Aubrey Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Please--don't hate me. I've been skimming this book this eve, &...well...the pub date is in the 60s. There was a particular style/tone to children's books at that time. Maybe I'd like something newer. I've looked at things recommended in other threads: I'd rather not do manga, the 3-book series...I forget what it's called--Oh My Gods--or something like that--looks fun, but won't fit this particular purpose. (It looks like it's more enjoyable once you've read the myths, not in place of reading them.) Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJB Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 We've enjoyed Geraldine McCaughrean's versions of Greek Mythology. Here is one of her titles we like: http://www.amazon.com/Greek-Myths-Geraldine-McCaughrean/dp/0689505833/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306996691&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) I've looked at things recommended in other threads: I'd rather not do manga, the 3-book series...I forget what it's called--Oh My Gods--or something like that--looks fun, but won't fit this particular purpose.It's manga :tongue_smilie: but Greek and Roman Mythology Vol. 1 by Cirro Oh has the best presentations of the cosmology I've seen for younger kids, hands down. We have all three volumes, and they have been well loved over the years. Perhaps this paired with McCaughrean's Greek Gods and Goddesses. (She has another volume of Greek myths, though it's not as good. Icarus is on the cover, but the book itself has more than one title.) Edited June 2, 2011 by nmoira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Well, I still stand by my post in the other thread. The Usborne is definitely not sixties style! (I think the artwork is gorgeous.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Mary Pope Osbourne's is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Mary Pope Osbourne's is nice. I haven't seen this particular book, but my son read her series Tales from the Odyssey a few years ago, and those books have a special place on his bookshelf. He loved them. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveBaby Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Mary Pope Osbourne's is nice. :iagree: What about Classic Myths to Read Aloud? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 My first grade dd devoured the Usborne book this year and now knows more Greek mythology than I do. I haven't read the McCaughrean title, bit we've really enjoyed her other books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Not really "myths", but what about reading Rosemary Sutcliffes's retellings of the Iliad and the Odyssey....Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus. the ones illustrated by Alan Lee are beautiful. Faithe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5forMe Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 We did a study of the Greek Myths last summer and while we worked with the D'Aulaire book and supplements we also really enjoyed this book: http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Greek-Childrens-Thrift-Classics/dp/0486288595/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307019198&sr=1-1-fkmr2 I also second the Usborne recommendation. We also enjoyed the Geraldine McCaughrean books. We used the audio version of the Greek Myths by McCaughrean while in the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiobrain Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 This book is excellent. My boys adored it and we read it 3X, at least. It does not follow a typical timeline for myths, as the story follows a storyteller leaving his home to go to a storytelling festival in Troy. He stops in many places and tells a story for his travel, food, lodging etc. There is a decent amount of Greek geography included as well- if you follow the map of his travels. His surroundings or situation reminds him of a particular myth to tell.... it is really wonderful. http://www.amazon.com/Atticus-Storytellers-100-Greek-Myths/dp/1842552791/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307019469&sr=1-1 There appears to be a volume 2, audiobook only. BTW, Amazon has the author's name wrong. It is Lucy Coats, not Lucy Goats. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 My kids love this book. This book is excellent. Atticus __________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Edith Hamilton's Mythology is not fancy, only black and white pictures, but she does have a chronological order to the myths and they have good flow to them, reading like a fairy tale, which to me is an improvement over D'Aulaire. They are not as simple as D'Aulaire, however. The language is more complex and she often includes some verse. She has a poetic way of saying things, which I find engaging, but you would need to see for yourself if your children would be able to follow it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 My husband has the Edith Hamilton book. We'll use it when the kids get older, but DH likes to refer to it during his dad-time with the kids. We have d'Aulaires on audiotape that was given to us by friends. (I rabidly dislike both the book & the