Common Sense Media Review
Action-packed, fascinating intro to Greek myths.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
The Creation and Ages of the world, according to the adventurous ancient Greeks! Gods wield magic and power to meddle in human affairs. Monsters walk the Earth, and are overcome by heroes performing impossible tasks. This action-packed, attractive book is a fascinating introduction to one of the pillars of Western Civilization, and should be a part of every child's library.
Is It Any Good?
The d'Aulaires present this rambunctious bunch with admirable clarity. The stories are filled with delightful nuggets of information, and the illustrations repay study. One such is the frightening portrayal of the aging of minor goddess Eos' young prince. She asks Zeus to give him immortality, but forgets to mention eternal youth. The helpful little robots of Hephaestus, god of smiths and fire, appear almost incidentally, along with his robot dog, and readers learn indirectly that Hephaestus is also god of toys.
But it is the book's clarity above all that delights. Though the d'Aulaires pack a lot of story into small spaces, the text and pictures combine to ensure that they never lose their readers. A pronunciation guide, though, would have been helpful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the flaws of the larger-than-life figures in Greek myths. How are the immortals like humans? How are they different?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Ingri d'Aulaire
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publication date : September 19, 1962
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Last updated : July 12, 2017
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