Why Mythology Matters in Picture Books

While I had been a volunteer reader via the Screen Actors Guild’s now defunct Book Pals Program, I had been reading much of the work of the late American comparative mythologist, Joseph Campbell. I’d learned he’d collaborated with a visual artist named Gerald McDermott on several art video projects utilizing mythology. McDermott had gone on to create a series of beautiful picture books featuring folk tales from cultures around the world.

McDermott’s books quickly became my go-to choices for reading to students. The bright, colorful and masterfully rendered illustrations easily drew in the students’ attention. The blend of cultural, magical and humorous elements within the stories, including the sometimes distinctly entertaining personalities of the main protagonists, made McDermott’s books popular in many classrooms.

Having grown up on both Jamaican folk tales such Anansi the Spider, as well the Uncle Remus tales of Brer Rabbit, I remember the power of these stories, how there always seemed a lesson to be learned in them and how the main characters were drawn so vividly.

Furthermore, Campbell had talked about how symbols in stories were so powerful because the image of the symbol goes past the thinking brain to the subconscious where it has served as an agent of alchemy in changing the person somehow, whether via point of view, etc. Thus, the character of a young man transforming into a flaming arrow or a raven being reborn as a half-human boy seeking the sun (characters from McDermott’s books), are meant to arouse and captivate the imagination.

I enjoyed McDermott’s books so much, I bought copies of many and would sometimes even commit the book to memory so I could play my djembe drum while telling the story, with two students holding the book up for the class and turning the pages.

Though I readily champion McDermott’s work, there are other authors who’ve also contributed to the genre of mythology in picture books. However, the vast majority of these authors (if not all) were published in the 1990’s. Since then, mythology has by and large moved into the world of middle grade (Percy Jackson, The Red Pyramid, Ash Mysteries, etc.)

Occasionally, one may see mythology related via a picture book, as with ­­­­­­­­­The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh, released in 2016. But for the most part new releases of folk tales in picture books seems rare. In addition, I’ve come across several articles where industry insiders also referred to the lack of interest in mythology for picture book manuscript submissions.

Though I have no idea why mythology in picture books became unmarketable, I would love to see a rebirth in this genre; children will always love learning about other cultures and will always love following the adventure of an endearing animal protagonist. They may get to see a concept or theme explored or illustrated in the story and perhaps gain a different/new perspective that expands and enhances their growing world view.

As a writer, I hope to contribute to this magical genre in the way McDermott did and play my part in helping to bring the magic of the folklore back to picture books.