Don't Myth Out!!

There’s a lot of shouting and posturing and writing of articles, wrestling with the extent to which we have or have not been “dumbing down the curriculum”. Normally, I would agree with the people who are concerned that we as Americans have lowered our standards in education. However, I must confess that there are areas of the classic canon that intimidate me. Unlike my partner, Kevin, who always loved mythology, no book of Greek myths caught my interest as a child, and somehow none of my coursework ever included a solid overview of any of the major cultural mythologies – even though I’ve studied authors who based much of their work on Greek, Roman, or Norse myths, I never got the original foundation.

If we only scratch the surface of English vocabulary, the names of the constellations, medical terms, poetry, theater, literature, science fiction and fantasy, even modern film, we see references to these stories everywhere. How much richer our experiences would be if we knew the origin of the “Hippocratic Oath” and how much easier to read Shakespeare and Lord Byron without referring to the footnotes all the time!

I tried to remedy the holes in my background by buying first Bullfinch’s and later Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. Both are excellent texts, and important references to have in the library. Nevertheless, I’ll admit to enjoying in this case some of the simpler, more colorful, more artistic approaches that have been published “for children.” My advice is to check them out with your kids, by all means, but revel in them for yourself as well!

The easiest, most inexpensive book is most likely The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki. Penned to offer an overview of Greek mythology for the youngest readers, this book might give a softer, simpler foothold to the adventures of the original “Olympic” crew. The first part gives a brief description of the birth/creation of the deities, including the rise and fall of Cronos and the defeat of the Titans. Unless they are certain of the sensitivities of the children learning these stories, some parents and teachers may want to follow Aliki’s lead in avoiding long explanations of how Cronos ate his children (“don’t worry, he puked them up whole again later!”). Obviously, these stories are not meant to seed your child’s nightmares or be read as a morality guide. The second part of the book dedicates a page to each of Cronos’ disgorged children, who join with Zeus to rule the universe. Aliki’s distinct art warms the entire book, grounding the simplified character profiles. Recommended for kids who perhaps want to see the film version of “The Lightning Thief” with an older sibling, or are struggling to read the book on their own, I included this book in the list also for the benefit of its low price.

Another book which achieves the same goal as Aliki’s, with its focus on the earliest age group or those who need more visuals and fewer words, is Usbourne Books’ Greek Myths for Young Children, written by Heather Amery and illustrated by Linda Edwards. Usbourne Books’s signature style includes bright graphics which, though colorful, are clean, neat, simple, pleasing the eye and mind of the reader without overwhelming it. Usbourne is well-known for their beautiful products for children – art books, an “I Spy”-type of series called “1,000 Things to Spot”, cute board books with things to touch, early language books, science and nature facts and more. This lovely hardcover adds another feather in their cap.

Moving up the ladder in terms of reading difficulty and fuller explanations of the Greek gods, goddesses, monsters, myths, adventures, quests, legends and heroes, we have two wonderful choices. The D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths, first published in 1962, is a classic; the other, The Mythology Handbook, is a newcomer from March 2009.

Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire were European immigrants who came to the United States in the early 1930s after distinguished art training and professional work on the Continent – Edgar was a pupil of Henri Matisse; in his early career, he had illustrated books in Germany and painted frescoes in Norway. Ingri was first a student of Norwegian artist Harriet Backer, who then continued her art studies at several prominent schools in Germany and France. Though at first the couple began working on individual art careers after their move to New York City, soon they were encouraged to turn their collective efforts to children’s literature. Both Doubleday and Viking Press published the couple’s children’s books throughout the rest of the 20th Century. Many of their lovely books depict myths and folktales from around world, while others focus on American historical figures. With their inimitable combination of modernity and antiquity, storytelling fun and classic education, clear wording and evocative art, many now-adult readers credit this book as THE foundation to their understanding of why the Greeks matter to us today.

The Mythology Handbook, a spin-off of its parent book, Mythology, will be a format perhaps most familiar to children and teens who have purchased other books in the popular Candlewick series known as the ‘ologies. Beginning in 2003 with Dragonology, Candlewick has published an interactive group of books written by early “experts” such as “Sir Ernest Drake” the dragonologist or “Emily Sands”, nineteenth century explorer and Egyptologist. All of the ‘ology books fascinate kids and teens with pull-out maps, sealed letters, compasses, insets, stylistically “period” art and souvenirs of each writer’s various adventures.

Before you head out to the theaters to see “The Lightning Thief” with your grandkids, before you try to help your child with his paper on Shakespeare, before you take the family to Cherry Springs Sky Park for a little stargazing, why not brush up your mythology?

Hobo says there’s no shame in loving picture books. He wrote a picture book about the epic journey of a little kitten. He didn’t slay gorgons, but he did meet a spice kitty who smelled pretty bad. Share your adventures with Hobo at frommyshelf@epix.net. Or get an overview of other great books at frommyshelf.blogspot.com.