What do you think?
Rate this book
Gods and Heroes: Mythology Around the World
Journey through ancient lore in this hilarious, illustrated encyclopedia of world mythology. It's the perfect way to introduce kids to legendary lands, powerful gods, brave heroes, wild creatures, and more! Skillfully told and illustrated by Korwin Briggs, it's the who's who and what's what of ancient culture, organized alphabetically.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2018
97 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 1, 2018
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
With all the mythology books going around these days I often find myself reading the same myths over and over and over again, but this book actually had a ton of in it that I wasn't familiar with at all. It still does a lot of the standard Greek and Norse myth stuff that we're probably all super familiar with, but there's also a ton of stuff from Egyptian, Indian, Asian, South American, and ancient Mesopotamian mythologies so it definitely had a lot of variety. I really loved all the illustrations and liked that the book managed to keep a fun feel while also not skimming over the horrible things a lot of the gods [ok let's be real, mostly the Greek gods] did. I would have maybe preferred the book to be organized by region instead of alphabetically but overall a very fun and informative book that included a lot of gods and goddesses you might not have heard a lot about before!
With all the mythology books going around these days I often find myself reading the same myths over and over and over again, but this book actually had a ton of in it that I wasn't familiar with at all. It still does a lot of the standard Greek and Norse myth stuff that we're probably all super familiar with, but there's also a ton of stuff from Egyptian, Indian, Asian, South American, and ancient Mesopotamian mythologies so it definitely had a lot of variety. I really loved all the illustrations and liked that the book managed to keep a fun feel while also not skimming over the horrible things a lot of the gods [ok let's be real, mostly the Greek gods] did. I would have maybe preferred the book to be organized by region instead of alphabetically but overall a very fun and informative book that included a lot of gods and goddesses you might not have heard a lot about before!
August 21, 2018
Interesting book about, like the title says, God and Heroes from different mythologies. What is good about this one, is the fact that it present a big variety of culture and doing so we learn and explore others mythologies then the well know Greek and Norse (so popular in recent years). It's for kids, so it's a overview of everything, we don't get really deep in any of those, but it allows you to explore and if something pick your curiosity you can always search for another book, or on the Internet, for more information about it! I'm not an expert on mythology so I can't say if the information are accurate but I will put my faith in the editor for this one... and I withdraw one star because the alphabetical order is not the perfect way to organize this book in my opinion, I would have prefer it organized by culture (Greek, Japanese, etc.) and then put and alphabetical index at the end, so it will also be easy to search in by alphabetical order, maybe more of a personal preference but I think it will have been easier to explore!
September 10, 2018
This concise who's who of heroes and legends was very enjoyable.
It's amazing how much information on the different gods and heroes the author managed to put in each few pages, and still make it an engaging read.
A nice, multicultural starting point for anybody who is interested in mythology.
I received a copy through Netgalley.
It's amazing how much information on the different gods and heroes the author managed to put in each few pages, and still make it an engaging read.
A nice, multicultural starting point for anybody who is interested in mythology.
I received a copy through Netgalley.
September 23, 2020
When you love mythology you tend to read anything and everything that you can get your hands on related to it, I saw this available at our local library and borrowed the E-Book version of it.
There's a lot of diversity in this book and the introductions are great for both those who are heavily into myths and those just starting out. There are also illustrations throughout that are a nice touch to keeping you interested and not having it seem like a book heavy with facts.
There's a lot of diversity in this book and the introductions are great for both those who are heavily into myths and those just starting out. There are also illustrations throughout that are a nice touch to keeping you interested and not having it seem like a book heavy with facts.
September 16, 2023
4/5 Stars
Date Reviewed: 12 September 2018
For reviews and more, check out the blog , It’s All Anthony .
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Date Reviewed: 12 September 2018
For reviews and more, check out the blog , It’s All Anthony .
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
August 21, 2018
If you are looking for a good, all-around introductory book about the world's most popular gods and heroes for a middle grader, look no further that this comprehensive book.
