The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War

by Emily Little, Michael Eagle (Illustrator)

Details the dramatic end to the ten-year siege of Troy using vivid watercolor paintings to outline the clever Greek ploy that got them into the impregnable city

Genres: History, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Greece, Childrens, Historical

48 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1988

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents bought me this book when I was very young and I've happily bought copies first for my nephew and now for my daughter. It's a simple, spare account of the Trojan War focusing on the causes of the war and the end of the war itself.

The Trojan Horse introduces a handful of the Iliad's cast--Odysseus, Menelaus, Helen, Priam--but omits stories like that of Achilles and Hector. It also includes a lot of archaeological information, making this a hybrid of archaeology and Homer. The final chapter briefly describes the rediscovery of Troy by the 19th century archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, a chapter that excited me as a child about the reality of history and the fact that much of it still out there somewhere, waiting for us beneath the dust.

Perhaps my favorite part of the book is the illustrations. These excited me even before I could handle reading the story on my own. They're detailed, dynamic, and powerfully evocative of the world created by the story.

With names like Agamemnon floating through the story, The Trojan Horse may be best suited as a transitional text for kids learning to read with a parent's help. With such good illustrations, it also works as a picture book you can read to a preliterate child. I recommend it heartily for anyone with a child showing an early love for history and myth.

Highly recommended.

[What April's Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy run-down or introduction of the story of the Trojan Horse.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great. I kinda knew what this was all about, but the book explains it all--quick, simple and to-the-point. Pleasure to read this. Cut out all the stuff we don't need.

[Leah Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to introduce children to the Trojan war and all it's glory. I know I would have understood The Iliad a LOT better if I had read this earlier in life. Easy to read and to understand!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book simply, but thoroughly, tells the story of the Greek and Trojan War. Since I didn't learn about the Greek and Trojan War until I was twelve and was studying Latin, this book is MUCH easier for kids to read than what I read.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book ever, so it gets 5.

[Aimee Fuhrman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fabulous retelling of this classic story! It is a higher level Easy Reader (level 5, which equates approx. to grades 2-4 depending on your child's reading ability, though the book can easily be enjoyed by a wider age range), and Emily Little has done a fabulous job of condensing this oft confusing story into its essential parts. The story is written as history, omitting the mythological components (such as involvement by the gods), and the pictures by Michael Eagle help clarify the narrative.

I highly recommend adding this to any elementary or middle school study of Greek history, or use it to augment a child's passion for Greek culture and mythology. I give this book a G rating. To learn more about my parental rating system, visit my website SmudgedPages.net.

[Nicholas Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise account of, as the subtitle says, 'how the Greeks won the war' with Troy. Written in story form with short chapters, the information left out and glossed over are just as potent as those focused on: the capture of Helen, the role of Achilles and his fight with Hector, Paris' role in both causing the conflict and killing Achilles etc. Nonetheless, it is an interesting look at the famous events, with a final chapter on Homer putting it all together 400 years later; and the finding of evidence that Troy actually existed by German Archeologist, Heinrich Schliemann, in 1870.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rascal (5) loves this book. My Princess (8) who read it aloud said it was alright. They all want to watch the movie now and hear more about Achilles. This reader is a good challenge for her at this level. Great with a vocabulary at the end to challenging Greek names and cultural works. We own a copy of this. It was probably a Veritas Press NTGR recommendation. The illustrations are okay.

[Lynne Lehmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written

I thought the book was well-written. I think history should be taught geographically, and this book helped me picture see where exactly the Trojan War took place. I don’t think kids in elementary school should just be reading fantasy kinds of books. They should be learning about world history and science at a young age with age appropriate reading skill levels.

[Julie Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could rate this 10 stars because it was just so fun. It was fun and I wish the book would go on forever. I liked it because it was about a really cool way of winning the war. I liked it so so much. The second the book arrived in the mail, I started reading it and finished in one day. I have read it 2 times already. -Grant age 7

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, short telling of the Trojan War. I used it in conjunction with our history lesson of the Trojan Horse. It’s not written with intricate details, but it’s not meant to. It merely adds a story-like account of the historical event.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago. The date finished is just a vague guess. The book gets five stars because I read it several times, and the story really stuck with me. Great for elementary school ages.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tale of how the Greeks used subterfuge, and cunning to defeat the Trojans, and burn down the city of Troy to end the ten year war between the two armies. 400 years later his war was depicted in a poem known as the Iliad by the Greek poet named Homer.

[Brittany Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for elementary children who are studying Ancient Greece.

[A N P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended history books for kids age 8-10 years old. With a clear illustration and easy words, kids will learn history about Troy War easily.

[Kenneth Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice short introduction to homer for the very young. My 6 year old requested me read it to her and I didn’t pass up that opportunity.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, informative, and engaging

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great intro to Greek culture for my granddaughter's school. She was able to regurgitate what she read in great detail. Well written for children.

[Aladdin Ch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short. There wasn't enough details or thriller to make me dive into it. It is more like a summary than a book.

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was boring. Because it was about history

[Tracy Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

We used this book along with our Homeschool study of Ancient Greece.

[Riba Bajaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first ever book from the school library
So osam

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting retelling of the myth of the Trojan horse.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never comprehended the story of the Trojan Horse… until now!

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty good reader for kids about the story of the Trojan War. from what is known of the history, then the mythology, and then the modern rediscovery, such as it was, by Schliemann.

[Hope Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction for my 4th grader into the Trojan War and setting is up to read the works of Homer later in the week.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of our homeschool curriculum to introduce The Iliad.

Not super detailed but did provide a simplified introduction to the time and history.

[RDL · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Good. I like that Odysseus used his mind. I didn't like that people died.