There’s a reason they keep making movies like “Prince of Persia” and “Hercules” and “Beowulf” – they’re just really good stories. I’ve certainly not read all the classics, but I have read Homer’s “Odyssey” and can attest to the fact that it’s a terrific tale with all the elements that will appeal to kids: action, monsters, death and destruction, you name it. But the 300 plus pages has to be appropriately whittled down for a young audience.
If you look at the customer reviews on Amazon for this particular version of the “Odyssey” for kids, it appears that the author, Geraldine McCaughrean, has done a great job editing the story for kids. It’s available in both paperback and hardcover, inexpensive and a bit pricey, so it can work as both a small or a significant gift.
[DISCLOSURE: If you make any purchase through the link on this page, I make a commission from Amazon. Seems reasonable to me…..]
Literacy is always a wonderful gift, but when it’s simultaneously a gift of literature and history, it’s a double header. You never know what it is that will spark a child’s imagination and possibly ignite a passion, so every new experience is a possiblity. Any gift that opens new doors is, in fact, a real gift.
This book is listed as for ages 9 through 12, but the reviews indicate it’s also a great read-aloud book for younger children. While not in epic poem form as the original by Homer, the reviews further indicate that the author does justice to the original with her prose, so this “Odyssey” is also a literary experience for the young reader.
All in all, this children’s “Odyssey” makes my list of good birthday gifts for kids.
