You Choose Greek Myths The Epic Adventures of Odysseus

You may wonder why I keep choosing to review the You Choose series. I have no connection to the publishers or any of the authors. However, I do find the concept to be an intriguing one. Children exploring, history, mythology, and traditional tales and determining if any of their choices actually change the outcome of their stories. If they have the opportunity to write this kind of format would they make greater changes or would they realize it changes the books from learning opportunities to alternate history fantasies? It is a unique format and I'm continuing to enjoy exploring. Clearly if your child shows not interest I wouldn't suggest forcing the books. Equally, I wouldn't suggest You Choose as a curriculum. The books were never designed for that. However, they are an interesting support that allows students to look at situations just a little differently.

In this volume we explore the myth of Odysseus after the Trojan Horse on his way home to Ithaca. This is why I suggest these books are better as an add on than a curriculum. This book is far more interesting for students who know the story of Odysseus and how the story is supposed to happen. As one contemplates making choices, it is easier to see if any choices made will ultimately effect the story or is fate set, the fix is in so to speak. The first choice the reader is given is to choose which God to make an offering to as Odysseus heads home to Ithaca as a thanksgiving for having won and for a safe trip home. You can choose Poseidon, Athena, or Zeus. Those familiar with the story will understand the choices and may still have fun selecting a risky choice. However, being familiar they will also be more likely to understand the outcome of that choice as well.

Ancient Myths The Wooden Horse of Troy

I became familiar with John Malam through his work on the You Wouldn't Want to series. When I realized he'd become a part of a series on mythology, of course I had to explore it. The Wooden Horse of Troy (Ancient Greek Myths)is Malam's retelling of the tale Of Helen of Troy and the Trojan Horse.

If you have read some of Malam's You Wouldn't Want to books you will see the same approach to giving you all the relevant details of the myth, but still shaping it with some humor and fun to keep children engaged in reading the material. This is not a graphic history, but Peter Rutherford's illustrations do help carry the story as they are cartoonish, amusing, demonstrate the emotions of the characters in the myth, and help the reader to connect to the story.

One feature I rather liked in this series is Ask the Storyteller. Each of these provides the reader with a little more insight into background, future actions, motivation for characters actions, and in general helps the reader to understand pieces of the story that aren't directly a part of the myth.

While clearly a picture book, like the You Wouldn't Want to series this book would also be great with older readers who may not have a background in mythology and might not have a high interest. The information is all there, but the illustrations and the format are engaging.

Myths, Legends and Alternative Versions

As I've been continuing my research on fairy tales being published I've come across some interesting myth and legend resources I want to keep track of as well. It seems it was time for a new page. I'll be linking to the reviews as I get to them as well.

Updated June 2018

Chinese Myths and Legends: The Monkey King and Other Adventures

Egyptian Mythology:

Egyptian Myths (Mythology Around the World)

Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals (National Geographic Kids)

Alternate Egyptian Myths:

Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead (Secrets of the Ancient Gods) Review here

Greek Myths:

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

Favorite Greek Myths

Jason & the Argonauts (Ancient Greek Myths)

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters

The Wooden Horse of Troy (Ancient Greek Myths)

Alternative Greek Myths:

Cronus the Titan Tells All: Tricked by the Kids (The Other Side of the Myth)

Cyclops Tells All: The Way EYE See It (The Other Side of the Myth)Review here

The Epic Adventures of Odysseus: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)

Hades and the Underworld: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)

Hades Speaks!: A Guide to the Underworld by the Greek God of the Dead (Secrets of the Ancient Gods) Review here

Helen of Troy Tells All: Blame the Boys (The Other Side of the Myth)

Hercules and His 12 Labors: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)

Jason, the Argonauts, and the Golden Fleece: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)

Medea Tells All (The Other Side of the Myth)

Medusa Tells All: Beauty Missing, Hair Hissing (The Other Side of the Myth) Review here

Olympians vs. Titans: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)

