Ishtar, Babylonian goddess of all creation, sends her son Tammuz, the Green One, to live on the earth below. But when she sees how much he is loved, she is consumed with jealousy and has him killed. The people pray to their goddess to restore the green spirit. Ishtar agrees - but first she must do battle with the terrible half-woman, half-lioness who rules the underworld. This beautiful retelling of the ancient Babylonian myth of the seasons is complemented by stunning illustrations and will enthral readers of all ages.

 

This book was recognised by the Kate Greenaway Medal Award. The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded by childrens librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 1997 by Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd .

C. J. Moore has degrees in modern languages and linguistics from the universities of Oxford and Edinburgh. For many years he worked as author and editor for Heinemann Educational Books. He is well-known as author of the award-winning Ishtar and Tammuz (Frances Lincoln), Peter William Butterblow; The Fire Bird; and Wild Goose Lake (Floris Books). He also edited the concise Carmina Gadelica, a major anthology of Gaelic oral poetry. His most recent book is In Other Words: A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World (Walker Books US, Oxford University Press UK, 2005). CHRISTINA BALIT studied at Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art. In 1982 she won a Thames Television Travelling Design Bursary and illustrated Report to Greco by Niko Kazantisakis. She has exhibited widely and is also a playwright.