by Kathy Smargiassi
for The Marysville Globe

In these dark and cold days of winter, the library is a warm and welcoming place to spend some time, letting our minds travel to distant mythical places and times.
You can start locally, finding stories from Northwest tribes. Travel further to the wild woods of the northern Midwest in America to chop trees with the giant lumberman Paul Bunyan or beyond to Africa to match wits with the clever spider trickster, Anansi. Travel back to the southwestern United States to laugh at coyote, who is so clever he always gets into trouble, or far away to rural ancient China, where a loyal son finds a great treasure. Travel across the sea to old European kingdoms to discover horrible monsters and outwit the evil magician.
Many people know that the library is divided into a fiction section for imaginary stories and a non-fiction section for true stories, but did you know that the non-fiction section includes an area for myths, fables, tall tales and fairy tales? Check out the books in the 398 section of your local public or school library for myths and legends from all over the world, as well as fairy tale favorites such as Cinderella, Snow White or Rumpelstiltskin.
Gallop your white horse through the woods, into the library and around the world, bravely battling through the misty dragons of these cold days on your way to your favorite folk or fairy tale.

Raven: a trickster tale from the Pacific Northwest
By Gerald McDermott E 398.2089
Raven, the trickster, wants to give people the gift of light. But can he find out where Sky Chief keeps it? And if he does, will he be able to escape without being discovered?

Paul Bunyan, a tall tale
By Steven Kellogg E 398.2209
This tall tale recounts the life and adventures of the extraordinary lumberjack said to be taller than the trees. Together with his blue ox Babe and his crew, Paul Bunyan fights the wild Gumberoos, digs out the Great Lakes and gouges out the Grand Canyon.

Coyote and the laughing butterflies
Retold and illustrated by Harriet Peck Taylor 398.2089
Coyote is tricked by some butterflies who laugh so hard about their joke that they cannot fly straight.

Mufaros Beautiful Daughters
By John Steptoe 398.232
Mufaro has two beautiful daughters. When the king decides to choose a bride from among The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land, both girls travel to the capital city. But only one can be chosen to marry the king. A variant of the Cinderella story, this also introduces the history, culture and geography of the African nation of Zimbabwe.

The dragons pearl
By Julie Lawson 398.2
The tale is of a poor but optimistic boy who cuts and sells grass for fuel or fodder in order to buy food for himself and his mother. When a terrible drought ruins the land, killing the livestock and leaving the people hungry, he discovers a magic pearl.

Wizardology: the book of the secrets of Merlin
By Dugald Steer 398.21
WARNING: Wizardology is not a subject to be pottered with. Heed the example of Dr. Faustus Students of the magical arts courageous enough to read on will find out about types of spells, uses for gryphon earwax and other substances, plus picture galleries of magical beasts and renowned wizards. Be bold.

Kathy Smargiassi is the Childrens Services Librarian at the Marysville Public Library.