Rating: 
Summary: A treasure from my childhood.
Review: This book has been in print for at least 40 years. It was my introduction to Greek mythology when I was in elementary school in the early 60s. Now, a very educated middle aged man who has read Homer, Hesiod, Ovid, the Athenian playwrights, and all the great literature based on the mythology, I can tell you that 75% of my basic knowledge of these myths still comes from my devouring, re-reading, absorbing D'Aulaire in what can only be called a child's fantasy paradise. I have no children, but if I did and could gift them as I was gifted, I would count myself a successful parent if I did nothing more than introduce them to this book. The gorgeous illustrations are still burned in my memory. How any team of writers could depict Kronos devouring his children, Arachne being transformed into a spider, and so forth, and not make it frightening to a small child--well, this book is a miracle. Check it out and may your family cherish it.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Gift for Any Young Reader
Review: When I was around eleven years old, I checked this book out of the library so many times the other patrons never had a chance! From that time forward, the stories I read in this book have been at the core of my psyche.
Once, decades later, I was at the library with my niece. She said there was a special book she had seen on an earlier visit and wanted to check out. She disappeared into the stacks and emerged with this book...
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: When I was in elementary school I found this book at the library. I loved it so much that I did not want to return it. Finally, after several months of renewals, my parents bought the paperback version for me. It was one of my most treasured--and worn out--books that I owned. What made me fall in love the book was the beautiful, large colorful pictures; the easy introduction of the many Greek gods (to a child with no background in the stories); and, of course, the myths themselves. They were wonderful stories and will pull in readers of all ages. The book inspired me to read more books on Greek mythology--Edith Hamilton, for instance--and Norse myths (the D'Aularies wrote a book on Norse gods that is unfortunately still out of print) and Asian folktakes when I was still in grade school. In college, however, I learned that the myths in this book had gone through a bit of sanitization, but the book is still terrific. I haven't found another children's book that treats Greek mythology so entertainingly and with such colorful, rich, and engaging pictures. This book is one that will keep giving even when the child becomes an adult. When I went to college and was assigned other Greek and Roman poems, plays, and literature, I would be reminded the pictures and the myths found in this book. It would bring back wonderful memories, and in turn, made reading ancient literature enjoyable rather than onerous. To this day, I still remember all of the myths and gods that are in this book, and it (oddly) adds warm memories to my academic reading! My parents recently bought the hardcopy edition of the book for me for Christmas. It was the best gift I have received in years! It is simply a wonderful book!
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Myth Book Growing Up
Review: Yes, I read this in elementary, and, unlike what Paula Morrow says, I loved it as a kid. It's a good read for youngsters and helps them out later scholatically when they need to know about the Greek pantheon. Any class of English lit, Latin, History, etc. will have allusions to them. Yes, some day they should read Bulfinch's to get the full story--fuller, anyway--but this is a great introduction. If you're thinking of setting Bulfinch's Mythology, 300-500 pp, in front of a grade-schooler, you have got to be out of your mind.
This one's for the kids.
The incredibly colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand language allow this book to relate the story of Zeus and his raucous and dysfunctional family. Each god gets their own chapter, and their most important myths are explained. (their used as gender-neutral 3rd person singular possessive
Again, if you're looking for a more-in-depth title, Bulfinch is the way to go. If you're looking for a neat book on myths to share with your kid or young friend, this would be it.
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