audiotape. My #2 dd loves audiobooks & she reverts to these whenever I don't have enough audiobooks from the library. I make sure she always has 10+ hours of CDs to listen to now so I don't have to listen to Greek Myths again. Ugh!) Mary Pope Osborne's was better, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I adore the D'Aulaires... and I feel like arguing... but I'll refrain. :D One volume we really liked was The Island of the Minotaur by Sheldon Oberman. It's a long format picture book that tells some of the myths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelissaMinNC Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 We liked Nathaniel Hawthorne's Tanglewood Tales, but it was written considerably earlier than the D'Aulaire one, so...:tongue_smilie: Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jami Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 We liked Nathaniel Hawthorne's Tanglewood Tales, but it was written considerably earlier than the D'Aulaire one, so...:tongue_smilie: Melissa :iagree: Charles Kingsley's "The Heroes" is another excellent older telling of some of the main Greek stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I don't like D'Aulaire books either. :) The hook that got my dd interested in Greek Myths was Michael Townsend's Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunders. It's a hardcover comic book version of several myths. Quite funny, yet educational. Then I bought her Usborne's Greek Myths for Young Children, and she literally read through the whole thing in one afternoon, side by side with her Michael Townsend book to compare. I now own The Children's Book of Myths and Legends retold by Ronne Randall published by Barnes and Noble books. It has nice illustrations, but it covers more than just the Greek myths. It does major myths from many ancient cultures. It seems to be chronological, which you had mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 (edited) Please--don't hate me. I've been skimming this book this eve, &...well...the pub date is in the 60s. There was a particular style/tone to children's books at that time. Maybe I'd like something newer. I've looked at things recommended in other threads: I'd rather not do manga, the 3-book series...I forget what it's called--Oh My Gods--or something like that--looks fun, but won't fit this particular purpose. (It looks like it's more enjoyable once you've read the myths, not in place of reading them.) Help! You might check out The Macmillan Book of Greek Gods and Heroes by Alice Low. It is not altogether different than D'Aularie's, but is less dated feeling and I prefer the rendering of the stories. It might be just what you are looking for. IMS there is another imprint of the same book (that is not Macmillan). ETA: The current edition is the Simon and Schuster Book of Greek Gods and Heroes http://www.amazon.com/Simon-Schuster-Book-Greek-Heroes/dp/0027613909/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3 Bill Edited June 2, 2011 by Spy Car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Has anyone seen this one by Turnbull? Some of the other ones you all have mentioned have only one review &/or no inside view &/or really high prices compared to other titles. Kind-of a big risk, kwim? Esp w/ D'Aulaires' here, knowing how popular it is & that I don't like it. Part of me thinks HOW HARD CAN THIS BE? And then I remember I'm dealing w/ ME. :lol: Oh, & the Osbourne one: title says Greek myths, but one of the reviewers complains that she uses the Roman names AND then gives lists of Latin cognates that she says come from Greek. :confused: I really only want good storytelling, but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narrow Gate Academy Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 We've enjoyed Geraldine McCaughrean's versions of Greek Mythology. Here is one of her titles we like: http://www.amazon.com/Greek-Myths-Geraldine-McCaughrean/dp/0689505833/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1306996691&sr=8-1 Well, I still stand by my post in the other thread. The Usborne is definitely not sixties style! (I think the artwork is gorgeous.) :iagree: These are our favorite two versions of the Greek myths for elementary kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Part of me thinks HOW HARD CAN THIS BE? And then I remember I'm dealing w/ ME. :lol: Follow the link in my last post. Amazon has a good preview of the Alice Low book so you can get a feel for both the art and the fine writing style. Better than D'Aulaire's Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Follow the link in my last post. Amazon has a good preview of the Alice Low book so you can get a feel for both the art and the fine writing style. Better than D'Aulaire's Bill I followed the link, & the editorial reviews weren't good (but weren't well-written, either--how can you say D'Aulaires is "venerable BUT still better"??? I think the reviewer must have thought "venerable" merely means "old.") The TOC was disheartening, too--it may be a good book, but it doesn't cover the stories I'd like & a good portion the book or so is stories I *don't* want--we'll cover Odysseus separately. Still, I've reserved a copy at the library. