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Review: Mythopedia

Book Title: Mythopedia (available here)

Author/Illustrator: Becky Bolton & Louise Chappell / Good Wives and Warriors

Publisher: Laurence King Publishing

Publication Date: Sept 2020

Most Suitable for: Upper KS2

Reviewer: David McBride

 

Mythopedia is a beautifully illustrated collection of myths and legends from across the world, includes both facts and captivating stories. The book is subtitled ‘An Encylopedia of Mythical Beasts and their Magical Tales’ and as such provides a useful reference for learning about magical creatures from legends around the globe.

The book includes mythological creatures from the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, so is a perfect link in the classroom to not only the English curriculum but also the history topics covering the Ancient Civilisations. The creatures referred to in the book are varied and not the usual ones covered in, for instance, books about the Ancient Greeks. The section containing myths and legends from Europe contains not only creatures from Ancient Greece but also lesser known ones from Russian, Roman, Norse and Scandanavian mythologies.

Mythopedia provides a good balance between giving facts about the mythological creatures and including a story about them. Through this, children can really get a sense of not only the detailed features of the creatures but also learn about them in action in a story setting.

 

The book is really brought alive through the fabulous, detailed and colourful illustrations. These illustrations really add to the atmosphere of the stories and also complete a picture of, in many cases, some truly horrific creatures

 

This book is one to be treasured. Many children of all ages will love the stories and older children will enjoy reading them independently.

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You can order Mythopedia online or from an independent bookshop.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to our Review Panel member for reviewing it.

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