Beowulf

Beowulf is a new addition to Mantra’s ‘Heritage Tales: Myths and Legends from around the World’ series. The illustrations are evocative and drive the narrative forward in a compelling way. Whether the text does so in both language versions is the question – clearly the English version is written in a style suited to the tale and I wonder how the other language versions compare stylistically and how accessible they are. The illustrations draw one in but this is not likely to be an easy read; it might need some introduction to spark children’s interest (the historical notes at the beginning are a good aid to this), along with some vocabulary support to sustain it. Bengali script is very distinctive; here it is clearly superimposed, along with the English text beneath, on the full-page colour illustrations across each spread. (Available in 20 dual language editions, as audio CD and as an E-book.)