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 :iagree:These are our favorite two versions of the Greek myths for elementary kids. McG....'s is on hold at the library; I couldn't find the Usborne one there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I followed the link, & the editorial reviews weren't good (but weren't well-written, either--how can you say D'Aulaires is "venerable BUT still better"??? I think the reviewer must have thought "venerable" merely means "old.") The TOC was disheartening, too--it may be a good book, but it doesn't cover the stories I'd like & a good portion the book or so is stories I *don't* want--we'll cover Odysseus separately. Still, I've reserved a copy at the library. :001_smile: Did you use the "Look Inside" feature? There is a good preview. I disagree with the professional review (as do the user reviews) but you can decide for yourself. I prefer both the art and the writing in this volume to D'Aulaires. Let me know what you think. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Did you use the "Look Inside" feature? There is a good preview. I disagree with the professional review (as do the user reviews) but you can decide for yourself. I prefer both the art and the writing in this volume to D'Aulaires. Let me know what you think. Bill I only looked inside at the TOC; since you recommended it & the library had it, I figured it was worth an in-person look. :D I dislike the stilted condescending style of children's writing in the first half of the century so much that I can't imagine I wouldn't like anything else better. Why do people have to write as if they're annoyed to have to tell this story AGAIN & then run through the details so fast, as if it's a grocery list? :lol: (D'Aulaire's Pandora really bothered me.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I only looked inside at the TOC; since you recommended it & the library had it, I figured it was worth an in-person look. :D I dislike the stilted condescending style of children's writing in the first half of the century so much that I can't imagine I wouldn't like anything else better. Why do people have to write as if they're annoyed to have to tell this story AGAIN & then run through the details so fast, as if it's a grocery list? :lol: (D'Aulaire's Pandora really bothered me.) I wish I knew of something even better. And will keep an eye on this thread for suggestions. While not "perfect" I prefer Low to D'Aulaire. We did enjoy the Rosemary Sutcliff adaptations of Homer, "Black Ships Before Troy" and "Adventures of Odysseus" and are now reading Padraic Colum's excellent "Children's Homer." Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Well, I still stand by my post in the other thread. The Usborne is definitely not sixties style! (I think the artwork is gorgeous.) We have this one. It really is nice (I have the smaller version) and the artwork is lovely. My ds has been seen reading it off and on on his own since he was about 5 or 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 We did enjoy the Rosemary Sutcliff adaptations of Homer, "Black Ships Before Troy" and "Adventures of Odysseus" and are now reading Padraic Colum's excellent "Children's Homer." Bill Yep, those are on my shelf, but I consider "Homer" to be different from "Greek myths." Splitting hairs, perhaps, but there ya go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Yep, those are on my shelf, but I consider "Homer" to be different from "Greek myths." Splitting hairs, perhaps, but there ya go. Just sayin' :D Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanMom Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Charles Kingsley's "The Heroes" is another excellent older telling of some of the main Greek stories. :iagree: This is perfect for reading aloud, too. IMHO, of course!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kubiac Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Another possibility might be Gods, Men and Monsters from the Greek Myths from the World Mythology Series, by Michael Gibson, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli. It was published in the 1980s, I believe, and it's out-of-print, but the illustrations are excellent, and I believe it covers all the fundamentals. http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Greek-Introduction-Stories-Goddesses/dp/B001A3PMB8/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Another possibility might be Gods, Men and Monsters from the Greek Myths from the World Mythology Series, by Michael Gibson, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli. It was published in the 1980s, I believe, and it's out-of-print, but the illustrations are excellent, and I believe it covers all the fundamentals. http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Greek-Introduction-Stories-Goddesses/dp/B001A3PMB8/ Thanks--it's on the library list, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Another possibility might be Gods, Men and Monsters from the Greek Myths from the World Mythology Series, by Michael Gibson, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli. It was published in the 1980s, I believe, and it's out-of-print, but the illustrations are excellent, and I believe it covers