Philosophy/Religion/Myth

EVANS, Lady Hestia. Mythology. ed. by Dugald A. Steer. illus. by Nick Harris, et al. unpaged. maps. Candlewick. 2007. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3403-2. LC number unavailable. Gr 4 Up.

KIMMEL, Eric A. The McElderry Book of Greek Myths. illus. by Pep Montserrat. 96p. CIP. S & S/Margaret K. McElderry Bks. 2008. RTE $21.99. ISBN 9778-1-4169-1534-8. LC 2005031010. Gr 3-6.

Like other entries in the Ology Book series (Pirateology [2006] and Dragonology [2004, both Candlewick]) Mythology adds mystery and drama to an already fascinating subject. Readers follow the adventures of an unscrupulous antiquities collector as he uses the fictional Lady Hestia’s lavishly illustrated guide to the gods and their ways. (Indeed, Lady Hestia was influenced by the travels of none other than Lord Byron, who is said to have scrawled his name on the Temple of Poseidon.) Fixed envelopes hold sacred oak leaves, an ancient silver coin, and a specimen of golden fleece; there’s even a pop-up Pandora’s Box with the appropriate warning. From its bright blue and gold, jewel-encrusted cover featuring Heracles battling the Hydra to an enclosed feather quill (really a ballpoint pen) with sheets of stationery, Mythology benefits from a built-in “wow” factor that guarantees hours of perusal. See ologyworld.com for additional titles in the series and online features including films, games, and quizzes introduced by “The Ology Librarian.”

In contrast, The McElderry Book offers a retelling of 12 myths, and in its elegant simplicity, is no less enchanting. An author’s note speaks to the wonder of story, as well as the enduring influence of Greek mythology on Western culture. The book opens with the story of Prometheus’s gift of fire to humankind and ends with the tale of the slaying of Medusa by Perseus. Along the way, readers encounter Pandora’s misguided compassion, the failed flight of Icarus, Narcissus’s egoism, and King Midas’s unquenchable thirst for gold, among other myths. Deeply hued, powerful illustrations add dramatic tension and sophisticated style to each tale. Invigorate mythology units and collections with these outstanding titles. B