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A review by eirenophile
Changing Woman and Her Sisters: Stories of Goddesses from Around the World by Katrin Hyman Tchana, Trina Schart Hyman
4.0
This is an illustrated collection of stories about goddesses aimed at kids.
I have to admit that I prefer [a:Trina Schart Hyman|5325|Carol Ryrie Brink|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1283884711p2/5325.jpg]'s paintings to these collage mixes, and I think I've read better tellings of almost all the stories in here, so it can't get five stars. But while I might prefer other retellings of these stories and other illustrations, there is no other book that puts these all together. This is the divine companion to [b:The Serpent Slayer|375980|The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women|Katrin Tchana|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174276421s/375980.jpg|365837], which I liked for similar reasons.
Now that I've complained, I have to admit that I approve of Hyman's reasons for collage. Apart from wanting to expand her artistic horizons, she felt like creating art of these goddesses was a spiritual task and required guidance and permission. I think - even though I don't find the images as appealing - that the artist's connection to the divine does come through. So that's a plus.
And, now that I've told you that I like other retellings better, part of the reason is that this is (as I mentioned) aimed at telling to kids. Myths are often dark and heavy things with elements that earlier times would not have flinched from telling children, but we live in a different world. I suspect some of what I noticed came from a degree of censorship (both by the author and by others), based on a note in the back that talked about how the art was censored. So take that as you will.
I have to admit that I prefer [a:Trina Schart Hyman|5325|Carol Ryrie Brink|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1283884711p2/5325.jpg]'s paintings to these collage mixes, and I think I've read better tellings of almost all the stories in here, so it can't get five stars. But while I might prefer other retellings of these stories and other illustrations, there is no other book that puts these all together. This is the divine companion to [b:The Serpent Slayer|375980|The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women|Katrin Tchana|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174276421s/375980.jpg|365837], which I liked for similar reasons.
Now that I've complained, I have to admit that I approve of Hyman's reasons for collage. Apart from wanting to expand her artistic horizons, she felt like creating art of these goddesses was a spiritual task and required guidance and permission. I think - even though I don't find the images as appealing - that the artist's connection to the divine does come through. So that's a plus.
And, now that I've told you that I like other retellings better, part of the reason is that this is (as I mentioned) aimed at telling to kids. Myths are often dark and heavy things with elements that earlier times would not have flinched from telling children, but we live in a different world. I suspect some of what I noticed came from a degree of censorship (both by the author and by others), based on a note in the back that talked about how the art was censored. So take that as you will.