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Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero
Recounts the story of the mythological hero, Hercules, child of Zeus and a mortal woman, including his twelve labors and ending with his ascension to Mount Olympus as a god.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 1997
About the author
Kathryn Lasky
266 books2,316 followersKathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.
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March 4, 2017
Lasky, Kathryn (author); Hess, Mark (illustrator). Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero (1997). Hyperion Books for Children. New York
Traditional Literature: Hero - Greek Mythology
Target Audience: 5-6th Grade
The story tells a version of the tale of Palaemon, the son of Zeus and a mortal, who eventually takes on the name Hercules. It is a narrative of his life starting from his childhood to adulthood all the while exploring Hera's (his father's "jealous" wife) attempts to harm and trick him and his family, the loss of his first family, visits to oracles, the twelve labors, and his mortal death.
The story follows the suit of what was explained in the "Hero Myths" section of Huck's Children's Literature in that Hercules had Hera, a god who frequently hinders him, and he to "accept all dangerous assignments and accomplishes the quest and dies in one last glorious adventure" (Chapter 4, pp. 119). Though he fits the description of the Hero Myth and overcomes all obstacles, trials, and tribulations he is actually just trying to make amends for the murders or "shames" he accidentally commits due to his own strength and/or his being foolishly tricked by Hera. The themes explored in the story include power, glory, jealousy, perseverance, making amends, strength, fighting, gods/goddesses and their intervening in human life, and human mortality.
Edition Note:
The author decided to "retell the story in a manner that would have the best chance of having a "collective importance" for a wide range of children today, but would not lose the story elements that make Hercules great". The Author's note on the last page of the text also noted that the books she used to research were: Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual by Walter Burket (Univ. of CA Press), The Greek Myths by Robet Graves (Pengin),The Nature of Greek Myths by G. S. Kirk (Penguin), Myths of Greek and Rome by Thomas Bullfinch (Penguin), and Mythology, Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton (Penguin).
The book itself is sturdy and hard cover. The first page of the text contains a larger font size. The other pages are the same in their smaller, but still easily readable, font size. All the writing is double spaced which makes it easier for students to track when reading. There are typically a few paragraphs on each page.
The illustrations by Mark Hess are beautiful. The acrylic art is very detailed, takes over most of every page, and uses a variety of colors. The emotions and character traits of the people in the story are easily visible through expression. Their eyes are very expressive. For example, the first time you see Hera, you only see her head looming over the top corner with a fuzzy evil glow as if she is omnipresent peeking in. Her brows are furrowed, there is deep tension in her face with a malicious sneer, and honey-red eyes as she looks and sees how easily young Palaemon defeated the serpents. In his artist note, Hess stated he began his research for artistic inspiration at a library and then broadened it to museums, and special book stores. He noted he saw hundreds of depictions of Hercules and thus his "art is a deliberate mixture of styles and periods".
The text strengths include beautiful illustrations and in thinking of the target audience I appreciated the direct approach the author takes in describing each stage of his life. The story did not spend an extremely long time on each of the twelve labors. Doing so keeps the readers attention at pace and students at that age will keep going rather than saying it is too long. The weakness was the last page of the text. It was rather abrupt and may lead to confusion on the part of a young reader.
Traditional Literature: Hero - Greek Mythology
Target Audience: 5-6th Grade
The story tells a version of the tale of Palaemon, the son of Zeus and a mortal, who eventually takes on the name Hercules. It is a narrative of his life starting from his childhood to adulthood all the while exploring Hera's (his father's "jealous" wife) attempts to harm and trick him and his family, the loss of his first family, visits to oracles, the twelve labors, and his mortal death.
The story follows the suit of what was explained in the "Hero Myths" section of Huck's Children's Literature in that Hercules had Hera, a god who frequently hinders him, and he to "accept all dangerous assignments and accomplishes the quest and dies in one last glorious adventure" (Chapter 4, pp. 119). Though he fits the description of the Hero Myth and overcomes all obstacles, trials, and tribulations he is actually just trying to make amends for the murders or "shames" he accidentally commits due to his own strength and/or his being foolishly tricked by Hera. The themes explored in the story include power, glory, jealousy, perseverance, making amends, strength, fighting, gods/goddesses and their intervening in human life, and human mortality.
