Tales from the Odyssey: The One-Eyed Giant

I do so recommend this to students who are at the Magic Treehouse reading level but want a little more action. I have students who are in middle school reading Magic Treehouse, and I highly recommend this to them as the content is a little more interesting.

My son was tired of Magic Treehouse books being so tame, and this one described the cyclops tearing limbs off of his friends and eating them whole, once vomiting, drunk, chunks of human flesh, blood, and brains. My son was officially hooked on this series after that, and Magic Treehouse is behind him forever; he couldn't believe he kept reading these books about pirates and ninjas with absolutely no battles!

The Greeks in these stories of course are completely flawed characters, show more giving my son fuel for reaction, which is another feature that the Treehouse books don't have; Treehouse characters are the flattest you'll find. He's both disgusted by Odysseus's greed and bad manners as well as impressed by his cunning. I think this 9-year-old boy will be devouring this series. show less

Osborne, Mary Pope. The One Eyed Giant (Odyssey)
Characters: Odysseus, Helen, Polyphemus, Aeolus, Agamemon
Setting: Ancient Greece
Theme: Myth
Genre: Young children
Golden Quote: “Weeping will not save us”
Summary: Odysseus is sent to war to fight against the Trojan’s and bring back home Helen of Troy. On his journey home, after many years of fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men must face many challenges and monsters before the reach the shores of his homeland. The one eyed giant, Polyphemus, stands in Odysseus’s way and he must overcome this giant if he has any hopes of seeing his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, again. Because Odysseus has been gone for so long, his family believes that he is dead. Odysseus show more refuses to lay down his arms against any monster and is determined to get back to this family.
Audience: 10 year old and above.
Curriculum: Greek mythology.
Personal Response: This is the first book in a series of six and it is a great first book to draw children who are interested in Greek mythology, heroes and action. This book contains all these characteristics and more. The Odyssey can be an overwhelming read, but with the way that Osborn breaks it down, it makes for an easy read and she condenses the stories in order to keep the attention of the readers. I would highly recommend this book for young boys, especially those are just starting to read for leisure. show less

Fantastic introduction for kids to Homer's Odyssey - my son loved these books.

Just skipped through this. Obviously this is for kids. It is well done and if I had kids I would have them read it 😀.

This the journey of Oddyseu The tale of Odysseus when he goes form his island of Ithaca to go and get Helen form the Trojans. How Athena tell him that he needs to make a huge wooden horse and get all his mam inside the horse make the Trojans believe that they left it there and when everyone was sleeping to get out of the horse and safe Helen. He does exactly as instructed, his problem is when he is trying to return home and he encounters in one island the one eyed giant. He lets his anger and pride to take over and the greeks goods punish him for years ans years and he is not able to see his family wich is one of the most important things for him