Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-This follow-up to Mythology (Candlewick, 2007) again uses the voice of a fictional 19th-century scholar. Here, Lady Hestia Evans offers a guide to elements of Greek myth for her two children, providing information in "lessons" (e.g., "Life on Olympus" or "Religion in Ancient Greece") with exercises based on each topic. Some of the activities encourage students to do further research (look up Hesiod's "Heroic Age"), while others suggest that they draw new monsters, write hymns with the Muses' help, or design a new pentathlon for the Olympics. Mazes and a word search (using Greek letters) are also included. Unlike its predecessor, The Mythology Handbook does not have many pull-out parts, but a selection of stickers that will not circulate well is appended along with a small envelope containing a letter with a message written in Greek for youngsters to decode. More ambitious readers may have already picked up Edith Hamilton's Mythology, which offers far more in-depth versions of the selections touched on here. However, the activities are engaging, and the illustrations of creatures and maps of the ancient world will add to the knowledge of even more experienced myth fans. This is a worthwhile addition to libraries where the "ology" books circulate well, and for classrooms seeking activities to tie into mythology units.-Alana Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This volume provides readers with information on ancient Greek mythology. Each section is divided into brief "lessons" focusing on particular characters or stories and including extension activities ("Design your own pentathlon"). The old-fashioned-looking volume uses marbled endpapers, brown paper, and many illustrations to help bring the myths to life. Also included are pullout sections with stickers and a Greek alphabet card. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