Edition Note:
The author decided to "retell the story in a manner that would have the best chance of having a "collective importance" for a wide range of children today, but would not lose the story elements that make Hercules great". The Author's note on the last page of the text also noted that the books she used to research were: Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual by Walter Burket (Univ. of CA Press), The Greek Myths by Robet Graves (Pengin),The Nature of Greek Myths by G. S. Kirk (Penguin), Myths of Greek and Rome by Thomas Bullfinch (Penguin), and Mythology, Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton (Penguin).
The book itself is sturdy and hard cover. The first page of the text contains a larger font size. The other pages are the same in their smaller, but still easily readable, font size. All the writing is double spaced which makes it easier for students to track when reading. There are typically a few paragraphs on each page.
The illustrations by Mark Hess are beautiful. The acrylic art is very detailed, takes over most of every page, and uses a variety of colors. The emotions and character traits of the people in the story are easily visible through expression. Their eyes are very expressive. For example, the first time you see Hera, you only see her head looming over the top corner with a fuzzy evil glow as if she is omnipresent peeking in. Her brows are furrowed, there is deep tension in her face with a malicious sneer, and honey-red eyes as she looks and sees how easily young Palaemon defeated the serpents. In his artist note, Hess stated he began his research for artistic inspiration at a library and then broadened it to museums, and special book stores. He noted he saw hundreds of depictions of Hercules and thus his "art is a deliberate mixture of styles and periods".
The text strengths include beautiful illustrations and in thinking of the target audience I appreciated the direct approach the author takes in describing each stage of his life. The story did not spend an extremely long time on each of the twelve labors. Doing so keeps the readers attention at pace and students at that age will keep going rather than saying it is too long. The weakness was the last page of the text. It was rather abrupt and may lead to confusion on the part of a young reader.
November 13, 2019
Book Title: Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero
Author/Illustrator: Kathryn Lasky/Mark Hess
Reading Level: 4.5
Book Level: 3rd Grade - 6th Grade
Book Summary: Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero By Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Mark Hess is an example of how a classic story, like Hercules, still lives on today.
Bookshelf Genre:
Traditional Literature
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits (explain one or two content integration ideas):
Presentation: Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero By Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Mark Hess is an example of how a mentor text can be used to convey writing traits - in this case, presentation. In my own classroom, I would use this book to show students how they can take a classic story, one that has been told and retold uncountable times over the years, and still make it interesting. Kathryn Lasky and Mark Hess have done a skillful job integrating artwork and text to catch the attention and interest of the reader. This text can be used to show students how they can pair artwork with their writing, to enhance the message they are conveying.
Author/Illustrator: Kathryn Lasky/Mark Hess
Reading Level: 4.5
Book Level: 3rd Grade - 6th Grade
Book Summary: Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero By Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Mark Hess is an example of how a classic story, like Hercules, still lives on today.
Bookshelf Genre:
Traditional Literature
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits (explain one or two content integration ideas):
Presentation: Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero By Kathryn Lasky and illustrated by Mark Hess is an example of how a mentor text can be used to convey writing traits - in this case, presentation. In my own classroom, I would use this book to show students how they can take a classic story, one that has been told and retold uncountable times over the years, and still make it interesting. Kathryn Lasky and Mark Hess have done a skillful job integrating artwork and text to catch the attention and interest of the reader. This text can be used to show students how they can pair artwork with their writing, to enhance the message they are conveying.
January 4, 2024
I liked that the story was told in first-person beginning when Hercules was a baby. The illustrations were magnificent and were perfect for a picture book for children. Many of the 12 Labors of Hercules were stripped down to a single sentence and there was not an illustration for each labor. This disappointed me. Nevertheless, I think this book is an appropriate introduction to Greek Mythology because infidelity and much of the violence was not included.
March 10, 2017
Lasky, Kathryn. Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero. Burbank: Disney-Hyperion, 1997.
