Mythical Creature Inspired Book Recommendations!

Posted on by Madison Phares
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The UWT community has spent the last two weeks writing, on our We’re Listening whiteboard at the TLB4 entrance, answers to the question:

What mythical creature do you most identify with?

To let you in on some behind-the-scenes library lore, this is a favorite question of the UWT Library staff to ask one another– we have gotten to know each other well through the lenses of mermaids and brownies and grim reapers! So, we were extra excited this whiteboard session to hear what sorts of magical beings our fellow huskies might be in alternate universes.

Here, we’ve compiled some recommendations to read, watch, and even play based on a selection of your answers!

Argos

Illustration of Argos the dog laying on the ground, curled around Odysseus' ankle; Odysseus, dressed in a toga and carrying a staff, looks down at Argos rather solemnly
Barre, Jean-Auguste. Odysseus and Argos. Louvre Museum, Paris, France.

Argos was the name of Odysseus’ faithful canine companion– the only one to recognize him when he returns home to Ithaca, in disguise, after twenty years away. Though Argos is now no longer the strong and agile young pup Odysseus last saw him to be, he musters just enough strength to wag his tail and perk his ears. Odysseus sheds a silent tear in being unable to greet his dog, lest he reveal his disguise– but Argos’ soul departs into death with the peace of knowing he got to see his human, home and safe, one final time. Argos’ tale is one of tenderness, loyalty, and the perseverance of love across time and space. He reflects that the magic of our own world and its creatures is just as powerful as that of fiction.

If you want to read more about Argos and Odysseus, you can check out The Odyssey from UW Libraries!

Dragon

"Dragonology" book cover; the background is a dragon drawing embossed into a red backdrop, with additional silver dragon embellishments in the corners. In the center is a silver framed, circular image of a green dragon flying over a village, surrounded by the text "Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons"Does anyone else remember those fancy, textbook-style books about fantasy creatures in their elementary school libraries? I would always get so excited when I saw my classmate turning one in, realizing it would soon be my turn to master the sciences behind fairies and unicorns and mermaids– maybe I’d even get to touch REAL fossilized scales!

I was elated to see we have Dr. Ernest Drake’s Dragonology: the Complete Book of Dragons available in our library! If you also feel connected to these fiery, treasure-hoarding, beautiful beasts, research them away to your heart’s content in this wonderful, nostalgic pop-up book.

Fairy

"Fairyopolis" book cover; drawings of fairies on a lavender colored backdrop, surrounded by flower petals, leafy vines, and jewels. Text saying "Fairyopolis: A Flower Fairies Journal" is centeredDo you believe in fairies? Protected and hidden by a society of Fairy lovers for over 80 years the secret fairy journal of Cicely Mary Barker is available for the first time ever to the public. Learn what really happened during that magical Summer of 1920 when Cicely Mary Barker discovered the secret world of the Flower Fairies. (from the publisher)

Another magnum opus of childhood academic research! If you’re a fellow connoisseur of magical mischief and dancing flower petals, dive headfirst into the world of our secret garden companions by checking out Fairyopolis: A Flower Fairies Journal through UW Libraries!

Griffith

Griffith; a male manga character with long white hair, pale skin, and icy blue eyes; is depicted from his left side profile on a cloudy blue background
Miura, Kentaro. Griffith. Berserk Trading Card Game.

Griffith, also known as Femto, is the secondary antagonist of the Berserk franchise. He is the founder and leader of the mercenary army known as the Band of the Hawk (from Villains Wiki). Griffith has an array of fantastical abilities and skills; including flight, telekinesis, teleportation, invulnerability, and master swordsmanship.

 

To learn more about Griffith, get started with Berserk by checking out volume one of the manga through UW Libraries!

Mr. Peabody

Cover art for the film "Mr. Peabody and Sherman"; a young boy with red hair is next to an anthropomorphic white dog, both in glasses, below them is the title text. Below the title text is various human figures, from left to right; a wizard with a long white beard; a young girl with blonde hair and a black headband; a muscular man with a sword and a slice of pizza; a woman in a revolutionary era French gown and powdered wig; and a small boy dressed as an ancient Egyptian pharaoh Mr. Peabody is an inventor, scientist and genius who just happens to be a dog. With his son Sherman, he will embark on the most extraordinary adventure imaginable as they race against time to repair history and save the future. (from the production studio)

Mr. Peabody is the titular character from the 1950s cartoon segments, Peabody’s Improbable History, which were adapted into a film you can check out through UW Libraries!

Pac-Man

Pac-Man, a yellow circular cartoon character with red boots and orange gloves, is depicted smiling and runningIntroduced to us over 40 years ago in the classic arcade game, Pac-Man’s yellow color and round shape are what make him so iconic! Always cheerful and happy, he loves to chomp anything and everything! This is especially to the detriment of his ghost friends– Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde! (from the official Pac-Man website)

Wanna play? Google “Pac-Man” for a wonderful surprise!

Pegasus

White marble sculpture depicting Greek mythology figure, Bellerophon, wearing armor and armed with a spear, astride Pegasus, a winged horse
Goodman, Amy. Pegasus and Bellerophon. Talos Art Foundry.

Aided with a golden bridle gifted from Athena, Greek mythological hero Bellerophon tamed the winged-horse Pegasus as his companion. Together, they slayed the beast Chimera. Faced with his newfound pride, Bellerophon flies Pegasus to the top of Mount Olympus, and Zeus knocks him down to Earth amidst his anger. Pegasus, however, manages to complete the flight, and is then employed with carrying Zeus’ thunderbolts.

To read more about Pegasus and Bellerophon, you can check out The Iliad through UW Libraries!

Phoenix

"The Phoenix: An Unnatural Biography of a Mythical Beast" book cover; depicting a large, flaming red bird above the red title text, all on a white backgroundArising triumphantly from the ashes of its predecessor, the phoenix has been an enduring symbol of resilience and renewal for thousands of years. But how did this mythical bird become so famous that it has played a part in cultures around the world and throughout human history? How much of its story do we actually know? (from the publisher)

If you also relate to a sense of strength, persistence, and rebirth, and want to learn more about how the fiery phoenix has similarly persisted in the cultural zeitgeist, check out The Phoenix: An Unnatural Biography of a Mythical Beast through UW Libraries!

Unicorn

Cover art of the "The Last Unicorn"; depicting the title text in white, backdropped by an abstract line drawing of a yellow unicorn; framed by line drawings of bullhorns, eyes, waves, lightning bolts, a castle, and trees

The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone…so she ventured out from the safety of the enchanted forest on a quest for others of her kind. Joined along the way by the bumbling magician Schmendrick and the indomitable Molly Grue, the unicorn learns all about the joys and sorrows of life and love before meeting her destiny in the castle of a despondent monarch—and confronting the creature that would drive her kind to extinction. (from the publisher)

For anyone else who identifies with the unique, mysterious, and lonely curiosity– get started with this fantasy classic and check out The Last Unicorn through UW Libraries!

Vampire

Dracula Daily logo: depicting an illustration of Dracula, a vampire with gray skin, pointed teeth, and a black cloak, popping out of a white envelope on a red backgroundBram Stroker’s Dracula, arguably the story that popularized the vampire as we know it today, is an epistolary novel formatted as a series of letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles dated from May 3rd to November 7th. An incredibly fun way to experience the story is through Dracula Daily— they will email you entries from the book according to the date the characters would have experienced them.

This year’s cycle already began on May 3rd; if you don’t want to wait for it to start anew next year, you can catch up with the story by checking out Dracula from UW Libraries and reading what you missed before jumping into the newsletter! We have it available as a print book, ebook, and audiobook.