Altogether, there are 75 entries representing 23 cultures, and not only are gods, goddesses, and heroes included, but so mythological creatures and underworlds. Each entry give the tradition name of the character, their home and other names they may be known by. Readers will also learn some fun facts and other interesting tidbits from the world of mythology. Author Briggs is a cartoonist and so each entry has whimsical, colorful illustrations that never manage to loose important characteristics.
One of my young readers borrowed my copy of this book and loved it. And with more and more novels being written that incorporating different cultural myths into their storylines, this can also serve as a help reference book.
For example, did you know that...?
In Slavic and Russian folklore, every home has a spirit called a domovoi that usually takes the form of a tiny, hairy old man;
Athena won a contest to become patron god of Athens by creating the best new invention: the olive tree;
Cú Chulainn, the greatest Celtic hero, has three birthdays;
The Aboriginal Rainbow Snake is one of the world's oldest mythological creatures;
Apsaras, Buddhist and Hindu spirits of clouds and water, take the form of gorgeous, well-dressed women who dance with the utmost grace and precision.
I have to confess that I did not know any of these things, but young readers will discover even more fascinating facts and histories like these in Gods and Heroes.
Gods and Heroes: Mythology Around the World is a fun, informative book for anyone interested in mythology.
Altogether, there are 75 entries representing 23 cultures, and not only are gods, goddesses, and heroes included, but so mythological creatures and underworlds. Each entry give the tradition name of the character, their home and other names they may be known by. Readers will also learn some fun facts and other interesting tidbits from the world of mythology. Author Briggs is a cartoonist and so each entry has whimsical, colorful illustrations that never manage to loose important characteristics.
One of my young readers borrowed my copy of this book and loved it. And with more and more novels being written that incorporating different cultural myths into their storylines, this can also serve as a help reference book.
For example, did you know that...?
In Slavic and Russian folklore, every home has a spirit called a domovoi that usually takes the form of a tiny, hairy old man;
Athena won a contest to become patron god of Athens by creating the best new invention: the olive tree;
Cú Chulainn, the greatest Celtic hero, has three birthdays;
The Aboriginal Rainbow Snake is one of the world's oldest mythological creatures;
Apsaras, Buddhist and Hindu spirits of clouds and water, take the form of gorgeous, well-dressed women who dance with the utmost grace and precision.
I have to confess that I did not know any of these things, but young readers will discover even more fascinating facts and histories like these in Gods and Heroes.
Gods and Heroes: Mythology Around the World is a fun, informative book for anyone interested in mythology.
January 18, 2019
Great introductory book for mythology. I was very impressed by how diverse it is. I feel like Greek mythology has always been really popular and so, we're pretty familiar with it, but this book contains gods and stories from cultures I've never even heard of. I'm always fascinated by how similar all these gods are to each other but unique to each culture.
There are more than 70 gods featured from 23 cultures around the world. And not only that but there are sections devoted to famous creatures, monsters, nature spirits, different underworlds, etc. I thought that was really cool.
Among the stories for each god, the author includes witty comics and cliff notes with fun facts, definitions/sources, and alternative versions of popular myths if any. There's also a legend page in the beginning that keys a different banner for each culture and said banner is on the introductory page for each related god/hero. The book definitely goes the extra mile design-wise.
There are more than 70 gods featured from 23 cultures around the world. And not only that but there are sections devoted to famous creatures, monsters, nature spirits, different underworlds, etc. I thought that was really cool.
Among the stories for each god, the author includes witty comics and cliff notes with fun facts, definitions/sources, and alternative versions of popular myths if any. There's also a legend page in the beginning that keys a different banner for each culture and said banner is on the introductory page for each related god/hero. The book definitely goes the extra mile design-wise.
May 27, 2019
Haha I love this book and I have my own copy. I almost cannot be parted with this book! It is SUPER interesting and I love reading the stories OVER and OVER again and it feels like I can never stop. The little side drawings are funny and cute and the overall book is the PRIME MINISTER of my book world👳🏽
May 9, 2022
Great info on the gods and goddesses of all different kinds of mythology. Very funny and enjoyable. 100000% recommend!!!!