Hero
In a mere 32 pages, readers are given insight to Hercules’ birth, twelve labors, and death. The son of Zeus, Hercules is subjected to numerous battles as his father’s jealous wife, Hera, unleashes her wrath. From wrestling snakes to lions, readers see Hercules’ mighty temper manifest as his superhuman strength allows him to defeat competitor after competitor. Caught in the middle of being a human and a God, Hercules struggles to find his true place in the world. Upon completion, I felt this book deserved an equal amount of comments and critiques. I thought the illustrations were beautiful, and clearly well-researched. Because the nature of this story is graphic, I thought they assisted with overall comprehension without being too gruesome. While I think it would be a disservice to cut down the content of the myth, there were just too many words on the page—it took away from the images and made the book feel too heavy. I thought it was incredibly creative to utilize the first person as a narrative technique, for young readers will be thrust into Hercules’ world and hear the story directly from the protagonist himself. Because Hercules’s father is a god and his mother is a mortal, he struggles with his identity and has various obstacles to overcome making him relatable to young readers. I applaud the unique approach of this story gaining perspective from the hero himself, but it’s word count combined with complex vocabulary made it seem less accessible to the targeted group of readers.
Target Audience: Ages 8-11
Hero
In a mere 32 pages, readers are given insight to Hercules’ birth, twelve labors, and death. The son of Zeus, Hercules is subjected to numerous battles as his father’s jealous wife, Hera, unleashes her wrath. From wrestling snakes to lions, readers see Hercules’ mighty temper manifest as his superhuman strength allows him to defeat competitor after competitor. Caught in the middle of being a human and a God, Hercules struggles to find his true place in the world. Upon completion, I felt this book deserved an equal amount of comments and critiques. I thought the illustrations were beautiful, and clearly well-researched. Because the nature of this story is graphic, I thought they assisted with overall comprehension without being too gruesome. While I think it would be a disservice to cut down the content of the myth, there were just too many words on the page—it took away from the images and made the book feel too heavy. I thought it was incredibly creative to utilize the first person as a narrative technique, for young readers will be thrust into Hercules’ world and hear the story directly from the protagonist himself. Because Hercules’s father is a god and his mother is a mortal, he struggles with his identity and has various obstacles to overcome making him relatable to young readers. I applaud the unique approach of this story gaining perspective from the hero himself, but it’s word count combined with complex vocabulary made it seem less accessible to the targeted group of readers.
Target Audience: Ages 8-11
February 3, 2018
,lkomokl
November 6, 2016
Title (italicize): Hercules: the Man, the Myth, the Hero
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Illustrator (if separate from author): Mark Hess
Genre: Greek Myth
Theme(s): power, strength, fighting, Gods
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): “Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words): Palaemon is the son of God Zeus and a mortal woman. Zeus’s jealous wife Hera makes it her life’s mission to rid the world of Palaemon who later becomes Hercules. He realizes his strength and is tested many times. Only when he does not react angrily to Hera’s tricks is he welcomed into his father’s immortal world.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste): The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statues found in many of the world's museums. 1997, Hyperion, $15.95. Ages 5 to 9.
(PUBLISHER: Hyperion Books for Children (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1997.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste): Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The pumped-up mythical figure cursed by his superhuman strength narrates his glorious story in this rock 'em, sock 'em picture book. The son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Hercules suffers the wrath of Zeus's jealous wife, Hera. From wrestling serpents in his crib to slaying a lion with his sword, Hercules bravely fends off any evil challenges that Hera sends his way. But victory does not come without tragedy, and Hercules also faces a number of emotional battles as he struggles with his god-mortal identity. Lasky (The Librarian Who Measured the Earth; She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!) rises to the formidable task of presenting the intricate twists and turns of Greek mythology in a manner accommodating to children. Her first-person text imagines Hercules's feelings and, although she does not avoid the tale's violence and death, she paints him as a more accessible character than in many other adaptations. In his picture book debut, Hess's kinetic acrylics have an aggressive, you-are-there perspective that draws readers into the classical period action. His toga-clad, muscle-bound human figures and graphic attacking beasts--fangs bared and claws drawn--infuse the proceedings with the scent of high adventure. This title will also serve as one of many alternatives to the anticipated rush of tie-ins to the Disney animated film Hercules, set for summer release. Ages 5-9. (June)
(PUBLISHER: Hyperion Books for Children (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1997.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words): It is important to recognize that in both reviews, the writers make note of the violence being included in the storyline. They remark that this does not affect the accessibility the story has to children, it only adds to it. The second reviewer mentions the point of view, and I agree that the first person writing makes it more comfortable for a child to read. Both reviewers include that the illustrations set you in the time period and heighten the vivid text.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words): The text is written in boxes as if it were ancient script writing, which adds to the reading experience. Overall the text is elaborate and exciting as Lasky details every experience Hercules goes through. The first person narrative allows the reader to understand Hercules thought but also background on the myth for readers who may be less informed.
