Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-266).

Mariana Islands. How the women saved Guam -- Why mosquitoes suck blood -- Palau. The creation of Palau -- How the dugong came to be -- Turtle and canoe -- Marshall Islands. La Kakelok (man make fly) -- Caroline Islands. How to steal the moon -- Yap. K'ow and Buneney -- Chuuk (Losap Island). The island of the dolphin girls -- Pohnpei. Tik and Lap and the ravenous fish -- Pohnpei (Kapingamarangi Atoll). Hina and the wooden bird -- Strong old magic -- Kosrae. The origin of the rat clan -- Kiribati. Tebwere, Tebarere, and Tetintiri -- Papua New Guinea. Kambel creates the world -- The circle of birth and death -- The jealous sun and his beloved moon -- Solomon Islands. The warrior women of Lumalao -- Vanuatu. How the rat got its tail -- Why people have to die -- The thieves who helped invent the canoe -- New Caledonia. The seagull and the mussels -- The sun, the moon, and the woman -- Fiji. The fire-walkers of Beqa -- Why the reef stands far from Bau -- Samoa. Chief's day ends -- Turtle and shark -- Rescue with fruit bats -- Tokelau. How counting came to Tokelau -- Cook Islands. Rori-of-the-Rocks -- Hina and her lover eel -- Tonga. The creation of the Tongan Islands, people, and kings -- Pitcairn Island. The tale of the Bounty -- French Polynesia (Tahiti). Tangaroa creates the great shell of the world -- Tahaki, the golden-skinned boy -- French Polynesia (Tuamotus). The legend of Rata -- French Polynesia (Marquesas). Tahia, the fragrant girl -- Easter Island. Makemake and the birds of Easter Island -- Hawaiian Islands. Hina, stolen queen -- New Zealand (Maori). The blood, the promise, and the tattoo -- Australia. The sky spirits create the sun -- How the kangaroo got her pouch -- Nerida and Birwain : a love story -- Where frost comes from.

A collection of forty-three traditional stories, covering creation myths, myths of origin, adventures of gods and heroes, kings and queens, naughty children, husbands and wives which illustrate the relationship of the people to their islands, and the ocean, and each other. Suggested level: intermediate, secondary.