Description
Illustrator: Victor Juhasz
Published by Sleeping Bear PressWhose face launched a thousand ships? Who dropped an apple to win a race? What creature has the head of a woman, the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and always wakes up on the wrong side of the bed? The Oracle knows and so will young readers after they encounter the strange creatures, exotic gods, and exciting stories in Z is for Zeus: A Greek Mythology Alphabet. Human endeavors are often at odds with the whims and the will and the ways of the gods. Although they’re up in Olympus without any cares, they just can’t stop meddling in human affairs. Helen Wilbur, who wrote the lively M is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet, brings the same wit and wisdom to explaining Greek mythology. Colorful, entertaining artwork from Victor Juhasz, the illustrator behind D is for Democracy and R is for Rhyme, keeps pace with the lively subject matter. Former librarian Helen L. Wilbur has been enchanted with Greek mythology all her life. She has a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in library science from Columbia University. Helen also authored M is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet. She lives in New York City. Victor Juhasz’s clients include TIME, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Warner Books. He also illustrated D is for Democracy: A Citizen’s Alphabet; R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet; Everyone Counts: A Citizen’s Number Book; and H is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet. He lives in the New York Berkshires region. “This alphabet book is presented in a two-level format so that younger listeners can enjoy the simple, five-line description of the item represented by each letter, while older readers can take their time and delve into the detailed paragraphs on the pages. The goal here is not so much to learn the alphabet but to read the stories of Green mythology. Learn about gods and goddesses, monsters and oracles, the sky and the underworld. Uncover the secrets of the Minotaur and the Trojan horse. The captivating, colorful art rounds out this ever-so-entertaining book, making it a fine introduction to a fascinating part of ancient lore.”