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words):
To use this in the classroom, I would have a unit focused on Greek Gods. I would introduce Hercules by asking students their favorite superheroes and transitioning to Hercules being the hero of his time. After acknowledging the very detailed illustrations and how these matched the text perfectly, I would give the students the opportunity to illustrate a new picture for Lasky’s detailed text. I would encourage them to use their artistic abilities to create a new illustration for the way that they imagined the events happening.
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Illustrator (if separate from author): Mark Hess
Genre: Greek Myth
Theme(s): power, strength, fighting, Gods
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): “Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words): Palaemon is the son of God Zeus and a mortal woman. Zeus’s jealous wife Hera makes it her life’s mission to rid the world of Palaemon who later becomes Hercules. He realizes his strength and is tested many times. Only when he does not react angrily to Hera’s tricks is he welcomed into his father’s immortal world.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste): The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statues found in many of the world's museums. 1997, Hyperion, $15.95. Ages 5 to 9.
(PUBLISHER: Hyperion Books for Children (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1997.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste): Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The pumped-up mythical figure cursed by his superhuman strength narrates his glorious story in this rock 'em, sock 'em picture book. The son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Hercules suffers the wrath of Zeus's jealous wife, Hera. From wrestling serpents in his crib to slaying a lion with his sword, Hercules bravely fends off any evil challenges that Hera sends his way. But victory does not come without tragedy, and Hercules also faces a number of emotional battles as he struggles with his god-mortal identity. Lasky (The Librarian Who Measured the Earth; She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!) rises to the formidable task of presenting the intricate twists and turns of Greek mythology in a manner accommodating to children. Her first-person text imagines Hercules's feelings and, although she does not avoid the tale's violence and death, she paints him as a more accessible character than in many other adaptations. In his picture book debut, Hess's kinetic acrylics have an aggressive, you-are-there perspective that draws readers into the classical period action. His toga-clad, muscle-bound human figures and graphic attacking beasts--fangs bared and claws drawn--infuse the proceedings with the scent of high adventure. This title will also serve as one of many alternatives to the anticipated rush of tie-ins to the Disney animated film Hercules, set for summer release. Ages 5-9. (June)
(PUBLISHER: Hyperion Books for Children (New York:), PUBLISHED: c1997.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words): It is important to recognize that in both reviews, the writers make note of the violence being included in the storyline. They remark that this does not affect the accessibility the story has to children, it only adds to it. The second reviewer mentions the point of view, and I agree that the first person writing makes it more comfortable for a child to read. Both reviewers include that the illustrations set you in the time period and heighten the vivid text.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words): The text is written in boxes as if it were ancient script writing, which adds to the reading experience. Overall the text is elaborate and exciting as Lasky details every experience Hercules goes through. The first person narrative allows the reader to understand Hercules thought but also background on the myth for readers who may be less informed.
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words):
To use this in the classroom, I would have a unit focused on Greek Gods. I would introduce Hercules by asking students their favorite superheroes and transitioning to Hercules being the hero of his time. After acknowledging the very detailed illustrations and how these matched the text perfectly, I would give the students the opportunity to illustrate a new picture for Lasky’s detailed text. I would encourage them to use their artistic abilities to create a new illustration for the way that they imagined the events happening.
Read
October 12, 2015Title: Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero
Author: Kathryn Lasky and Mark Hess
Illustrator: Mark Hess
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Bravery, Overcoming obstacles
Opening line/sentence:
Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory. A story of a monster and a man, a hero and a man. But all with one name: Hercules. It is my story.
