As the Rio Afua ferry twists its way along the Amazon, Sean Taylor breathes in not only stories from local people he meets, but also the rich smells, sights and sounds of the extraordinary landscape.

From trickster jaguars and the slowest of sloths to spine-tingling giant serpents and white-suited river strangers, his retellings teem with legendary beings, vivid colours, down-to-earth comedy and the mysteries of the rainforest, revealing Amazon people's beliefs along with their way of life.

Dramatic illustrations, together with notes and a glossary, combine to make this a very special collection, filling a gap in the market for collections from South America.