Greek Myths for Young Children [Paperback]

Marcia Williams (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

"Even reluctant readers (let alone closet classicists) will be drawn to pore over these entrancing pages. -School Library Journal

Greek myths are among the most exciting stories ever told. In this collection, Marcia Williams offers a fun but faithful retelling of eight myths using simple language and her signature comic-strip format. Panels and spreads brimming with color, decorative detail, and nonstop action make each tale a pleasure to look at, and speech bubbles add modern humor. This indispensable collection is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the power of myth.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Featuring vibrant colors, detailed borders and comic-strip panels spilling over with farcical antics and asides, Williams's watercolor and pen-and-ink artwork is reminiscent of her illustrations for Joseph and His Magnificent Coat of Many Colors . Though readers on the young edge of the intended audience may miss the moral of some of these familiar and lesser-known myths, Williams has condensed the plots deftly, adding pithy comments ("Fat chance"; "Where's the welcoming committee?"; "This village is a dump!") that help to modernize the material. Although she does not shy away from the beatings, killings and bloodshed incorporated in a few of the myths, her drawings will be deemed gory by only the most conservative viewers, and are not likely to pose a problem for children. Rather, this animated, oversize volume offers a lighthearted look at some timeless tales. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-6-- There's a challenge here for everyone who is sure that another collection of Greek myths will never circulate: put a plain brown wrapper on this oversize book and watch kids fight for what look like comic strips. The eight tales all feature humans, not gods (Pandora, Arion, Orpheus, Heracles, Daedalus, Perseus, Theseus and Arachne), but the funny-looking figures are hardly heroic. Williams's approach is to be faithful in fact and setting, but modern in humor and attitude. The retellings are quite accurate, even down to obscure (and sometimes gruesome) details, but above all they are witty and fast-paced. Plot is compressed into concise captions, but dialogue balloons hold irreverent asides from the cast. The cartoon format is brilliantly colorful, with bright, folk-patterned, decorative borders. It's a triumph of layout: only in the labors of Heracles does the panel design seem congested. Even reluctant readers (let alone closet classicists) will be : drawn to pore over these entrancing pages. --Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 20, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564024407
• ISBN-13: 978-1564024404
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #997,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marcia Williams is famous for her retellings of classic stories. From Shakespeare and Dickens to the Canterbury Tales and Greek Myths, her humorous comic-strip illustration is hugely popular all over the globe. She lives in London.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When it's all Greek to your child, July 2, 2006

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Greek Myths for Young Children (Hardcover)

Does your child look at you blankly when you mention "Pandora's Box"? Do they think that "Hercules" is a Disney-originated character? Even the most stubborn young reader will get a kick out of this comic book version of some of the Greek myths, and you will too when you read the hilarious little speech boxes of the cartoon drawings.

This book introduces the following myths in a very basic bare-bones format, but without sparing the gory bits:

Pandora's Box - starring Prometheus, Zeus, Epimetheus and Pandora

Arion and the Dolphins - starring Periander and Arion, with a cast of a couple dozen extras and some dolphins

Orpheus and Eurydice - otherwise known as "Don't Look Back", featuring Orpheus and Eurydice of course, plus Charon, Cerberus, Pluto and Persephone

The Twelve tasks of Heracles (also known as Hercules) - this story also has Hera, Eurystheus, some Amazons, and a lot of beasts and monsters. Some animals were reportedly injured during the making of this story.

Daedalus and Icarus - also with Athene and King Minos

Perseus and the Gorgon's Head - Acrisius, Danae, Perseus, Dictys, Polydectes, Athene, Hermes, plus the all-girl groups of Gorgons, Grey Ones and Ocean Nymphs.

Theseus and the Minotaur - King Minos, Theseus, Aegeus, Ariadne, and a Minotaur in a labyrinth

Arachne versus Athene - A weave-off to end all weave-offs

Illustrated in vivid color and injected with humor, this book may not have all the myths, but will be enough to develop your child's interest in mythology. You can also make a note to try the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (young adult fiction), which also introduces Greek mythology.



Amanda Richards, July 2, 2006

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Son LOVES this!, October 13, 2000

By 

"karenitat" (Oswego, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greek Myths for Young Children (Paperback)

When I first saw this book, before giving it to my son, I didn't think he would care for the format of it. Boy, was I wrong. I guess 5 year old boys have different tastes than their moms. We had to read this every night for months! Some of the comic strips are kind of gross, but of course, he loved that too. If your child is interested in Hercules, he or she will probably LOVE learning about all the other heroes (and villains) in Greek mythology. I highly recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, November 25, 2004

By 

Starliz "Liz" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greek Myths for Young Children (Paperback)

My daughter is 10, and loves this book. Her Grandmother gave it to her when she was about 5. She reads it with her Grandmother whenever possible. I notice it has helped with her reading a great deal. She will "act" out the characters while they read and gets very into the stories. Her favorite is Pandora's Box. The stories are a great educational tool, she is learning lessons and doesn't even realize it. She will ask questions and want to know more about different subjects brought up in the stories.
I recommend this book highly!