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Parents' Guide to

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Action-packed, fascinating intro to Greek myths.

Book Ingri d'Aulaire Historical Fiction 1962
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 3 parent reviews

eliette
eliette Parent of 6 and 8-year-old
August 16, 2012
age 8+

A classic!

My son (age 8) read the first Percy Jackson book this summer and developed a real interest in Greek mythology. Fortunately, my mother had hung on to my childhood copy of this book. I loved it then, and he loves it now--he read the whole thing this summer in the span of a week or two. Greek mythology is referenced so much in Western literature and this book covers it really well. The illustrations are great, and the writing is clear and accessible. Really a classic.
gfive
gfive Adult
September 9, 2009
age 11+
i think its a really good book
See all 3 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

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

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