The Beautiful Stories of Life: Six Greeks Myths, Retold

By Cynthia Rylant

Book Overview

Newbery Medal-winner Cynthia Rylant retells her favorite stories from Greek mythology, breathing fresh life into the tales of Pandora, Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Narcissus, and Psyche. The writing is lyrical and understated, a perfect tone for stories that introduce young readers to themes of love and loss, pride and forgiveness. Carson Ellis's elegant black-and-white illustrations lend an aura of beauty and mystery.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152061843
• ISBN13: 9780152061845
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 88 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.3" x 7.2"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Grecian Sagas of Love and Life

Newbery Medalist author Cynthia Rylant brings the great Greek Mythology tales to life once more in //The Beautiful Stories of Life//. Readers will be enthralled and charmed with the brief, yet in-depth, narrative of the lives of Pandora, Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Narcissus, and Psyche. This is a great introductory read for children if you'd like to give them a start in embracing classic world literature, mythology, and fiction, leaving them craving to learn more about Greek and Roman Mythology after reading this book. Cynthia Rylant successfully engages her readers with the manner she retells these classic tales, and her writing makes more complex words seem less threatening to younger readers. The author's style goes beyond helping kids learn new words and widen their vocabularies--what makes it special is how it can make kids eager to learn. The chronicles of these famous Greek personalities definitely inculcates and teaches its readers about the wonderful emotions and consequences of living, loving, hurting, grieving, sacrificing, and being passionate. The romantic tale of my all-time favorite lovers, Eros and Psyche, illustrates brilliantly that people will find their true love even if it's against all odds. Reviewed by Kaye Cloutman

Profound and interesting

I read this book to my children aged 6-11. What I like the most about Rylant's work is how she appeals to both adults and children. My children loved this book for its story-telling, and I loved it because it reframed these familiar stories. I recommend Rylant's books because they are entertaining to children and interesting to the adults who read them to children. Rylant has a wonderful ability to write something profound, then explain it through story, which is beautifully expressed in this book.