Jason and the Argonauts

October 10, 2016
Byrd (Brave Chicken Little) capably guides readers through the episodic adventures of Jason and the Argonauts as they seek the Golden Fleece, a journey that puts them in the path of harpies, the Symplegades (“Clashing Rocks”), Circe, and the bronze giant Talos. Hermes, Apollo, Athena, and other important mythological figures are discussed in sidebars, and a page dedicated to “Notable Argonauts” offers capsule descriptions of 12 sailors, including Orpheus, Atalanta, and Theseus. Through tense, direct storytelling and larger-than-life portraits of warriors and monsters alike—rendered in his customarily precise and intricately detailed ink-and-watercolor art—Byrd offers a gripping account of the Argonauts’ heroic and tragic quest. Ages 6–9.

Murder, intrigue, betrayal, patricide, regicide, and more constitute Jason's epic quest for the Golden Fleece.Like most Greek myths, Jason's journey to complete a near-impossible task unfolds through an episodic plot in which the gods interfere with the mortals constantly--for good or ill. When Jason's evil uncle, Pelias, usurps the throne of his father, Aeson, king of Iolcus, Jason's mother wisely sends him to the forest to be raised by Chiron the centaur. Upon Jason's return to Iolcus to defeat Pelias, Hera, wife of Zeus, appears to him and promises her guidance and protection, which she delivers throughout his journey. Pelias refuses to relinquish the throne unless Jason brings him the Golden Fleece (the background story of which Byrd also includes in this volume). Jason then gathers the finest Greek men, commissions the Argo, and embarks upon a journey with colossal challenges. Byrd eases navigation of this text-heavy picture book by illustrating the unimaginable, such as bronze-beaked Stymphalian birds with dart-shooting feathers and Scylla, part hag, part fish, with six fanged dog's heads protruding from her torso. Each double-page spread constitutes a chapter, making for good-sized chunks for episodic read-alouds. Sidebars give brief background on characters, the backmatter introduces the Olympians, and front and back endpapers show maps of Jason's route. A fine first introduction to an age-old tale of travel, adventure, and heroism. (Mythology. 6-9) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from October 1, 2016

Gr 3-6-Byrd compellingly retells the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. Jason, wishing to reclaim his rightful throne, takes 50 Argonauts (including the powerful Hercules) on a quest for the Golden Fleece, encountering a myriad of dangers along the way. He is alternately favored and cursed by the Olympian gods. Jason succeeds in the quest, only to find he is out of favor with the gods for having broken his promises to Medea. He wanders homeless and eventually dies when the figurehead from the Argo crushes him. The story is an important one for children to know, and this version makes for an excellent introduction. Byrd, illustrator of Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer and the 2008 Newbery winner, Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!, has created powerful visuals for this timeless tale. They are brightly colored and action-packed, replete with numerous details that keep the eye engaged. Every page includes a small insert that amplifies a particular aspect of the narrative. An author's note expands on Byrd's research. VERDICT An excellent retelling and a first purchase for most mythology collections.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
Grades 3-5 The author of The Hero and the Minotaur: The Fantastic Adventures of Theseus (2005) returns to Greek mythology to retell the story of Jason, who sets sail on the Argo with a crew of legendary heroes. After enduring hardships and overcoming near-impossible challenges, they complete the quest and Jason returns home to take his rightful place on the throne of Iolcus. Byrd lays out these adventures in a straightforward manner, trusting the inherent drama of this timeless legend to captivate readers. The episodic story uses a series of two-page spreads to present the narrative, illustrations, and small sidebars highlighting gods, heroes, monsters, and other story elements. Apart from the portrayal of Jason on the jacket, the broad, large-scale illustrations usually show scenes from a bit of a distance. Humans appear to be vulnerable characters in landscapes and seascapes full of perils, from the Harpies to the bronze giant, from Circe and the Sirens to Scylla and Charybdis. The endpaper maps and title-page illustration are particularly fine. This handsome book offers a colorfully illustrated retelling of Jason's adventures.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)