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How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail and Other West African and Caribbean Myths

By Jessica Wilson
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Brief Description
Discover a world of myths and magic in How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail, a stunning anthology that celebrates the storytelling traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean. Jessica Wilson gathers lyrical, interwoven folktales that have travelled across oceans and through time. From Nigeria and Ghana... Read More
Format: Hardback
$2999
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Releases 1st December 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail and Other West African and Caribbean Myths" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail is an anthology of West African and Caribbean myths, reimagined for children and brought to life with bold, vibrant illustrations.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Discover a world of myths and magic in How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail, a stunning anthology that celebrates the storytelling traditions of West Africa and the Caribbean.

Jessica Wilson gathers lyrical, interwoven folktales that have travelled across oceans and through time. From Nigeria and Ghana to Jamaica and the USA, these stories have gathered new colour and meaning along their journey.

Each story is introduced with the country, people, and traditions where the tale originates, making the collection both immersive and accessible for young readers, families, and classrooms. Paired with Sophie Bass's vibrant, symbolic illustrations, this anthology immerses readers in the colours, foods, landscapes, and characters of West Africa and the Caribbean.

Stories include: How Anansi Became King of All Stories (Ghana, Ivory Coast & Togo), How the Rivermaid Grew Her Tail (Jamaica), Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky (Nigeria) ... and many more.

Told through authentic voices, this book is created by author Jessica Wilson, who has Jamaican heritage, and illustrator Sophie Bass, who has Trinidadian heritage. With its cultural richness and celebration of ancestral heritage, this anthology creates a safe, joyful space for children to see themselves represented.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781836005551

Publisher: Quarto Publishing PLC

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 06 August 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: words & pictures

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Sophie Bass

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 210.0mm

Height: 270.0mm

Weight: 680g

Pages: 96

Collections

Children's Books Children’s, Teenage and Educational Jessica Wilson Kids & YA Pre-orders Pre-order Books Pre-Order Children's Books Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date

About the Author

Jessica Wilson is a writer of Jamaican and British heritage who is passionate about bringing stories from and histories of the Caribbean to life. She was a participant in Penguin Random House's 'WriteNow' programme, which aims to seek out and nurture writers from under-represented communities. Jessica was shortlisted for the 2018 Aesthetica Creative Writing Award and is a GoFundMe Award winner. She was trained at UCL and Cambridge University. Sophie is a London-based Illustrator of mixed British and Trinidadian heritage. She creates work inspired by music, social justice, mythology and symbolism.

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