Customer Reviews

DK Classics: The Odyssey (DK Classics)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My daughter and I have been reading (and re-reading!) the DK Classics (of which "The Odyssey" is part of) for several years, since she was 5. These books are very colorful, with lots of illustrations and photos of genuine artifacts, maps, and people from the era in which the story is set. Side panel text gives background information about the author, pictures and story. These "additions" (which do not detract from, but only enhance the story) help the young reader (and the adult too!) put the story into context. It is like getting both a classic and a pictorial history book rolled into one! The text is easy to read. My daughter is now 9, and reading the books on her own. Not only has she developed an appreciation for classic literature, but for history as well. These are great books for parents to read with their children. I highly recommend them!

Remember your absolute favorite English teacher- the one who made English Lit, or poetry, or whatever come alive, so that you understood it, enjoyed it, wanted more of it? The one who knew endless interesting things about the writer, the world they lived in, and so on? Well, DK classics are like having a master class with that teacher. Instead of hitting The Odyssey for the first time in high school english, imagine already knowing the main characters, the main story lines and quite a bit about what was going on in the writer's world.

Obviously, if you are reading a review of it you are considering buying it. And, from the heading & the stars you know that I think it's a good one. My 2nd grader loves it. My 15 year old nephew read & enjoyed it during the holidays, in preparation for starting The Odyssey at school. My husband, who never did the Odyssey in school, really enjoyed it- and liked knowing what all the fuss is about finally! It is abridged of course, and a purist will have things to pick at, but then, a real purist would read it in Greek anyway... For the rest of us, this is a great introduction to a one of the foundations of our literary heritage.

"Odysseus, bravest of heroes,
Draw near to us, on our green island,
Odysseus, we'll teach you wisdom,
We'll give you love, sweeter than honey.
The songs we sing, soothe away sorrow,
And in our arms, you will be happy.
Odysseus, bravest of heroes,
The songs we sing, will bring you peace."

I've always been intrigued by the painting of Odysseus and the Sirens by Herbert James Draper. Three mermaid like creatures are singing and clinging to the ship as Odysseus is tied to the mast so he can't be lured to his doom. The crew's ears are all filled with beeswax so they can't hear the sires' seductive chant. Odysseus was the first man to ever hear the sirens' song and live. When cheated of their prey, the sirens drowned themselves in anger and frustration.

According to legend, the sires had originally been the companions of Persephone before she was abducted by Hades. Because they failed to save her, the goddess changed them into grotesque creatures as punishment. The sirens' song tells, falsely of the pleasures of the underworld. They also claimed the power of prophecy.

This story was composed by the Greek poet Homer during the second half of the 8th century BC and preserved by word of mouth for centuries before being written down. According to legend, he was born on the island of Chios around 800 BC and was blind.

The Odyssey is about the hero Odysseus who is doomed by the gods to wander for years from his home. This edition presents the story with photography and narrative illustration. It also explores the historical and geographical background to this timeless epic. There are sections on The Trojan War, Gods and Goddesses and Maps of Odysseus' Journey.

Adrian Mitchell retells this seafaring adventure filled with storms, monsters, magic spells, curses and exotic lands. It appeals to the wandering adventurous spirit in us all.

~The Rebecca Review

First, to be honest, I showed my 8 year old daughter the movie, starring Armand Assante. I meant the viewing of the movie as an entree only. This was my goal: To fill in the blanks Hollywood makes when they take on anything of a historic nature.

My daugther was drawn in to the story, and the explanations provided as side bars to the story itself are a great help. My daughter especially likes the pages about the various gods and goddesses.

This book is beautifully illustrated, and makes Homer's story accessible to children.

If you wish to teach your children to appreciate a classic, timeless story that has meaning to us 2,700+ years later, and want pass this story to another generation, I recommend this book.

A beautiful book with lots of pictures. Each short story fits completely on 2 pages, so you could actually project it up on the white board without losing the last bit of the story. I was thinking this was an easier to read adult version, and was disappointed, but it was still fun. Guess I'll have to buck up and tackle the real thing next.

This book is very colorful, but not well proof read. The level of writing is uneven, and the first page of the actual story contains a couple of typographic errors. With just a little more effort (say, a few hours of editing) it could have been much better done.

This book, like the other DK Classics (I have King Arthur and Robin Hood as well) is top-notch. It is a wonderful introduction to one of the great masterpieces of ancient literature. The illustrations are right on for the subject matter--all in a style reminiscent of ancient greek pottery and frescoes. The prose is just right for kids this age--descriptive enough to draw them in, but at a quick enough pace that short attention spans don't wander away.

If you want to whet your child's appetite for the classics (before "the world" out there has a chance to teach them it's uncool or boring) get this book for your 5 to 8 year old. Two thumbs up!

This is a very good edition for teaching the Odyssey to younger children who are not ready to handle a true translation. The illustrations are great too. I used this with a group of middle-schoolers and they loved it. It helps if the instructor has a knowledge of the original, but not necessary. Homeschoolers will find this a wonderful addition to their study of ancient Greece or literature.

I bought both DK Classics: The Odyssey and Tales From the Odyssey CD collection by Mary Pope Osborne, and found both to be a really good and complimentary introduction to Homer's epic. The CD allows us to appreciate the epic in its original oral tradition format and DK classic version captures Homer's beautiful, rich and eerie world in a visual form. Our family including our second grader thoroughly enjoyed both in its entirety.

I love Dk Classics. A nice easy way to intoduce children to some of the master pieces.