Saith stori fer yn cynnwys adrodd byw ar straeon sipsiwn a gasglwyd oddi wrth teulu Wood Caegwyn. Mae blas hud a lledrith tirlun Cymru ar y straeon. Addas i ddarllenwyr 9-11 oed. Enillydd Gwobr Tir na n-Og 2007. Cyhoeddwyd gyntaf ym mis Gorffennaf 2006.

Seven short stories, in which are found vivid retellings of the gypsy tales collected from the Wood family of Caegwyn. Including magical tales rich with the mystery of the Welsh landscape and quest stories. Suitable for readers aged 9-11 years. Winner of the 2007 Tir na n-Og Award. First published in July 2006.

These seven tales are taken from those told by the gypsy storyteller, Abram Wood, coloured with some ideas from the Brothers Grimm and other writers, and rewritten in accessible language and style by the modern storyteller Daniel Morden.

The stories tell of heroes and heroines following their dreams and making them come true, usually by overcoming huge and dangerous obstacles, often in the form of powerful and cruel people or enchantments. They are stories to scare and enthral the readers or listeners and to warm their hearts at the end when the hero wins through and his adversary comes to a gruesome end. I particularly enjoyed 'The Leaves that Hung but Never Grew' for its clever use of a story that becomes the story, and 'Mary, Maid of the Mill' for its heroine who ‘wasn’t what they call beautiful, but she had her wits about her’.

These are tales to be read aloud in a candlelit room to an audience of any age from 9 upwards. The only drawback to that would be that listeners would not see Breckon’s wonderful black and white illustrations, which perfectly complement the text and add power to it.

Mari Strachan

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

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