July 17, 2019
GODS AND HEROES is my go-to book now on all things mythology, which I’ll admit to being wobbly on. I learned about 70+ characters from 23 cultures around the world, in this A-to-Z encyclopedic mythology compendium. Highly recommended for young readers and adults who need a mythology knowledge tune-up ... or like me, a complete overhaul! 5/5
Pub Date 21 Aug 2018
Thanks to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#GodsAndHeroes #NetGalley
Pub Date 21 Aug 2018
Thanks to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#GodsAndHeroes #NetGalley
December 26, 2021
I have wrapped up the mythology unit in my Freshman English co-op class with American Born Chinese. Now it’s time to review the book that I used as the cornerstone of the unit. It might surprise you, but I went with Gods and Heroes: Mythology Around the World by Korwin Briggs. Of course, this won’t surprise you if you know nothing about it, or it might just because I didn’t go with Edith Wharton’s Mythology.
Here’s the skinny: this book is meant for children. (It also isn’t the only book that I chose for my ninth-ish graders that was technically “below” their reading level. More to come.) It is chock-full of colorful, playful illustrations and the reading level is maybe late elementary school? But there were a few things that this book offered that I couldn’t find elsewhere. The main thing was world mythology. I really wanted to cover myths from around the world, both Eastern and Western world, and there was very little to be found. (Some books covered Greek and maybe Norse and then had some small sections on other mythology, but never anything balanced. Well, I take that back a little bit. I think I recall some college textbooks (or at least that level of study) covering world myth in a more comprehensive way, but there was no way I was pressing a college-level text on these kids.) Two other things I wanted: levity and ease. Originally, I thought they were going to be reading this alongside their novel-reading—and it did start that way—so I didn’t need to challenge their reading skills, just get them information in a painless way. And since they are homeschoolers, I wanted to teach mythology in both a lighthearted and contemplative way. If that makes sense.
I like this book. It’s not very thorough, sure, but it’s meant to introduce children to mythology and it did it’s job telling us stories about mythological gods and goddesses from all over the place. It didn’t deal so much with beasts/monsters or even heroes and heroines, but that isn’t the title, is it? Oh wait, half of it is. Well, it’s more like a colorful encyclopedia with very limited space. It also didn’t have a lot of information about mythology itself or mythology of place. I incorporated that by personally studying books and articles on those specific subjects and teaching it in class (and on their Weekly Worksheet which is a different story). By the time the unit was over, they had an overarching view of mythology, mythology from the point of their worldview, and of each of the “regions” of mythology as I broke it up. (I had like seven weeks to go through the book, so we didn’t read everything, but the majority.) Why would you have this book on your shelf? If you are teaching mythology to a student. If you want to read mythology to your child. If you want a well-rounded and intelligent bookshelf for your child. If you want an easy-to-digest introduction to the characters and ideas of world mythology with a fun, fanciful format, then this is a nice book and I would say it’s your go-to.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
Here’s the skinny: this book is meant for children. (It also isn’t the only book that I chose for my ninth-ish graders that was technically “below” their reading level. More to come.) It is chock-full of colorful, playful illustrations and the reading level is maybe late elementary school? But there were a few things that this book offered that I couldn’t find elsewhere. The main thing was world mythology. I really wanted to cover myths from around the world, both Eastern and Western world, and there was very little to be found. (Some books covered Greek and maybe Norse and then had some small sections on other mythology, but never anything balanced. Well, I take that back a little bit. I think I recall some college textbooks (or at least that level of study) covering world myth in a more comprehensive way, but there was no way I was pressing a college-level text on these kids.) Two other things I wanted: levity and ease. Originally, I thought they were going to be reading this alongside their novel-reading—and it did start that way—so I didn’t need to challenge their reading skills, just get them information in a painless way. And since they are homeschoolers, I wanted to teach mythology in both a lighthearted and contemplative way. If that makes sense.
