Greek Myths

Children's Literature - Alexandria LaFaye

With a thoughtful introduction that places the Greek myths in historical context, Morely retells twenty familiar myths. Accented by paintings that are slightly reminiscent of Maxfield Parrish, the myths are told in an accessible and interesting style. Without an overview of the structure of Greek mythology, the book doesn't provide a way to piece together a clear understanding of the mythology, but it does provide the author's view of some of the familiar myths. At the end of the book, Morely thoughtfully includes an "In Case You Were Wondering" section that explains some of the cultural allusions in the story that may confuse readers. There is also a useful index.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-This ambitious venture into the world of mythology begins with the rise of the Titans and ends with the wanderings of Odysseus. In between, tales of Prometheus, Pandora, Arachne, Psyche, Eros, Apollo, the Minotaur, and others are told in an accessible, readable style. In well-written prose, Morley preserves the essence of the myths and adds just enough dialogue to help younger readers with the complexities of the stories. The foreword provides a framework for the myths and informative endnotes conclude the volume. The numerous, full-color, watercolor-and-line illustrations, while not detracting from the text, do little to extend it. Libraries owning Mary Pope Osborne's Favorite Greek Myths (Scholastic, 1988) may not need to purchase this volume unless demand is high, as both cover much of the same ground. Still, this is a serviceable addition to mythology shelves.-Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, OR