Brief Book Summary:
This book starts off telling the background of Hercules and how he was born. It then goes into the troubles Hercules faced, as he was growing up since he was half human and half god. He accidentally killed his teacher because he was so strong and then he was sent away. Then the story tells about the 12 labors he had to face in order to become a god; such as capturing the cerynitian hind, killing a dragon, and fetching Cerberus (the three headed monster dog). The story ends with Hercules becoming immortal and going with his father Zeus.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Horn book- Lasky, Kathryn and Hess, Mark Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero
32 pp. Hyperion ISBN 0-7868-0329-0 PE ISBN 0-7868-2274-0
(5) K-3 series. In a first person narration, Hercules tells the story of his life from when he killed two serpents that crawled into his cradle until his death. The stories focus on the many ways Hera punishes Hercules because he represents Zeus' infidelity. Lasky's text is confusing at times and dramatized with slick, commercial illustrations.
Folktales/Myths/and Legends; Heracles (Greek mythology); Mythology
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CLCD- Marilyn Corutot (Children’s Literature) The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statures found in many of the world’s museums. 1997, Hyperion, $15.95. Ages 5 to 9. (Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children (New York), Published: c1997.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
These reviews were not very effective. They did not say much about the book and all they really said was that the text could be confusing at times and it could be read on several letters. They should have focused more on the illustrations of the story and how intense they were and how well they went along with the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The illustrations in this book were very scary and strange, however they made the story much more dramatic and believable. The voice of the narrator, Hercules, was shown very well and it sometimes made the reader feel like Hercules himself was talking right at you. There are also a lot of words on the pages that tell the story very dramatically.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This would be a great book to use for readers that are older and understand a little bit more of Greek mythology. However it would be a good book to read after a short lesson about Greek mythology and the myths and hero’s of it. It would not be good for younger readers because the pictures in it may scare a lot of children.
Author: Kathryn Lasky and Mark Hess
Illustrator: Mark Hess
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Bravery, Overcoming obstacles
Opening line/sentence:
Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory. A story of a monster and a man, a hero and a man. But all with one name: Hercules. It is my story.
Brief Book Summary:
This book starts off telling the background of Hercules and how he was born. It then goes into the troubles Hercules faced, as he was growing up since he was half human and half god. He accidentally killed his teacher because he was so strong and then he was sent away. Then the story tells about the 12 labors he had to face in order to become a god; such as capturing the cerynitian hind, killing a dragon, and fetching Cerberus (the three headed monster dog). The story ends with Hercules becoming immortal and going with his father Zeus.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Horn book- Lasky, Kathryn and Hess, Mark Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero
32 pp. Hyperion ISBN 0-7868-0329-0 PE ISBN 0-7868-2274-0
(5) K-3 series. In a first person narration, Hercules tells the story of his life from when he killed two serpents that crawled into his cradle until his death. The stories focus on the many ways Hera punishes Hercules because he represents Zeus' infidelity. Lasky's text is confusing at times and dramatized with slick, commercial illustrations.
Folktales/Myths/and Legends; Heracles (Greek mythology); Mythology
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CLCD- Marilyn Corutot (Children’s Literature) The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statures found in many of the world’s museums. 1997, Hyperion, $15.95. Ages 5 to 9. (Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children (New York), Published: c1997.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
These reviews were not very effective. They did not say much about the book and all they really said was that the text could be confusing at times and it could be read on several letters. They should have focused more on the illustrations of the story and how intense they were and how well they went along with the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The illustrations in this book were very scary and strange, however they made the story much more dramatic and believable. The voice of the narrator, Hercules, was shown very well and it sometimes made the reader feel like Hercules himself was talking right at you. There are also a lot of words on the pages that tell the story very dramatically.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This would be a great book to use for readers that are older and understand a little bit more of Greek mythology. However it would be a good book to read after a short lesson about Greek mythology and the myths and hero’s of it. It would not be good for younger readers because the pictures in it may scare a lot of children.
July 1, 2016
Title: Hercules: The Man, The Myth, The Hero
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Illustrator: Mark Hess
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Greek Mythology
Opening line/sentence: Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory.
