God of the Ancient World

‘Gods of the Ancient World’ is a brilliant selection of myths and legends from around the world. The author starts with an introduction exploring why humans tell stories and why some might be more familiar to readers than others. Acknowledging that none of the tales ‘belong’ to her, she explains why she believes telling them is so important. As a lover of these ancient stories, I agree with what she says and think this book offers an excellent introduction for children (and adults) to find out more about where the stories included here are from and the people who told them.

Twenty three tales are included, each beautifully illustrated. A map of the world shows the reader where each story originated and the book is organised into four general ‘themes’- How the World Began, Gods Helping Humans, Rulers of Nature and Keeping Humans in Line. Among the stories in each section are spreads focusing on different themes, for example, Gods and Animals, The Maya People and Survivor Gods. It is a fascinating read, sure to excite curiosity and develop interest in these tales from the past.

A comprehensive index allows the reader to quickly locate specific information and as well as the drawn illustrations, photographs of real objects are also included which might also encourage children to pursue further research or to look for artefacts such as those shown here if they happen to be on a visit to a museum.

This collection also offers an invaluable resource for teachers, allowing them to locate stories which are linked to work in other subjects or for story times on days between class novels. There is much to enjoy and explore here with plenty to discuss.

Gods of the Ancient World: A Kid’s Guide to Ancient Mythology

Marchella Ward, illustrated by Xuan Le

Dorling Kindersley ISBN: 978-0241567791