Newbery Medal-winner Cynthia Rylant retells her favorite stories from Greek mythology, breathing fresh life into the tales of Pandora, Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Narcissus, and Psyche. The writing is lyrical and understated, a perfect tone for stories that introduce young readers to themes of love and loss, pride and forgiveness. Carson Ellis's elegant black-and-white illustrations lend an aura of beauty and mystery.
"Rylant's clear explanations of relationships between gods and mortals as well as the underlying motivations and significance of each myth avoid condescension without sacrificing the details, richness and conventions of the original stories. Ellis's formal black-and-white drawings are reminiscent of stylized classical Greek art and illustrate a dramatic moment from each myth. The small, square format completes this accessible and classy introduction to Greek mythology."-- Kirkus Reviews
". . . hones six myths into clear, accessible stories for younger readers. Plainspoken and captivating, they draw readers into the sagas . . . The stories grab attention with intriguing introductions . . . Ellis, illustrator of the Mysterious Benedict Society books, employs delicate pencil drawings to render the characters amid the organic: flowers, fruit, leaves and twisting vines. The small format reflects the book's purpose: to be a pleasurable sampling of some well-known Greek myths, their ideas and morals distilled to their core."-- Publishers Weekly
"There is fluidity in the telling . . . a useful contrast to more irreverent or raucous retellings, especially in a setting where the focus is on the message more than the cultural significance."-- The Bulletin
CYNTHIA RYLANT is the acclaimed author of more than one hundred books for children and teens, and her novel Missing May was awarded the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
CARSON ELLIS illustrated the children's novel The Mysterious Benedict Society, a New York Times Book Review bestseller. She's also known for creating the artwork on the album covers for the rock band the Decemberists. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
Target Age: 8-12
Clarion Books
Pub Date: May 01, 2009
0.6" H x 7.2" L x 7.3" W
71 pages
hardcover