I like this book. It’s not very thorough, sure, but it’s meant to introduce children to mythology and it did it’s job telling us stories about mythological gods and goddesses from all over the place. It didn’t deal so much with beasts/monsters or even heroes and heroines, but that isn’t the title, is it? Oh wait, half of it is. Well, it’s more like a colorful encyclopedia with very limited space. It also didn’t have a lot of information about mythology itself or mythology of place. I incorporated that by personally studying books and articles on those specific subjects and teaching it in class (and on their Weekly Worksheet which is a different story). By the time the unit was over, they had an overarching view of mythology, mythology from the point of their worldview, and of each of the “regions” of mythology as I broke it up. (I had like seven weeks to go through the book, so we didn’t read everything, but the majority.) Why would you have this book on your shelf? If you are teaching mythology to a student. If you want to read mythology to your child. If you want a well-rounded and intelligent bookshelf for your child. If you want an easy-to-digest introduction to the characters and ideas of world mythology with a fun, fanciful format, then this is a nice book and I would say it’s your go-to.
***REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST BLOG***
March 8, 2019
This was highly entertaining and mildly informative. Folklore is crazy, it wasn't uncommon for gods to randomly create beings on impulse or over the weirdest thing. There was a competition between two gods to make the most gods, which they did by chewing and spitting out objects. Male gods frequently get pregnant, and not always in a womb, like a chin got pregnant once. So the Old Ones could be surprisingly progressive. The writing and art upholds this whimsical humor too. Fun stuff.
My one complaint is predictable: Way too western focused. It's got tons of Greek, Norse, Egyptian and East Asian gods. The last two I suppose break that a bit, but I was super annoyed that each area of the Americas, Africa, and the Australia/Pacific Islands got basically one each. Even just with the Incas, they included Viracocha, the creator god, but not Inti the sun god who was actually more important. I understand there's a matter of global influence and how much is known about Greek vs American myths, etc. But this wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't also have Heimdall among other Nordic ones, but for him it basically says "We don't know any stories about him but here's his bio." They totally could've replaced that with Inti. Or just made it longer.
My one complaint is predictable: Way too western focused. It's got tons of Greek, Norse, Egyptian and East Asian gods. The last two I suppose break that a bit, but I was super annoyed that each area of the Americas, Africa, and the Australia/Pacific Islands got basically one each. Even just with the Incas, they included Viracocha, the creator god, but not Inti the sun god who was actually more important. I understand there's a matter of global influence and how much is known about Greek vs American myths, etc. But this wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't also have Heimdall among other Nordic ones, but for him it basically says "We don't know any stories about him but here's his bio." They totally could've replaced that with Inti. Or just made it longer.
August 9, 2018
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A long long time ago, people believed in deities and heroes very different from what people worship nowadays. Every culture has its stories, its heroes and its Gods. Follow along as Korwin Briggs introduces us to some of those figures.
From Irish gods to Greek heroes, the variety is impressing. Accompanied by banners that show you the myths' origins, this is a pleasant, exciting book filled with stories from around the world!
The book is informative in a simple and comprehensive way that is a certain fit for children of all ages. Followed by charming and humorous illustrations, the stories are short enough to grasp attention, but at the same time long enough to introduce the child to some amazing myths.
This is a strongly recommended read-along for parents and children, but also recommended for adults, who can learn a lot with this wonderful book!
A long long time ago, people believed in deities and heroes very different from what people worship nowadays. Every culture has its stories, its heroes and its Gods. Follow along as Korwin Briggs introduces us to some of those figures.
From Irish gods to Greek heroes, the variety is impressing. Accompanied by banners that show you the myths' origins, this is a pleasant, exciting book filled with stories from around the world!
The book is informative in a simple and comprehensive way that is a certain fit for children of all ages. Followed by charming and humorous illustrations, the stories are short enough to grasp attention, but at the same time long enough to introduce the child to some amazing myths.
This is a strongly recommended read-along for parents and children, but also recommended for adults, who can learn a lot with this wonderful book!
