Books by Marianna Mayer

Iduna and the Magic Apples

by Marianna Mayer

The evil giant Thiassi vows to capture Iduna and her magic apples which give the gods on Valhalla everlasting life

The Tempest

by Marianna Mayer

In this enchanting retelling, Shakespeare's magical tale is brought brilliantly to life for young readers. When the wizard Prospero seeks revenge on his enemies, his beautiful daughter, Miranda, combines forces with the playful sprite Ariel and the handsome Prince Ferdinand to teach him the power of love and forgiveness. Through exquisitely crafted prose and luminous paintings, adventure, romance, and reconciliation unfold amidst hilarious mix-ups and magic, reminding us why The Tempest, Shakespeare's last comedy, remains one of his most popular plays.

Ivanhoe

by Marianna Mayer

At the dawn of the Middle Ages, a gripping tale of chivalry and suspense emerges. Two distinguished knights -- one Saxon, one Norman -- have returned from the Crusades. Though they fought on the same side, they now have a score to settle. What begins as a joust between two rivals quickly escalates into clanwide mayhem and a fast-paced series of battles for revenge, honor, and love.
Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe was one of the first great historical novels of western literature. At last, this extraordinary work has been brought to life as a lavishly illustrated storybook. Marianna Mayer's inspired adaptation combined with magnificent oil paintings by John Rush create an essential introduction to the classic. This exquisitely designed page-turning volume is perfect for anyone with a passion for adventure.

A Boy, a Dog, a Frog, and a Friend (A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog)

by Mercer Mayer, Marianna Mayer

The Book includes Many Images and does not have words

First came a boy and his dog.
Then they found a frog.
Can a new turtle be a good friend too?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Marianna Mayer, Rachel Isadora, Alison Jay

A Caldecott Honor?winning illustrator gives this classic fairy tale a brand?new setting!
Night after night, the twelve princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes. But how? The king promises a great reward to any man who can solve the mystery. Rachel Isadora has revitalized and reimagined this well-loved Brothers Grimm fairytale by bringing the story of the twelve princesses to Africa. The unique presentation of this classic tale is sure to enchant readers with its vibrant imagery.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Marianna Mayer, Rachel Isadora, Alison Jay

A magic cloak.
A hidden passage.
A secret underground world beyond imagining.

Night after night, the princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes. But how are they doing it? The baffled king promises a great reward to any man who can solve the mystery.
From the colorful flurry of the princesses? dressing room to a captivating nighttime scene on an underground lake, Rachel Isadora has revitalized and reimagined this well-loved Brothers Grimm fairy tale by bringing the story of the twelve princesses to Africa. Her collage of blazing colors, rich textures and dramatic shapes evoke the patterns and palette of this beautiful continent. Returning to the lush setting of The Princess and the Pea, the unique presentation of this classic tale is sure to enchant readers with its vibrant imagery.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Marianna Mayer, Rachel Isadora, Alison Jay

For generations, children have loved the enchanting story of the twelve beautiful princesses and the handsome young lad who solves the mystery of their tattered shoes.
Now Marianna Mayer brings to life all the splendor and romance of this beloved classic, from the dazzling forests Of silver, gold, and diamonds to a twilight palace where the bewitched princesses dance to hypnotic music. And award-winning artist Kinuko Craft add, her own magic: a visual feast of exquisite, jewel-like paintings that sweep across the pages.
Together, Mayer and Craft have created an unforgettable world that readers of all ages will want to return to again and again.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Marianna Mayer, Rachel Isadora, Alison Jay

An enchanting retelling of the classic tale of the twelve dancing princesses.

Long ago in a kingdom far away, there lived a king and his twelve beautiful princesses. Although they are locked in their room each night, every morning the princesses wake up with their slippers worn through, as if they had been dancing all night long. Who will solve the mystery of the tattered shoes and claim one of the princesses as their bride? With dazzling illustrations by Alison Jay, this is an enchanting retelling of a classic tale.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

by Marianna Mayer, Rachel Isadora, Alison Jay

For generations, children have loved the enchanting story of the twelve beautiful princesses and the handsome young lad who solves the mystery of their tattered shoes.

Now Marianna Mayer brings to life all the splendor and romance of this beloved classic, from the dazzling forests Of silver, gold, and diamonds to a twilight palace where the bewitched princesses dance to hypnotic music. And award-winning artist Kinuko Craft add, her own magic: a visual feast of exquisite, jewel-like paintings that sweep across the pages.

Together, Mayer and Craft have created an unforgettable world that readers of all ages will want to return to again and again.

