The Odyssey

Prints, photographs, diagrams, and maps enhance this brilliantly illustrated retelling of the classic tale of Odysseus's journey to get back to his homeland.

Grade 3-5-This smoothly written retelling may interest the same audience that enjoyed Neil Philip's The Adventures of Odysseus (Orchard, 1997). Covering mostly the same selections with approximately the same detail, Mitchell places small bits of background information in the margins of the stories and on pages in between them. These tidbits won't be enough for researchers, but could whet the interest of those reading for pleasure. However, some students may find them distracting. Full-color drawings, photographs of sites and artifacts, and reproductions appear throughout. The best illustrations surround the text on all sides, imparting a sense of the drama of the tales. Mitchell's casual writing style may interest children not ready for the elevated text of the original and reluctant readers but there is no fire in this telling, making it an additional purchase.
Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA
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