Island of the Minotaur: Greek Myths of Ancient Crete

by Sheldon Oberman

Book Overview

This chapter book of Greek myths presents the epic history of the Minoan civilization. The novel connects famous myths; Zeus and Rhea, Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur, Icarus and Daedalus, Jason and Medea with little known tales of the Bronze Giant, Phaedra and the Ash tree spirits. Island of the Minotaur weaves together the famous and the forgotten myths of the mysterious Minoans of Crete. Their island empire was obliterated by earthquakes and...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566565316
• ISBN13: 9781566565318
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Crocodile Books
• Length: 103 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 9.3" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

An engaging compendium of ancient tales

Presented by Sheldon Oberman, Island Of The Minotaur: Greek Myths Of Ancient Crete presents classic tales including the story of the deadly Minotaur that roamed the terrible Labyrinth, the winged boy Icarus who flew too close to the sun, Theseus' struggles against the ruthless witch Medea, and much more. A final, true tale of Sir Arthur Evans, a real-life treasure hunter who discovered the buried secrets of the ancient Minoan civilization adds a particularly welcome embellishment to this outstanding compilation of Hellenic mythology. Full-color illustrations by Blair Drawson well serve to highlight this engaging compendium of ancient tales told down the generations from antiquity to the present day.

It's Greek to me!

Sheldon Oberman draws various Greek legends together in a neat package that is suitable for young children (8 and above) to get their first taste of gods, goddesses, heroes and monsters. Adults, too, should enjoy the book, which is a fast read and a refresher on several key stories. The stories are written clearly and plainly, suitable for young readers without being dumbed down so much to insult them. Illustrations by Blair Drawson are colorful, exaggerated and humorous. Island of the Minotaur is a fun and informative reinterpretation of these ancient myths for a new generation of readers.