Pegasus

by Robin McKinley, Marianna Mayer

Because she was a princess, she had a Pegasus…

Princess Sylviianel has always known that on her twelfth birthday she too would be bound to her own Pegasus. All members of the royal family have been thus bound since the Alliance was made almost a thousand years ago; the binding system was created to strengthen the Alliance, because humans and pegasi can only communicate formally, through specially trained Speaker magicians. Sylvi is accustomed to seeing pegasi every day at the palace, but she still finds the idea of her binding very daunting. The official phrase is that your pegasus is your “Excellent Friend.” But how can you be friends with someone you can’t talk to?

But everything is different for Sylvi and Ebon from the moment they meet at her binding—when they discover they can talk to each other. They form so close a bond that it becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations. For some of the magicians believe there is a reason humans and pegasi should not fully understand each other…

Pegasus

by Robin McKinley, Marianna Mayer

Condemned by a jealous king, Bellerophon must win the trust of the legendary winged horse Pegasus or face certain death. From the poignant meeting the growing bond of friendship between horse and man to the dramatic slaying of the fearsome fire-breathing Chimera, this is an unforgettable adventure that will stir the imagination of young and old alike. Featuring glorious paintings that readers will want to savor again and again, here is a magnificent edition of a timeless Greek classic.

Seeing Jesus in His Own Words

by Marianna Mayer

Short quotes from the Gospels of the New Testament which highlight such universal values as compassion, forgiveness, generosity, and humility are enhanced with works of art from the Medieval period through today.

The Real Santa Claus: Legends of Saint Nicholas (Phyllis Fogelman Books)

by Marianna Mayer

Offers readers of all ages an account of the life and times of the Bishop of Myra, who lived during the fourth century and on whom the legend of Santa Claus was based.

The Boy Who Ran with the Gazelles

by Marianna Mayer

After following his pet gazelle into the desert and disappearing from his tribe for many years, the young boy who had been raised by the herd is captured by a hunter and returned to his people, but the warm reception of his loving family isn’t enough to keep him from dreaming of a reunion with the gazelles that he has grown to love.

Beauty and the Beast

by Jan Brett, Cynthia Rylant, Marianna Mayer, unknown author

Originally published in 1989, this luminous reissue of an all-time favorite fairy tale will attract an even wider audience with its romantic new jacket and a shortened text.

Exquisite illustrations of Beauty and her mysterious suitor, the Beast, are set in a magical castle where animals dressed in period costumes serve them. Woven into glorious tapestries throughout are hidden clues hinting at the Beast's secrets, setting Brett's version apart from others.

Beauty and the Beast

by Jan Brett, Cynthia Rylant, Marianna Mayer, unknown author

Exquisite paintings and a lush retelling bring a treasured classic to new life.

A beautiful daughter dreams of meeting a handsome prince, but in order to save her father's life, she leaves home to live with a terrible, frightening beast. Though her patron is hideous, his disarming generosity slowly leads to a surprising connection. Accessibly and with great compassion, Max Eilenberg sheds fresh light on one of our most beloved fairy tales. Angela Barrett's enchanting illustrations illuminate both the sumptuous palace and the horrifying beast himself. The resulting tour de force reminds us that ultimately love conquers all.

Beauty and the Beast

by Jan Brett, Cynthia Rylant, Marianna Mayer, unknown author

Beauty asks for little, finding joy in simple things and the company of her father. The Beast, shut away from the world in his great stone castle, knows only loneliness. Brought together by a stolen rose, each finds that love may call for sacrifice, but true love can bloom in even the darkest places.

Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant tells a classic tale of bravery and transformation with stunning, lyrical prose, accompanied by Meg Park's soft yet vibrant illustrations. This new picturebook makes a beautiful keepsake that children will pore over for years to come.

Praise for Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

"Rylant's elegant, euphonious text delights and inspires."
–Publishers Weekly

Praise for Hansel and Gretel

"[L]ibraries will want to add this distinctive retelling for Rylant’s strong-minded voice and Corace’s attractive art."
–School Library Journal

Praise for Walt Disney's Cinderella

* "[A]n elegant retelling."
–Publishers Weekly, starred review

Beauty and the Beast

by Jan Brett, Cynthia Rylant, Marianna Mayer, unknown author

Generations of children have been fascinated by the story of the girl named Beauty who grows to love a fearsome beast. This acclaimed best-seller, first published in 1978, transports readers into a world of pure magic and mystery.

Beauty and the Beast

by Jan Brett, Cynthia Rylant, Marianna Mayer, unknown author

After her father plucks a forbidden rose from the Beast’s garden, Belle is forced to come live in his castle. Will she be able to see the man insider the monster—and save him from an evil spell?

Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave

by Marianna Mayer

Sweet, lovely Vasilisa lives with her jealous stepmother and stepsisters on the edge of a dark forest inhabited by the evil witch Baba Yaga. One night the stepmother sends Vasilisa to visit Baba Yaga, an errand from which the gentle girl has little chance of returning alive. "An engaging text and accomplished paintings set this version apart....A stylized and classy offering."--School Library Journal.