Atlantis: The Legend of the Lost City [Hardcover]

Christina Balit (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A magnificently illustrated retelling of the story of Atlantis--one of the world's most haunting and fascinating myths.

Floating on the emerald sea is a small rocky island belonging to the mighty sea-god Poseidon. Few visit its shores-until Poseidon marries a beautiful woman named Cleito and transforms the island into a rich and fertile paradise, where all things flourish. A magnificent city arises. Poseidon names his perfect island Atlantis. Atlantis prospers and its people live in peace, but as the years pass, Poseidon's descendants start to act less like gods and more like men. When the people incur the wrath of their god, a terrible curse is carried out and the entire island sinks forever beneath the waves.

This retelling of the history of fabled Atlantis is based on Plato's Timaeus and Critias. It features a note by internationally known historian Geoffrey Ashe, who has written extensively in the area of mythology.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Stylized, intensely colored and highly detailed illustrations dominate this interpretation of Plato's myth of the lost city of Atlantis. Balit (Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations) gracefully retells the story, beginning with Poseidon's love for the island girl Cleito, and lingering on his transformation of the island into a paradise. Over time, the people change: "the godlike part of their souls faded and their mortal, human natures took over." When their ambition and lust for power lead to strife, Poseidon plunges the city deep under the sea. Balit's three-quarter-spread illustrations nod at ancient Greek figure painting with their severe profiles and geometric motifs. Her sumptuous palette and her busy, almost psychedelically patterned compositions, meanwhile, reflect a contemporary sensibility. Elaborately scaled mermaids' tails undulate against curving waves, the ripples of the sea delineated in curls of white dots; fantastically colored birds dart over a fecund jungle. Gold-ink embellishments heighten the decorative element, drawing readers into the seemingly endless detail. Children intrigued by the story will like the endnote by Geoffrey Ashe, who describes various theories about a historical Atlantis. Ages 4-8. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6-Through luminous illustrations and simple prose, Balit lures readers to Plato's legend of Atlantis. Poseidon, ruler of the water, falls in love with Cleito, a happy maiden on a small, rocky island. They marry, he transforms the island into a paradise, and she bears five sets of twin sons. Their descendants intend to rule the lands in accord with Poseidon's laws of peace, but throughout time become less godlike, prompting Poseidon to create a forceful storm that drives Atlantis to the bottom of the sea. Whimsical, buoyant images depict the sea and her creatures; raven and henna-haired Greek characters are painted in profile; tiny figures stroll hand in hand throughout palatial splendor during Atlantis's glory days, fighting amid ruins during the decline. Boldly colored illustrations extend the text with pleasing design covering three quarters of each double-page spread. An afterword by British historian Geoffrey Ashe mentions some of the theories associated with the myth. As a read-aloud to early elementary students, or a read-alone for older students, this picture book will captivate a new generation of children intrigued with the mysteries of this timeless legend. Holly Wallace's The Mystery of Atlantis (Heinemann Library, 1999) offers theories of the island's possible existence and location.
Laura Scott, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080506334X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805063349
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,520,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 11, 2008

By 

User (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Atlantis: The Legend of the Lost City (Hardcover)

This book is wonderful. The story of the island of Atlantis is clearly written and the pictures are beautiful. It explains the origins of Atlantis, how it got formed and how it became prosperous, all the way to how it was swallowed up by the ocean when the people became corrupt. My sons (3 and 5 years old) ask for it again and again.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars beautiful illustrations!, January 26, 2010

By 

Ami Laurie "too young to be grandma" (Florida Keys) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Atlantis: The Legend of the Lost City (Hardcover)

This is a lovely book, but, according to my 7-year-old grandson, it simply doesn't have enough substance! We have enjoyed it nonetheless!