March 24, 2024
Gods and Heroes by Korwin Briggs
I have always been interested in myths and legends. This book did not disappoint me. I found it to be very accurate with other books I have read. The illustrations are very colorful and vivid. I like how the book is laid out alphabetically from Amaterasu The Radiant Sun Goddess to Zeus The God of Kings. Each beginning page has a color which can go back to a map and show where the legend is from. It also has a design which will tell the culture. As the story begins you will find a icon of if they were a God (lightening), Hero (helmet) or Creature (monster). In addition it has Tradition (where myth came from), Home (exact location) and Alias (listing other names and cultures. Though I would not recommend this book for anyone under 13 due to the violence and cruelty. This is a great book for anyone who is a fan of myths and legends and would do great for a school report. I like the detail in this book as it is through but not enough to lose interest.
I have always been interested in myths and legends. This book did not disappoint me. I found it to be very accurate with other books I have read. The illustrations are very colorful and vivid. I like how the book is laid out alphabetically from Amaterasu The Radiant Sun Goddess to Zeus The God of Kings. Each beginning page has a color which can go back to a map and show where the legend is from. It also has a design which will tell the culture. As the story begins you will find a icon of if they were a God (lightening), Hero (helmet) or Creature (monster). In addition it has Tradition (where myth came from), Home (exact location) and Alias (listing other names and cultures. Though I would not recommend this book for anyone under 13 due to the violence and cruelty. This is a great book for anyone who is a fan of myths and legends and would do great for a school report. I like the detail in this book as it is through but not enough to lose interest.
January 19, 2020
I love learning about different gods and myths that make up this world...so this book seemed to fit my interests. It is for a young audience-- and the drawings and stories are fun. This is basically an encyclopedia of gods from all over the world, though there is more of a concentration on Greek/Roman gods--- there is also a mix of Celtic, Japanese, Chinese, Hindu (yeah), African and Native American (very limited).
As short as the passages were, this book would be a great starting point for a kid who has shown interest in mythology-- or who is reading the Percy Jackson series. It helped me better understand all the gods running around Bali....and put some missing pieces together from the stories I heard.
Read if you are looking for some background on gods/myths.
As short as the passages were, this book would be a great starting point for a kid who has shown interest in mythology-- or who is reading the Percy Jackson series. It helped me better understand all the gods running around Bali....and put some missing pieces together from the stories I heard.
Read if you are looking for some background on gods/myths.
September 10, 2018
I love learning more about mythology and this book included both some of the most well-known deities from western mythology as well as some gods and goddesses that rarely get mentioned in general mythology overviews.
I loved the illustrations and the writing style was easy to follow and really entertaining. There was some repetition when it came to married deities from the same pantheon because there most famous stories are obviously interconnected, but that's only really noticeable if you read the whole book in one go.
Overall, this is an entertaining introduction to a variety of pantheons.
I loved the illustrations and the writing style was easy to follow and really entertaining. There was some repetition when it came to married deities from the same pantheon because there most famous stories are obviously interconnected, but that's only really noticeable if you read the whole book in one go.
Overall, this is an entertaining introduction to a variety of pantheons.
September 28, 2018
While my reviewing talents are kind of scuppered by only 60% of the pages of my netgalley file actually presenting any text or illustration, I can tell this is a book worth considering. It's wide-raging, from Baldur to Baal to Brahma, and doesn't side overly with any one mythology. The only hiccup I would say is that the illustrative style is so cartoonish it would suit the six year old, and some of the text (or some I actually got to see) is for those about eleven. But for a primer on the world's mythologies, this is more than a primer – it covers some secondary detail as well. And that may just well swing it for you. Well worth a look.
May 1, 2019
This was an interesting book. Good pictures, great writing, interesting and informative in a story kinda narrative. Not all the stories are included (it would be the size of a dictionary) but the basics and most common ones were, I believe. Great for an overview and just getting to know some of the players in mythology. I liked that there were more than just the mostly known Greek gods. I enjoyed reading this and it's great for a step in learning more about mythology and how people used to live. Great for any age and informative in an easy, creative way. Enjoy
September 22, 2023
Contento di averlo letto: è una raccolta di molte divinità dalla A alla Z, un bel compendio su quelle che si conoscono meno come mitologia Inca, africana o Indiana; su quella Greco-romana, norrena e giapponese risulterà un po’ pleonastica e non così approfondita, belle le schede introduttive, orribili le battute in mezzo.
