Jason and the Argonauts: The First Great Quest in Greek Mythology

Many books for children about the ancient Greek hero Jason boil his adventures down to a few fragments centered on the Golden Fleece, but Byrd's large format gives the epic story more room. After an introduction explaining the tale's roots, Byrd begins with Jason's childhood (he was raised by a wise centaur) and his meeting with the goddess Hera, disguised as an old woman, who becomes his mentor. Jason gathers a ship's crew, including Hercules and Orpheus, to begin a quest, and along the way is beset by beasts, gods, and even magical rocks that try to smash his ship. Once he meets the beautiful sorceress Medea, the story turns darker as Jason becomes complicit in theft and murder. On each page Byrd includes a decorative box containing information related to the text (the definition of centaur; a description of Hera's place in the pantheon). Each double-page spread tells a discrete section of the story ("Phineas and the Harpies"), complete in itself but leading into the next segment. Byrd fills the pages with imposing and energetic illustrations capturing fearsome monsters (such as Charybdis with her "giant, repulsive mouth"), the great ship Argo, and characters both mortal and immortal -- all set against the sweeping sea, land, and sky. The complexity and richness of both tale and pictures offer a lot to pore over and ponder. Appended with a pantheon of the Greek gods, an author's note, and a bibliography. susan dove lempke

Byrd's large format gives the epic story of the ancient Greek hero Jason plenty of room. Each double-page spread tells a discrete section of the story; imposing, energetic illustrations capture fearsome monsters, the great ship Argo, and characters both mortal and immortal. The complexity and richness of both tale and pictures offer lots to pore over and ponder. Author's note. Bib.