Centaurs

July 1, 2012

Gr 3-6-Each book includes a two-page introduction to the creature to root its appearance in history and mythology, as well as a graphic-novel-style story about it and a page about related stories from other countries or mythological traditions. While this spare approach forces much information to be left out of individual titles, the books as a whole include a wide range of stories, from Greek myth to Russian fairy tales to medieval legends, so readers of all three volumes will get a feel for the wide range of the myths, something readers of individual titles only might miss. The stories chosen include "Hercules and the Centaur"; "Prince Ivan, the Firebird, and the Wolf"; and "Therese and the Unicorn" and are action packed and character driven, matched with artwork reminiscent of superhero comics. Characters, rather than creatures, are the prime focus of the stories in most cases, in terms of plot and imagery. Hercules, Ivan, and Therese are frequently depicted as the main image in each panel, supported by detailed scenery and accurate figure drawing. Readers should be engaged by this treatment.-Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City

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