Pandora Tells All: Not the Curious Kind (The Other Side of the Myth)Review here

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes

Perseus the Hero: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)

The Quest of Theseus: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)

The Trojan War: An Interactive Mythological Adventure (You Choose: Ancient Greek Myths)


Norse Myths: 

A Child's Introduction to Norse Mythology: Odin, Thor, Loki, and Other Viking Gods, Goddesses, Giants, and Monsters

D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths

Norse Myths (Mythology Around the World)

Treasury of Norse Mythology: Stories of Intrigue, Trickery, Love, and Revenge

Alternate Norse Myths:

Thor Speaks!: A Guide to the Realms by the Norse God of Thunder (Secrets of the Ancient Gods) Review here

Roman Myths:

Roman Myths (Mythology Around the World)

Collections:

National Geographic Kids Everything Mythology: Begin Your Quest for Facts, Photos, and Fun Fit for Gods and Goddesses

World Mythology for Children (Book)

Mythology Resources

After writing about the Percy Jackson series it seemed like a good idea to add some Mythology resources to the blog.

Greek :

Alphabet

Cartoon Myths

Heroes

Monsters

Mythman

Mythology Mystery Review Sheet

Myths and Legends


Myths and Worksheets

Myth Resources

Overthrow of Kronos

Plays

Reader's Theater Plays

Web English Teacher




Norse:

Nordic Gods




Roman:

Roman Gods

The Titan's Curse

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3) delves more deeply into Greek Mythology. This book starts with Annabelle missing and Percy anxious to start a quest to find her. However, Annabelle is not the only problem facing Camp Half Blood. Artemis arrives with her hunters on the quest to find a monster that has been stirring with the threat of Kronos rising. She leaves her hunters at the camp and sets off alone.

Riordan has been slipping pieces of the Titan myths into the books from the beginning discussing Kronos and his relationship to the Greek Gods. However, in this novel another Titan appears tied to Artemis and Annabelle’s fates. Percy must learn the tricks of a previous hero, Hercules to defeat the Titan and save his friends.

The book deals with death. Not all the characters make it to the end of the story. The prophecy the God's have been worrying about regarding Percy has an interesting turn not predicted in the previous novels.

Careful readers of the previous books are rewarded if they remember Annabelle and Percy's trip to a hotel that does not like its guests to leave. While the information is revealed eventually to all readers, those who remember are rewarded by figuring out the mystery first.

This is a great series to engage children in learning about Greek Myths. This book in particular will make readers want to go back and check the details. I know I found myself Googling a few details I had forgotten about the Titans. If you want to encourage children to explore Greek Mythology this series is a great way to engage students in reading and then exploring the actual myths. You will find they can make comparisons, demonstrate where the author got the material for the stories, and even be able to write their own.

Free Teaching Materials:

Teacher's Guides

The Sea of Monsters

I listened to The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2) while working on various writing and craft projects. It had been a while since I read the book and the audio version held my attention.

Percy Jackson's adventures continue. Camp Half Blood is in trouble. Percy is denied his request to go on a quest to save the camp, but as any reader of the series expects he becomes involved in the effort to retrieve the Golden Fleece regardless of the rules.

Unlike the Alcatraz series, the Percy Jackson series does maintain momentum and quality writing throughout the series. This story continues to move the individual book plot as well as the series plot along at a solid pace. We know more about the Titans, we see a developing relationship with Percy and his father Poseidon, and his relationship with the other half blood heroes.

As a former teacher, one of the things I like about this series is that it is a natural way to generate interest in Greek mythology. Children can read this story without much knowledge about Greek history and come away knowing a bit more about the Greek Gods. However, a clever teacher or parent can use this series to interest students in learning more about Greek myths. While the Greek Gods are given a modern update in this series, it is easy to motivate students to learning more about the casual references to myths that the author leaves in the stories for the reader to explore further on their own.

Free Teaching Resources:

Teaching Guides