Athena (A Kid's Guide to Mythology)

Gagne, Tammy

ISBN 10: 1612289983 ISBN 13: 9781612289984

Publisher: Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc., 2015

Today Greek mythology serves many purposes. People still read these stories with great interest and enthusiasm. Some of the stories have even been made into movies, television shows, and comic books. Many versions simply retell the old myths while others use the original myths as a jumping-off point for new tales. Athena, on the other hand, was a whole different story. Instead of feeling envious of others, she inspired those who worshipped her to be brave and resourceful like she was. She wasn't as pretty as Aphrodite. But she was striking in other ways. She is said to have had piercing grey eyes. She also wore a plumed helmet and carried a shield. This represented her role as a protector of the ancient Greeks. Many drawings depicted her with an owl on her shoulder or a coiled snake at her feet. Athena was also a clever inventor. She is said to have created numbers, musical instruments like the flute and trumpet, and the plow. Just the way she carried herself made her look strong and confident, which was beautiful in a way that Aphrodite just couldn't manage. This story of Athena will introduce middle grade readers to the famous legends.

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From School Library Journal:

Gr 4-8-Serious students will find substantial information packed into these slim packages. Hercules, which begins with a bit of Roman history, is the most coherent. The other books each start with an anecdotal account of contemporary children engaged in an activity that leads to an encounter with a mythical character. These books are weighed down by quotations from subject authorities and other explanations. The busy format combines dense text, occasional one-page essays, and plentiful decorative elements. All the volumes end with a discussion of the subject's lasting influence. Evidently intended to serve Common Core goals, these offerings include extensive lists of adult resources in author's notes for each chapter and long lists of "Works Consulted" along with short bibliographies of childrens books and some Internet sources. VERDICT Not heavy on kid appeal, this set might serve for teaching purposes and offer material for report writing.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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