D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
by Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, Ingri d'Aulaire
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Book Reviews of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
Book Review: Great Mythology Introduction
Summary: 5 Stars
My sister gave me this book when I was about six, and I recently bought a copy for her daughter's sixth birthday (also a new copy for myself, since mine is falling apart; I had a lot of fun rereading it). At age six, I had to have it read to me, but it quickly became one of my favorite books. I've been fascinated with Greek and other Mythology ever since.
The illustrations in this book are wonderful and very appropriate to the tone and stories. It's a very thorough overview of Greek Mythology, especially for being a children's book. They touch on most myths; I used to get very excited when I came across a myth I hadn't read in this book. The stories are nicely cleaned up for children, but not so much that it detracts from them.
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to introduce their child to the fascinating stories of ancient Greece.
Book Review: Good Introduction to some great stories
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book as a kid, and I'm glad its still in print.
The stories in it - introductions to the Olympian gods and heroes - are still the background of a lot of popular culture today, and knowing them is key to understanding a lot of literature and art. People still call something "A Herculean task," or refer to someone "Opening Pandora's Box." Commenters refer to "cutting the heads of a hydra," and call long trips "Odysseys." Cultural literacy, starting early, is a step up in understanding these references, and this book is a great place to begin.
And, frankly, I bought it for my son after he found the first "Percy Jackson" book, because I wanted him to read the real myths and stories, rather than relying on the Percy Versions (which are very true to the original, and are updated in funny ways). Knowing the original allows the reader to really understand the humor of Riordan's updates.
Book Review: D'aulaires
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was only a few years old, the first book my father ever read to me from and that I in turn read from was D'aulaires Book of Greek Myths, and that has proven to be the spark that kindled my fascination with human societies. My single greatest passion is the chronology of human history, which was stirred in me at a very young age by this book, without which I cannot even imagine the difference in my life. I never would have read the Iliad and the Odyssey, which spurred me into the Aeneid, which in turn created a desire to learn more of factual Greece and Rome (respectively), which then broadened my interests towards the civilations of Mesopotamian antiquity, eventually encompassing the whole world. I am now an undergraduate student of anthropology at one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, and my life would never have been the same without the advent of this book.Book Review: Priceless and Timeless
Summary: 5 Stars
Oversized with gorgeous and revealing illustrations, this amazing book will strike young children with awe about the mighty power of human imagination and - about Greek gods, goddesses both major and minor as well as the mortal descendants of Zeus. The masterfully retelling of Greek myths that flows in well-organized order brings to life such immortal tales of Persephone, Prometheus and the Nine Muses. I received formal training on Greek mythologies in college and though I loved these Olympian gods radiantly, it was not without pain just to figure who's whose son or daughter from Homer, Virgil and Ovid. Fortunately for my children (and I), we have D'AULAIRES' BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS that comes with helpful Zeus' family tree, index of gods' names and a constellations map. This is the definite volume on classical mythology that any family library cannot do without.Book Review: Stands the test of time
Summary: 5 Stars
I checked this book out of the library so many times as a kid. Now that I have kids, I checked it out once to see if they were interested. They weren't! But a little later they started catching on, so I bought a copy and now we are wearing it out! I find the layout handy- it leads from one story to another by way of family relations. That's a great natural story telling style. I also find that it serves as a gentle way to alert soft hearted kids to the possibility of violence in this world. It raises issues about life and death and the humor in all of it. We can read or not read as it suits us, and we can discuss and digest and ask questions. The colors and pictures give pause for thought all by themselves. The stories are in better detail than any other myth book I had come across, but then I am biased here.
It's great sharing reading with kids.