Folk tales of islands and submerged lands – stories of countries both isolated and connected by water. Stories of the submerged lands of Ys and Lyonesse, the phantom islands of the Atlantic, the Kappa water spirits and Mayazaki’s inspirational Yakushima island, the Inuit of the Arctic islands and their tales of selkies and transformation, Mami Wata the black mermaid who accompanied the slave ships to the Outer Banks, the taniwha sea monsters of Aotearoa, flooded Valleys in Wales and the Seneca Nation, the flood monsters of Kiribati, life of Bardsey Island, how water and people are called Vai across the Pacific Islands, Tove Jansson’s Finnish island, Whaling tales from New England, the fairy people of the dry islands of the Cajun swamps, the tale of the Moriori people of Rehoku, tales from Hermit Islands and Floating Islands, and of course the mermaids of Haiti, the Philippines and the Arabic islands. The stories highlight issues of rising sea levels, water pollution, displaced people, isolation, mismanaged fishing and legal rights of water. AUTHOR: Peter Stevenson is a professional storyteller and illustrator, and is the organiser of Aberystwyth Storytelling Festival. He performs widely at festivals and events and has curated many exhibitions based on the tales he tells. He has produced books internationally for publishers such as Ladybird and Hodder & Stoughton. 50 b/w illustrations
