Demeter and Persephone: Homeric Hymn Number Two

One of a series of three titles adapted by Proddow from the Homeric Hymns, this picture-book presents the story of the abduction of Persephone, and the consequent grief and self-imposed exile of her mother, Demeter. Unlike many of the more simplified versions of this myth available for children, this retelling includes Demeter's stay at Eleusis before her (partial) reunion with Persephone.

While there are many children's books devoted to the subject of Greek mythology, these titles by Penelope Proddow are the only ones, with which I am familiar, that take the Hymns as their acknowledged source, and attempt to present these stories in their original (if somewhat abbreviated) literary form. For that alone, they are worth examining. The show more color illustrations by Barbara Cooney, a two-time Caldecott winner, have a distinct charm to them, a sort-of "retro-groovy" folk style. Hardly surprising given that these books were produced in the early 1970s.

While I wholeheartedly endorse this book, and the companion ones devoted to Dionysos and Hermes, readers should be aware that this is not the usual fare available in mythology books for children. The text is based on a poem written more than 2000 years ago in dactylic hexameter. It is in non-rhyming poetic form, and uses vocabulary with which a young child might be unfamiliar. While not the best book to introduce children to Greek mythology, I do think it is fabulous for the older child who has shown an interest. They already know the stories, now start introducing them to the actual literature. show less

There are a couple of elements missing from the retelling of this myth, but the illustrations are beautiful and breathtaking, filled with color and boldness. I also like the fact that Persephone came up with an solution, instead of having Zeus step in and decide her fate. Overall a great book for a Greek myth or H and P collection.

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