawings, and quotes, this entertaining guide also includes an A-to-Z listing of the world's most captivating goddesses; profiles of famous writers, collectors, and interpreters of myths; and engaging sidebars. Featuring myths of love, wisdom, and adventure as well as those of violence, jealousy, and pure folly, this accessible collection offers fascinating insight into the human psyche and brings our rich mythological heritage delightfully into focus.

They personify the heavens, and they gave birth to the sun, the moon, and the stars. They had the power to create and restore lives. Now you, too, can nurture and celebrate the feminine divine with the help of Celestial Goddesses. Visualize your own spiritual journey with the aid of twenty original, full-color goddess paintings in this beautiful, hardcover meditation guidebook. From Amaterasu (Japan), whose brother's jealous rampage helped her realize her true beauty, to the creation myth of Mawu (West Africa), each image is accompanied by a description of the symbolism and a guided meditation.

Here are more great topics and sample book club sessions to help you start a book club and keep it going! Chapters in this volume cover humor, families, social issues, folklore and mythology, sports, magazines, picture books as art, censorship, the Internet, middle school readers, gender bias, booktalks, and the arts. For each genre, the authors offer a general overview, discussion questions, a bibliography, resources for further reading, and appropriate Web sites. If you want to promote literacy and involve parents in the reading program, you'll love this book and its companion, The Reading Connection.

The Joyful Reading Resource Kit All children deserve a chance to learn to love reading. The Joyful Reading Resource Kit offers teachers an impressive array of tools, resources, and activities for getting students at all levels excited about reading while developing their proficiency in comprehension. Serving as a companion to Joyful Reading, the book offers teachers everything they need to implement the Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Reading (SEM-R), a differentiated instructional approach that encourages students to read independently for a period of time each day on books of their own choice. Implemented in three phases, the SEM-R program has been shown by research to improve fluency and comprehension among at-risk students. The Joyful Reading Resource Kit includes: Reproducible "bookmarks" for scaffolding students in critical thinking and comprehension activities Extensive lists of recommended books Tips for supporting students in selection of appropriately challenging books Materials for managing independent reading in the classroom, including log sheets, five-minute conference tips, writing prompts, assessment rubrics, and a reading growth chart Exciting enrichment resources to develop students' reading interests, including a survey form, online books, Web-based activities, and Renzulli Learning resources Hands-On Creativity activities that help students elaborate ideas, develop fluency, brainstorm, and much more Reproducible X-ploration projects on varied topics that students can pursue independently at their own pace The Joyful Reading Resource Kit is a vital compendium not only for classroom teachers but also for parents and after-school educators who wish to support students in discovering the rich rewards and delights of reading.