all the fundamentals. http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Greek-Introduction-Stories-Goddesses/dp/B001A3PMB8/ We don't have the Greek myths volume, but the Egypt one is excellent... far superior to its only workable alternative at that level, Lancelyn Green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Thanks--it's on the library list, too! This does include the Trojan war and the wanderings of Odysseus though, if you noticed ;). I'm saving this for future reference. I see some interesting books I would like to check out. I just put Gods, Men and Monsters on hold at the library, along with Alice Low's for now to check them out. Thank you everyone for the great suggestions. I don't have the first clue what is or isn't good out there for Greek myths, in English. I still like the D'Aulaires ;) but when it comes to the Greeks :D the more options the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 You people are awesome. After D'Aulaire, I thought I'd be hard-pressed to find something *acceptable.* Now I'm sitting here surrounded by books of Greek myths that are wonderful, in such different ways that I can't choose just one. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 You people are awesome. After D'Aulaire, I thought I'd be hard-pressed to find something *acceptable.* Now I'm sitting here surrounded by books of Greek myths that are wonderful, in such different ways that I can't choose just one. Thank you! That's it? :D Bill (who feels we deserve more than this :tongue_smilie:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Did you use the "Look Inside" feature? There is a good preview. I disagree with the professional review (as do the user reviews) but you can decide for yourself. I prefer both the art and the writing in this volume to D'Aulaires. Let me know what you think. Bill Not the best of them, but invaluable--it's the most chronological & complete of the ones I've looked at. Esp if it can be used in combination w/ one of the better-written ones, I'd say it's a keeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 That's it? :D Bill (who feels we deserve more than this :tongue_smilie:) Sorry. :D My favorite is Turnbull's Greek Myths. The writing is good, the stories are authentic and captivating. The order of the stories leaves quite a lot to be desired, though. A close second is McCaughrean's Greek Myths. The order is much better than Turnbull's, & the style of the writing is more narrative & engaging for younger children. Gods, Men & Monsters is worth a trip to the library for its pictures, but the text...is pretty dense. Unfortunately, my kids picked up D'Aulaires first & love it. :lol: I'm pressing the others ones on them now for further analysis. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 These are the books I am planning on using with my 5th grader for part of a mythology study (he's also studying Egyptian and Norse mythology next year) Favorite Greek Myths The Mythology Handbook: A Course in Ancient Greek Myths Heroes, Gods, & Monsters of the Greek Myths Myths and Legends Roman Myths & Legends Tales from the Odyssey (Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus might work well too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 It's manga :tongue_smilie: but Greek and Roman Mythology Vol. 1 by Cirro Oh has the best presentations of the cosmology I've seen for younger kids, hands down. We have all three volumes, and they have been well loved over the years. Perhaps this paired with McCaughrean's Greek Gods and Goddesses. (She has another volume of Greek myths, though it's not as good. Icarus is on the cover, but the book itself has more than one title.) Do you have the name or a link for the 3rd volume since Amazon seems to only carry the first two volumes?:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Do you have the name or a link for the 3rd volume since Amazon seems to only carry the first two volumes?:001_smile: Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Greek-Roman-Mythology-Graphic-Novels/dp/9810527667/ I linked the first volume because that's the one I couldn't get to come up using Amazon's search engine. You'd think after all the time they'd been in business, products they sell (as opposed to used copies listed slightly differently) would at least come up using their search engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thanks for the info:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirch Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 We've liked the McElderry Book of Greek Myths by Eric Kimmel so much that I bought a copy for us to keep. I love the illustrations, and the narrative line of the stories is easier to follow than D'Aulaire, IMO. It's not as thorough as D'Aulaire, but it has most of the major stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in SouthGa Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 My 12 dd read this but I have not read it myself: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Greek-Heroes-Puffin-Classics/dp/0141325283/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1 by Robert Lancelyn Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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