Brief Book Summary: This story is about the life of Hercules who's father is a god, but who's mother is mortal therefore he is not sure who/what he is. Throughout the story he must learn how to control his anger and strength. He eventually overcomes his battle against his anger and strength and becomes a god.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statues found in many of the world's museums. (By Marilyn Courtot, CLCD)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (5) K-3 series. In a first person narration, Hercules tells the story of his life from when he killed two serpents that crawled into his cradle until his death. The stories focus on the many ways Hera punishes Hercules because he represents Zeus' infidelity. Lasky's text is confusing at times and dramatized with slick, commercial illustrations. (Hornbook)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I like how both reviews talk about how Hercules was trying to overcome an obstacle especially those that Hera threw his way. The second review spoke out to me more when it states that "Lasky's text is confusing at times" I definitely felt this way. It was a good book about the story of Hercules, but I did not think it was told the best.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The text in this book was confusing at times, and the students may have a hard time following along to this long book. It seemed very choppy at times where I wasn't sure if I should be focusing on Hercules or Hera. It was a good book to learn about the story of Hercules.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think it would be interesting to ask the students how they would overcome these specific obstacles if they had Hercules strength. They could also create their own tale about Hercules, and share it with the class. They could also make these tales into plays and perform it in front of their parents or other classrooms.
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Illustrator: Mark Hess
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Greek Mythology
Opening line/sentence: Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory.
Brief Book Summary: This story is about the life of Hercules who's father is a god, but who's mother is mortal therefore he is not sure who/what he is. Throughout the story he must learn how to control his anger and strength. He eventually overcomes his battle against his anger and strength and becomes a god.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statues found in many of the world's museums. (By Marilyn Courtot, CLCD)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (5) K-3 series. In a first person narration, Hercules tells the story of his life from when he killed two serpents that crawled into his cradle until his death. The stories focus on the many ways Hera punishes Hercules because he represents Zeus' infidelity. Lasky's text is confusing at times and dramatized with slick, commercial illustrations. (Hornbook)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I like how both reviews talk about how Hercules was trying to overcome an obstacle especially those that Hera threw his way. The second review spoke out to me more when it states that "Lasky's text is confusing at times" I definitely felt this way. It was a good book about the story of Hercules, but I did not think it was told the best.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The text in this book was confusing at times, and the students may have a hard time following along to this long book. It seemed very choppy at times where I wasn't sure if I should be focusing on Hercules or Hera. It was a good book to learn about the story of Hercules.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think it would be interesting to ask the students how they would overcome these specific obstacles if they had Hercules strength. They could also create their own tale about Hercules, and share it with the class. They could also make these tales into plays and perform it in front of their parents or other classrooms.
March 27, 2016
Myth
Lasky, Kathryn. Hercules : the man, the myth, the hero (1997).
Motif: Lightning/thunderbolt.
This is the story of Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. Hercules’ journey starts when the wrath of Zeus's jealous wife, Hera, is unleashed. Hercules has to face a number battles (wrestling snakes, lions, etc.) as he struggles with his god-mortal identity due to Hera’s outrage. However, there are other battles Hercules has to fight. His mighty temper and superhuman strength were obstacles he had to deal with while growing up around humans.
The author did a good job explaining the legend of Hercules in such short way. It is a good book to introduce young readers to Greek mythology. Short and sweet. However, some of the vocabulary might make children confused. Adults around kids reading this book might have to be answering some questions.
The illustrations weren't too graphic making the book not too violent or boring either. They are eye-catching and thrilling with very descriptive fight scenes and powerful scenery. This book could be a good motivator for children to learn how to overcome life's obstacles and not giving up. I have to say that this book completely change my perspective of my favorite Disney movie because I didn't know Hera, Hercule's stepmother, was the villain instead of Hades. I guess Disney decided for a less controversial version.
Target audience: 5-10 years.
Lasky, Kathryn. Hercules : the man, the myth, the hero (1997).
Motif: Lightning/thunderbolt.
This is the story of Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. Hercules’ journey starts when the wrath of Zeus's jealous wife, Hera, is unleashed. Hercules has to face a number battles (wrestling snakes, lions, etc.) as he struggles with his god-mortal identity due to Hera’s outrage. However, there are other battles Hercules has to fight. His mighty temper and superhuman strength were obstacles he had to deal with while growing up around humans.
