MYTHS AND ENCHANTMENT TALES

Katharine Lee Bates died in 1929, but her retelling of the classic myths of Greece will be long remembered. Now comes this adaptation and many will welcome it. Their value will be enhanced if they are read with first to fourth grade children by an adult who knows and loves them. Some thirty myths are told here-shortened to lengths that will hold young listeners -- familiar myths drawn from Greek sources. It seems unfortunate that the Roman versions of names -- Jupiter instead of Zeus, Minerva instead of Athena, Hercules instead of Heracles -- have been used, and it is hoped that a list of the Greek names will be provided, since the regional backgrounds are consistently Greek. There is increasing recognition of the loss in cultural background when these classic myths are no longer made part of the child's literary heritage. This version should lead young listeners to more extensive and inclusive collections (such as Olivia Coolidge and Edith Hamilton) later on.