Customer Reviews

Pandora

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"What was in the jar?/The jar that was closed tight/And not to be opened!/What was in the jar?/It was all Pandora could think of!" So begins Robert Burleigh's marvelous retelling of Pandora. His poetic text written in easy to read, short sentences, is compelling and filled with excitement and drama as the tension builds toward the inevitable climax and hopeful ending. Raul Colon's elegant and evocative illustrations complement the story beautifully, and together word and art bring the myth to life in rich detail. With a character list and informative forward to enhance understanding of the story, Pandora is perfect for youngsters 8-12, and is an engaging introduction to Greek myths that shouldn't be missed.

As a parent, I wish all children's books were this well-done and memorable. The text, told in verse, and the Grecian-style illustrations tell the story in a way that your child won't forget it.

Includes a cast of characters from Greek Mythology (with explanations), and a brief-but-good foreword.

Raul Colon's illustrations are top-notch. I love her nose. So Greek.

I have always found the story of Pandora and how she opened her sealed box to be one of the more disturbing stories in Greek mythology. To think that all human suffering can be tied to one woman's insatiable curiosity, just feels wrong. Nevertheless, it is a great story and one of those fundamental texts that every educated person should be familiar. As with all the best stories, a person should be first exposed when they are very young. Robert Burleign does a great job of reducing the story down to its core elements so that a child can enjoy it. Burleigh's emphasis on the importance of hope makes this cautionary tale palatable to a young child. Finally, Raul Colon's wonderful illustrations add an additional level of pleasure to this book. Highly recommended.

"The jar is not to be opened! No. Never. Never. The gods have commanded it. The gods have commanded it!" - thus Pandora has been warned, and yet despite numerous warnings from her husband Epimetheus and servant Xerxes, the beautiful Pandora's curiosity will not be sated until she opens the jar and faces the consequences. The story here is written in verse form and flows well, carrying the reader along with the story - and makes for a great read-aloud for elementary age students. My 5-year-old daughter enjoyed this story immensely and the beautiful full-color illustrations make this a visually-appealing tale as well. There is even a list of character's names and their significance. I'd recommend this to children ages 5 and up.

Pandora is a beautifully illustrated and poetic book that introduces young people to the foundations of western culture. The Greek myths hold many origins to our modern understanding of human behavior and character. Robert Burleigh has done a beautiful job of bringing this myth to life. As a teacher, I highly recommend this book for grade elementary school or middle school. Although you have to order it from outside sources, it's worth it.