Rating: **** 4 stars

Cherry Gilchrist, illustrated by Nilesh Mistry,
Stories from the Silk Road.
Barefoot Books, 1999

Upper juniors should be encouraged to read (probably with their teacher) the Introduction to this fascinating collection. Here they will have explained to them the probable origins in 2000 BC and the significance of the Silk Road that began at the old Chinese capital of Chang’an (now Xian) and carried on right into Central Asia passing through such legendary cities as Samarkand. Knowledge of astronomy, medicine, science, art and religions travelled along it as the caravans of traders moved silk, glass, carpets, jade, minerals and other precious stones from East to West and West to East.

The seven tales take us along the Silk Road with a combination of travel-guide material and exotic retellings of myths woven around goddesses, dragons and demons. I particularly enjoyed ‘The Magic Saddlebag’ and what happened to the three brothers Masud, Hamid and Wali. Most popular among one class of eight year olds was ‘The Bride with The Horse’s Head’, a story of family violence, animal wizardry and quiet virtue which tells how Ma-t’ou Niang, the goddess of silk, came to care for silkworms and silk workers all over China. The book is self-evidently a triumph of research and is liberally illustrated, with excellent maps and a valuable Did You Know? Section. Strongly recommended for any class doing projects on myths and legends from a different culture!

Roy Blatchford