Mythological Creatures: A Classical Bestiary

A bestiary featuring mythical animals such as the gryphon and the chimera.

A bestiary featuring mythical animals such as the gryphon and the chimera.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6- Centaurs, Gryphons, and Harpies share the pages of this who's who of ancient Greek figures like Argus, the watchman with 100 eyes; the three-headed dog Cerberus; and Polyphemus, the Cyclops of Homer's Odyssey . Snippets of stories about Jason and Medea, Theseus and Ariadne, and other well-known characters will give readers tantalizing glimpses of the more intricate tales that await them. Although the title makes it clear that the book is about creatures of mythology, the section on Gryphons is slightly confusing in the way that it implies these half-lion, half-eagle beings did indeed exist in the natural world. Curlee's language is descriptive and lyrical. Combining formal, stylized images with touches of realism, the full-color acrylic paintings depict these characters with dramatic flair. Details mentioned in the text are often incorporated into the artwork, further enhancing the book's impact. This bestiary would be a good companion to Kate McMullan's "Myth-O-Mania" series, could pave the way for Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" books (both Hyperion), and whet appetites for further explorations of Greek mythology.-Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA

Lynn Curlee, who received a Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book Award for Brooklyn Bridge, comes from a family of intense sports fans. His other books include Liberty, Ships of the Air, Into the Ice: The Story of Arctic Exploration, Rushmore, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Capital, and, most recently, Parthenon. He lives on the North Fork of Long Island, New York.