Understanding Indian Myths

March 15, 2013
Grades 5-8 The Myths Understood series puts mythology in the context of the history of the people who created them, and this group of entries covers the myths and stories of cultures that are often ignored in children's books. The appealing design includes paintings and artwork from old books, as well as photographs of artifacts and places, nicely combining the realistic with the imagined. Understanding Indian Myths has mixed success in separating myths from history in a way that children will be able to follow. Some people may be uncomfortable with the stories of a religion being described as myths, but it does introduce the stories and values that are important in Indian culture. These volumes give the basic stories without a lot of style, so pair them with a collection by a great storyteller like Geraldine McCaughrean.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)