Books in Kid's Guide to Mythology series

Today Greek mythology serves many purposes. People still read these stories with great interest and enthusiasm. Some of the stories have even been made into movies, television shows, and comic books. Many versions simply retell the old myths while others use the original myths as a jumping-off point for new tales. Athena, on the other hand, was a whole different story. Instead of feeling envious of others, she inspired those who worshipped her to be brave and resourceful like she was. She wasn't as pretty as Aphrodite. But she was striking in other ways. She is said to have had piercing grey eyes. She also wore a plumed helmet and carried a shield. This represented her role as a protector of the ancient Greeks. Many drawings depicted her with an owl on her shoulder or a coiled snake at her feet. Athena was also a clever inventor. She is said to have created numbers, musical instruments like the flute and trumpet, and the plow. Just the way she carried herself made her look strong and confident, which was beautiful in a way that Aphrodite just couldn't manage. This story of Athena will introduce middle grade readers to the famous legends.

Greek mythology began as a way of explaining the world and all the incredible happenings within it. Why did the sun rise each morning and set each night? Who controlled the ocean and the tides? What made two people fall in love? In ancient Greece, humankind was still centuries away from fully understanding the science behind some of these occurrences. Even today we don't know all of the answers. But in ancient times, myths provided exciting and magical answers for how the world came to be, and why everything happened the way it did. People all over the world are still drawn to Greek mythology, whether they take the stories literally or not. In this new book for children, author Tammy Gagne unravels some of the mystery of Poseidon for young readers.

Zeus (ZOOS) is a name that many people today recognize. When someone asks, ""Who was Zeus?"" the answer is often something like, ""Um, wasn't he the leader of the Greek gods?"" Another common response is, ""He's the dude who threw thunderbolts at people!"" It is not surprising that at least this much about him is fairly well known. After all, images from Greek mythology are widespread in modern books, graphic novels, TV shows, and movies. Beyond that, however, most people today know very little about Zeus. This is also not surprising. More than sixteen centuries have passed since the Greeks and Romans actually worshiped him. (The Romans called him Jupiter, pronounced JU-puh-ter.) In those days, almost everyone was very familiar with the many stories about his deeds and adventures. Today, those tales are called myths. And their details are known to only to a small minority of the population. Those who do take the time to learn about Zeus and his exploits, however, are never disappointed. They find that he was not only one of the most important gods in human history. He was also an extremely colorful and entertaining character.

Myths were stories that told why nature behaved as it did and how people were made. Few myths have endured like the myth of Hercules. Half man and half god, Hercules was the strongest person who ever lived. He fought scary creatures with incredible power and won. Yet he was never strong enough to overcome his own anger. The story of Hercules is the story of love lost and battles won.

For children on school trips or traveling with their families, here is kid-friendly information about popular monuments, museums, exhibits, shopping, sporting events--and even day trips outside the immediate metropolitan area. Originally published in 1989, this handy guide now features completely updated text and photographs, along with the puzzles, games, and wonderful tidbits of trivia that have made it one of the most useful D.C. guidebooks for children. A Kid's Guide to Washington, D.C. is the perfect traveling companion for any youngster who wants to play an active role in planning a family vacation. Includes: PuzzlesGamesTriviaAnd More!

Apollo's father was Zeus (ZOOS), the king of all the gods. His mother was the beautiful Leto (LEE-toh), the daughter of Titans Coeus (KEE-ohs) and Phoebe (FEE-bee). But Zeus was not married to Leto--his wife was Hera (HEER-uh). Hera was very jealous of Leto. She took her jealousy out on Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis (AHR-tuh-mis)--even before they were born.

Most people think of the Norse myths as merely old stories. But they are also the basis for a present-day religion. In a letter to the editor of London's Daily Mail newspaper, reader Claire Jordan points out, ""The worship of the Aesir, the Norse pantheon, isn't a dead mythology, but a still living religion, especially in Iceland."" Known as Odinism, the religion has a definite following in Europe, Australia, and the Americas. People who practice Odinism do not view the Norse gods as fictional characters. Instead, they believe the Norse gods are actual supreme beings with special powers. They pray to these gods as followers of other religions pray to their own gods. And like those other gods, Odinists believe the Norse gods are capable of answering their prayers.

In the fabulous annals of ancient Greek mythology, few characters were as famous as Jason (JAY-sin). He appears in several myths. But his most renowned deed was finding the Golden Fleece. That gleaming hide of a special, magical ram long rested in Colchis, a remote land located on the Black Sea's northern coast. Jason and the men who accompanied him on his quest became known as the Argonauts. This was because their ship was the Argo, named after Argus (AR-gis), the man who built her.

Odysseus (oh-DISS-ee-us) was one of the ancient Greeks' most famous and beloved heroes. The ancient Romans, who admired and eagerly copied Greek culture, were fond of him too. They called him Ulysses (yu-LISS-eez). Also beloved by the Greeks and Romans was the great Greek poet and story-teller Homer (HO-mer). He wrote at length about Odysseus in two superb epic poems. The first, the Iliad (ILL-ee-ud), tells about the tenth year of the siege of Troy, a wealthy city in western Anatolia (what is now Turkey). The rulers of several Greek kingdoms made war on and eventually captured Troy. Among those kings was Odysseus, who ruled the Greek island realm of Ithaca (ITH-uh-kuh). Homer called him a very ""capable man who journeyed across the world after seizing the proud fortress of Troy."" That fateful, ten-year-long sea voyage is the subject of Homer's other masterpiece, the Odyssey (ODD-iss-ee). During the journey, Odysseus ""endured numerous hardships,"" Homer said. He ""fought to stay alive and to bring his shipmates home."" In this retelling of some of the famous tales of Odysseus, author Don Nardo brings these myths to young readers.

Have you ever heard someone say, My grandmother was with Ringling Brothers Circus when she was young ? Or perhaps a friend tells you that his great-great-great-grandfather was an outlaw who rode with Jesse James. You realize that you don t know if your family has ever done anything interesting, so you start digging into the past. Researching your family tree is fun and can be addictive. Once you start finding out about your ancestors or other relatives, you can t stop. Your grandmother says that her grandfather lived in San Francisco during the big earthquake in 1906. How did he end up in San Francisco, and after that, how did you end up in Missouri? Family tree research may give you the answers to these kinds of questions and much more.

Have you ever thought about how far back in history your family goes? Have you wondered about where your family came from and how they got where they are now? Researching your ancestry is a way to discover more about your family and yourself at the same time. Looking into the past may be easier than you think. You can start by talking to your parents and grandparents, and then examine old papers and photographs, go through archives, and then, like a time traveler, meet some of your ancestors. Tracing your roots is like a puzzle that just keeps growing. Check out these tips on how to get started.

For children on school trips or traveling with their families, here is kid-friendly information about popular monuments, museums, exhibits, shopping, sporting events--and even day trips outside the immediate metropolitan area. Originally published in 1989, this handy guide now features completely updated text and photographs, along with the puzzles, games, and wonderful tidbits of trivia that have made it one of the most useful D.C. guidebooks for children. A Kid's Guide to Washington, D.C. is the perfect traveling companion for any youngster who wants to play an active role in planning a family vacation. Includes: PuzzlesGamesTriviaAnd More!