Customer Reviews

Heroes and Monsters of Greek Myth

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This book is an excellent introduction to Greek Mythology. I have used it as a novel study for my sixth graders for several years, and they love the interesting and unusual characters contained in the myths. Perseus shows his courage in slaying Medusa and rescuing Andromeda. Theseus displays quick thinking in destroying many monsters including the Minotaur. Readers learn a new side of Daedalus, the father of Icarus, who invented the labyrinth for King Minos. The final stories of Atalanta, King Midas, and Pygmalion teach children universal themes of love and greed which still abound in modern society. Lots of children go on to read many more myths after finishing this exciting collection.

This is a book I first bought when I was in grade school in the 60s, and I've always loved it. The stories are accurate, yet amusingly written and accessible, so they're vivid and easy to remember. I've kept and even reread my copy all these years, but misplaced it recently, so I'm back to buy a new copy for my sons, 7 and 10. My older son is reading "The Lightning Thief," by Rick Riordan (another book I'd recommend!) which refer to these stories often, so I think he'll enjoy it.

Although some don't like to admit it, a great many aspects of the Judeo-Christian culture, including religion, have their basis in the myths of the early Greeks. Their principle of superhuman and fickle gods who grant immediate favor or disfavor is clearly apparent in the accounts of the Old Testament. References to entities such as Icarus, Oedipus, Medusa and Midas appear rather regularly in discussions about modern activities. Given this backdrop, a fundamental education in Greek mythology is essential for the modern person. This book can serve as a key cog in that education.
The stories in this collection for young people feature among others Perseus, Theseus, Daedalus, Icarus, Atalanta, Midas, Pygmalion and Galatea. There is little reference to the more powerful Greek gods, which makes it more a secondary reference than a primary one. I strongly recommend this book as a source for the education of middle school students.

I was given this book as a child and loved the adventures as well as twists and turns of fate that the heroes of ancient Greece experienced at the hands of the gods. The vivid descriptions of monsters like Medusa and the Minotaur both scared and fired my imagination. I purchased it for one of the children I baby sit for. He has since become an avid reader which delighted his mother to no end. It has all the classic tales of Greek mythology written at a level for children between the ages of 7 and 12 year of age. The illustrations are few and in black and white.

Although some don't like to admit it, a great many aspects of the Judeo-Christian culture, including religion, have their basis in the myths of the early Greeks. Their principle of superhuman and fickle gods who grant immediate favor or disfavor is clearly apparent in the accounts of the Old Testament. References to entities such as Icarus, Oedipus, Medusa and Midas appear rather regularly in discussions about modern activities. Given this backdrop, a fundamental education in Greek mythology is essential for the modern person. This book can serve as a key cog in that education.
The stories in this collection for young people feature among others Perseus, Theseus, Daedalus, Icarus, Atalanta, Midas, Pygmalion and Galatea. There is little reference to the more powerful Greek gods, which makes it more a secondary reference than a primary one. I strongly recommend this book as a source for the education of middle school students.