The Amazing Adventures of Ulysses

by Vivian Webb, Heather Amery, Stephen Cartwright (Illustrator)

Originally published: London: Usborne Pub., 2003.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy, Classics

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 1981

About the author

Vivian Webb is a published author and a narrator of children's books.

Reviews

[Zaghol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kita nak baca versi asal tebal2 malas, kita baca versi kanak2, syok jugak kisah Ulysses ni, dia sesat kat laut dan singgah 1 pulau, dan jumpa Cyclops. Teringat kisah sahabat nabi Tamim Al-Dari r.a yang sesat kat laut dan jumpa dajal mata 1 kat satu pulau. Mungkin Ulysses ni cerita dongeng, dianggap dongeng sebab takde bukti saintifik. Wallahua'lam.

[Iulia_R · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐

[Jeffrey Hite · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story of Ulysses is something that I grew up knowing only bits and pieces of. Until I was old enough to read a "Real" Mythology book I didn't know the whole story.

With that being said, I am glad that there are books like this out there that my kids can read. While this book does not get everything, how can you really cover everything in the Odyssey in 80+ pages, it does a pretty good job.

My favorite part is that it really does not sugar coat a lot of it. The Cyclops gets stabbed in the eye with a red hot poker, the men drown or get eaten beasts. In the end Ulysses traps all the men in his palace and kills them. These stories are dark, they are dirty and there is nothing wrong with that.

While I was reading this out loud to some my younger children this morning, my older son, who has read the Odyssey, said to me it almost makes him angry when they dumb down books. I have to agree with him. But even he agrees that this is a good introduction to this great story. In agreeing with my son the one thing that I have always found frustrating is that most of these stories completely leave out Telemachus and the role he played. This book does at least include him in the story which I really appreciate.

I give this book 4 stars, even though I have pointed out some of the books faults above, I really did enjoy it and I appreciate the chance to bring these stories to my younger children. This book is appropriate for ages 5 and up.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up because my Greek is terrible and that means the book should get the benefit of the doubt.

Some of my favorite details were left out, but that was always going to happen in a version this short.
All in all, a cute kids' version without being too graphic (or too free with reinterpreting to keep the graphic bits away).

[Heidi Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eight year old can not get enough of this one!

[Benji · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quite good because Ulysses went on lots of adventures.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really really cool. I give it 4 stars because it was too boyish for me.

[alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this as a kid
Book IV of The Odyssey The Odyssey
Ulysses is the roman name for Odysseus