GENRE: Nonfiction
HONORS: None
REVIEW: The author presents the lives of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece in encyclopedia fashion. Starting with Apollo and ending with Zeus each god or goddess is given a four or more pages all to themselves. Each entry has a profile with the pronunciation of the name; their Roman name; whether they were a Titan, an Olympian, or other; a list of the divine powers and attributes; and the top ten things to know about each. In addition, there is a listing of parents, siblings, spouse, offspring, friends, and foes. Then the author highlights various myths about each god or goddess. Many of the illustrations are from famous paintings or sculptures often with some extra added in to make them more child appropriate or just to make them funny. There are also websites listed for more students who want to learn more, a glossary, an index, and a handy family tree.
OPINION: This was a great book. The author took the often-confusing stories of the Greek gods and goddesses and presented the information in a kid-friendly way. The illustrations were hilarious and tasteful. The information was presented in a very humorous way. The book was jam packed with great tidbits.
IDEAS: For students hooked by the Rick Riordan Percy Jackson series, this is a great companion book. Students can look up the names of the various gods and goddesses mentioned in the series and find out more about them.
