The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
Milo has been reading and re-reading this one, though it’s probably a bit above his age (recommended 12 and up) because it is a bit gory. Though, after looking through it, it was nothing we hadn’t discussed before. Of course Greek mythology is brutal. The illustrations are watercolor prints and are beautiful, and the story is accessible. Of course, I recommend kids read the original work when they are older — it was one of my favorites in high school. Just a word of warning, if you’re not okay with some partial female nudity and a few bloody war scenes, this book is not for you!
I have no problem with my kids reading about or seeing artwork depicting this sort of thing as long as one of us around to discuss it with them. And Milo finds the whole book captivating, leading to more questions about the classics and Greek mythology in general, a good thing! How do you feel about this sort of book?
My first grade daughter has been enjoying the Olympians series from George O’Connor. The books tell the Greek myths in graphic novel format, starting with Zeus. Inside the front cover of each one there is a “family tree” so you can keep track of who’s who as you read. We also have D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths in reserve, but are holding it until she is a little older. You’re right, the myths are gory. But the names/stories are the basis for so much, from the planets to our Achilles tendon.
I feel quite similar in that I like for one of us to be around or reading with the kids. We read aloud from American history books and also have Sally Mann’s Immediate Family. The kids are particularly fascinated with Mann’s photos, spending long stretches with each one. We talk a lot about them; what might be going on in each photo and frankly, letting them be interested in the nudity and the rawness of the feelings in the photos without making a big deal out of it, one way or another. Kind of a “this is life” approach
Also, I have tremendously fond memories of reading Greek mythology in elementary school. Our neighbor’s family adored them and I listened to them with the neighbors a lot.
My girls are obsessed. Frances got The Iliad for Christmas (which is more violent than The Odyssey, I think) but we got through it. We probably own a dozen different books on the subject, not counting the countless book series that are based on them that my oldest can’t stop reading. Last year, in Kindergarten, they did a really long study of Greek Mythology, and that’s all F talked about for weeks on end, and still does. A few years ago, Ella dressed up as Artemis for Halloween and F dressed up as her deer, but she got really ticked off because everyone thought she was a holiday reindeer. She likes people to take mythology very seriously!
It’s interesting that they use so much blue in the illustrations. I heard a story on Radiolab about color that suggested Homer most likely couldn’t see blue. The scholar actually suggested all the Greeks were colorblind
http://www.radiolab.org/story/211213-sky-isnt-blue/
Wow, Lisey, really?! I’m definitely going to check that out!