Greek Myths: Three Heroic Tales

Gr 4–6—Lupton and Morden's world-building for classic myths combined with Hénaff's vibrant illustrations give new life to familiar stories in this collection. The authors take readers through three classics: "Demeter and Persephone," "Theseus and the Minotaur," and "Orpheus and Eurydice." Each tale establishes its pivotal characters and further develops those intertwined in the plot, from Daedalus and his involvement with the birth of Minotaur to Demeter and the effects of her distress on the mortals she meets. Interspersed throughout are snippets of other myths that help build the backstories of the three central stories, including the tale of Daedalus and Icarus. Hénaff's accompanying artwork complements the text by recreating the two-dimensional style of ancient pottery, while using a contemporary color palette. This is a concise introduction to Greek myths for the uninitiated, since the text does not attempt to weave the entire pantheon into each of the myths. Its visual nature, short chapters, and dramatic stories will also appeal to reluctant readers.