Consigliata in inglese come l’ho letta io, in modo da imparare modi di dire nuovi e avere l’originale di molte battute me la terrò come compendium su quali divinità imprecare senza essere banale
Consigliata in inglese come l’ho letta io, in modo da imparare modi di dire nuovi e avere l’originale di molte battute me la terrò come compendium su quali divinità imprecare senza essere banale
July 26, 2019
This book is a good introduction to different mythologies around the world, but given that each god/hero was only given 2-3 pages, there was a lot of information about different characters. Also, I got an ARC of this and I've never seen so many grammatical and punctuation errors in and ARC ever. Kids may be confused about who relates to what myths, so there may have been a way to organize it by religion/geographical area rather than alphabetical.
February 10, 2021
Best Mythology Book EVER!!!!!!!!!!
I really liked this book. They had a lot of information about mythology, from many different countries. And they read it off from a encyclopedia in a boring way. They phrased like you are actually talking to someone. And they have a lot of pictures which are very cute. I think u should read this if u want to learn about mythology,big or small or if u r going to learn about different cultures as a job. - Lia Anoop🦄💐🌸🏵🌹🐅🐐🐍🐉
I really liked this book. They had a lot of information about mythology, from many different countries. And they read it off from a encyclopedia in a boring way. They phrased like you are actually talking to someone. And they have a lot of pictures which are very cute. I think u should read this if u want to learn about mythology,big or small or if u r going to learn about different cultures as a job. - Lia Anoop🦄💐🌸🏵🌹🐅🐐🐍🐉
May 26, 2020
An overall good overview of gods, heroes, and creatures from various cultures, including Indian, Sumerian, and Japanese.
However, a few times Briggs drops a line like, "Not much is known about so-and-so god except when s/he..."
Ooh, it grabs your interest, you flip to the next page, and you are now on to the next god -- no brief retelling of that oh so interesting and sole remaining story. Argh, frustrating! What was the point of mentioning that story tidbit?
For whom? 10+
Issues addressed?
Origin beliefs of different cultures, including about death, love, and nature
However, a few times Briggs drops a line like, "Not much is known about so-and-so god except when s/he..."
Ooh, it grabs your interest, you flip to the next page, and you are now on to the next god -- no brief retelling of that oh so interesting and sole remaining story. Argh, frustrating! What was the point of mentioning that story tidbit?
For whom? 10+
Issues addressed?
Origin beliefs of different cultures, including about death, love, and nature
January 1, 2022
I slowly made my way through this book, one entry at a time. This book is full of colorful illustrations and is organized quite beautifully. I loved learning about different myths from a ton of cultures. I'm very happy to have this book for my future classroom! It is a fantastic read for those who enjoy mythology and learning about different cultures!
September 3, 2018
I love how this book begins with explaining that before there were the modern day super heroes there were the ancient ones. Each story is short enough to capture and keep the attention of kids and simple enough to understand.
November 26, 2018
This book gave me an insight into different cultures and beliefs. This book has mentioned gods and heroes all around the world, while telling about how civilizations grew and how humans motivated themselves to do the impossible. I would really give this book five stars.
dnf
July 1, 2022DNF at 40% (page 115). I love learning about mythology and folklore, but this just wasn’t it for me. I think I would appreciate a more adult version. Too many details are left out in this juvenile version.
September 26, 2018
Ridiculously fun and distinctly meaty in the subjects and cultures that it covers, more fun than I've had with a mythology book since the Eighties.
December 15, 2018
A pretty great book if my kid wants to get into mythology someday.
November 2, 2019
A colorful, lighthearted volume with about 100 brief entries covering gods, goddesses, and other beings from around the world. Sure to appeal to readers with an interest in mythology. Ages 9-12
December 19, 2019
Myths appropriate for kiddos. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews