It is hard to imagine life without fire. Heat, light, food—where would we be without these essentials? Although we do not rely on fire as much today as in times past, nor have as much direct contact with it, fire was often crucial to survival when the stories in this collection were first told. People often told stories about it: what their lives were like without fire, how they first acquired it and how it changed their lives.

 

This collection of nine traditional tales, retold by Jon C. Stott, draws from eight different countries. Learn how Maui stole fire twice (New Zealand), how Coyote and his friends captured fire (United States), how Opossum brought fire back to the people (Mexico) and how Vasilisa used the Baba Yaga’s fire (Russia). The main characters of these stories differ in many aspects. Some are well-known heroes, and some are insignificant members of their groups. Some made their quests for fire alone, and some worked with others. Some were brave and unselfish, and some sought personal glory. But all knew that fire was essential for their people.

Jon C. Stott is an English professor emeritus from the University of Alberta. His interests include writing about sports, children’s literature and beer. In 1973, he wrote the Western Hockey League’s official 25th-anniversary commemorative magazine, and he has since authored three books on minor-league sports, including Hockey Night in Dixie and Ice Warriors. He has four publications on the study of children’s literature, and in 2010, he retold stories from many lands in the children’s book A Book of Tricksters. Jon’s beer guidebook, Beer Quest West, profiles all the microbreweries in BC and Alberta. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

Please visit www.beerquestwest.com.

Jon C. Stott's profile page

Theo Dombrowski is an artist, writer, kayaker, hiker, mountain biker and skier. He worked in international education for most of his career, primarily at Lester Pearson College, near Victoria, BC. Along with two guidebooks published by RMB | Rocky Mountain Books, Popular Day Hikes 4: Vancouver Island and Seaside Walks on Vancouver Island, he has also worked with Heritage House Publishing as the author of the Secret Beaches series of guidebooks and as the illustrator for two children's books, Quests for Fire: Tales from Many Lands and A Book of Tricksters: Tales from Many Lands. He donates some of the profits from his book projects to charity, principally the Georgia Strait Alliance and Médecins sans frontières (MSF) International. He lives in Nanoose Bay, British Columbia.

Theo Dombrowski's profile page

Quests for Fire: Tales From Many Lands

This carefully researched collection of nine hero legends are from Canada, USA, Mexico, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Benin and Greece. Coyote and Nanabozho are the main characters in two stories set in Canadian regions. The lively language of the oral traditions results in fluent, adventurous read-aloud tales of survival and culture. Each story is enhanced with expressive illustrations in fire-themed oranges and greys. A useful glossary explains key words from the languages of each country, such as skookum, Baba Yaga and mesa.

Stott is a retired English professor well known for his children’s literature workshops for educators. He has also written A Book of Tricksters: Tales from Many Lands.

Caution: The Greek myth about Prometheus presents the gruesome attack by an eagle on his liver, as a punishment from Zeus.

Quests for Fire: Tales From Many Lands

This carefully researched collection of nine hero legends are from Canada, USA, Mexico, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Benin and Greece. Coyote and Nanabozho are the main characters in two stories set in Canadian regions. The lively language of the oral traditions results in fluent, adventurous read-aloud tales of survival and culture. Each story is enhanced with expressive illustrations in fire-themed oranges and greys. A useful glossary explains key words from the languages of each country, such as skookum, Baba Yaga and mesa.

Stott is a retired English professor well known for his children’s literature workshops for educators. He has also written A Book of Tricksters: Tales from Many Lands.

Caution: The Greek myth about Prometheus presents the gruesome attack by an eagle on his liver, as a punishment from Zeus.

Quests for Fire: Tales from Many Lands

This carefully researched collection of nine hero legends are from Canada, USA, Mexico, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Benin and Greece. Coyote and Nanabozho are the main characters in two stories set in Canadian regions. The lively language of the oral traditions results in fluent, adventurous read-aloud tales of survival and culture. Each story is enhanced with expressive illustrations in fire-themed oranges and greys. A useful glossary explains key words from the languages of each country, such as skookum, Baba Yaga and mesa.

Stott is a retired English professor well known for his children’s literature workshops for educators. He has also written A Book of Tricksters: Tales from Many Lands.

Caution: The Greek myth about Prometheus presents the gruesome attack by an eagle on his liver, as a punishment from Zeus.