Book of Myths, A

by Bulfinch

A selection of Greek myths and verses from poets old and new

2 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1969

Reviews

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Book of Myths, taken from Thomas Bullfinch’s Age of Fable, readers are presented with origin stories based on Greek myths. In Latona and the Rustics, Latona, having been banished by Juno, is searching for water. In the valley where she is, she find a pond of clear water in which she hopes to drink. Admonished by the villagers that she cannot drink, Latona begs while carrying her two babies. Instead, the villagers hop in the water to muddy up the water to make it undrinkable. Latona calls to heaven to turn the villages into creatures that can never leave the water and with that; they become frogs.

This book is a great way to introduce Greek mythology to high elementary school and middle school readers. I enjoyed the short story nature of myths and stories like King Midas or Cupid and Psyche. Each story also comes with a singular line drawing, illustrated by Helen Sewell, fitting of what you might find on a Greek vase.