The author did a good job explaining the legend of Hercules in such short way. It is a good book to introduce young readers to Greek mythology. Short and sweet. However, some of the vocabulary might make children confused. Adults around kids reading this book might have to be answering some questions.
The illustrations weren't too graphic making the book not too violent or boring either. They are eye-catching and thrilling with very descriptive fight scenes and powerful scenery. This book could be a good motivator for children to learn how to overcome life's obstacles and not giving up. I have to say that this book completely change my perspective of my favorite Disney movie because I didn't know Hera, Hercule's stepmother, was the villain instead of Hades. I guess Disney decided for a less controversial version.
Target audience: 5-10 years.
September 30, 2011
What a gruesome story! In the author's note, Lasky rightly calls Hercules the "first superhero." In order to be faithful to the spirit of mythology in general and the Hercules myth in particular, Lasky tried to retell the story of Hercules in a manner that would have the best chance of being important to young people, so they understand that through toil and suffering, they can overcome evil (Hera). She mentions that there have been dozens of versions of the story of Hercules, and that classicists do not believe there is only one authentic version. Numerous specific books are cited as authority. Bravo!!
January 10, 2009
Tells the story of Hercules, from his birth, to the twelve labors, and finally to his death. Told with a first-person narrative which helps to assuage the accidental deaths caused by Hercules’ strength and rage. Author notes address the downplaying of more violent aspects of the myth—most of the twelve labors were quickly told as opposed to shown, with only a few having illustrations.
May 18, 2016
Kathryn Lasky and Mark Hess do a wonderful job sharing the story of Hercules, son of Zeus and all around bad ass. However, being a demi-god seems to have its dark side! Hera won't let go of the infidelity Zeus, her husband had wither Hercules mother. She continually attacks Hercules again and again in ever increasing twisted cruel ways.
September 5, 2011
I like this book because of the beautiful pictures and because the author wrote it in the first person. It feels like Hercules is talking to you.
April 23, 2017
Great book to introduce Greek mythology!
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December 5, 2017Title: Hercules
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Illustrator: Mark Hess
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Hereos, gods, overcoming failure
Opening line/sentence:
Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory.
Brief Book Summary:
This book is about Hercules and how he came to be a hero. It starts off with the beginning of his life, the story tells us that he is half human half god. He does not find out until he gets older that he has super string strength. The rest of the story tells us how he figures out how to control his strength and be a hero for his people.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statues found in many of the world's museums.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Carolyn Phelan (Booklist, June 1 & 15, 1997 (Vol. 93, No. 19 & 20))
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
This is a multi-book review. See also the title Hercules. Just in time to ride the wave of interest generated by the Disney movie version of Hercules (scheduled to open in late June), these books offer the same basic story in two different formats. Each tells Hercules' life story, including Hera's hatred of her husband's son; Hercules' various feats of valor including his 12 labors (in each book, most of these are summarized, with a few dramatically told); the suffering he experienced from his rage; and how he met his death and became immortal. Younger for reading aloud. In a large-format, picture-book edition, Lasky's version of the story is told in first person by the hero himself. The telling is straightforward and dramatic, though it covers a lot of story in a short span. Equally bold and full of action are the illustrations, acrylic paintings that extend across the 15 double-page spreads, with the text appearing within bordered insets. Notes refer to the author's and illustrator's research. A handsome edition for library shelves. To meet the high, short-term demand for books on Hercules, librarians should consider the paperback edition of Moore's book. Divided into short chapters and printed in large type, this third-person narrative also tells a dramatic story but in a version that is easier for children to read. One full-page illustration (not seen in final form in the reviewer's galley) appears in each chapter. The author's note suggests that children look in the night sky for constellations related to Hercules and other characters from Greek mythology.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The first review talks about how kids will take reading this book. I believe that it could be read to any age group above second grade. So, I do not agree when this review says any age. I think that some of the words and sentences would be too complicated for younger ages to understand what is going on. The second review talks about this book in great detail on the different techniques that the author used to please the readers.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book has been purposefully designed to be approachable for young readers, especially in terms of understanding the abstract early literacy concept of graphic representation of letters and letter identification. The style primarily manifests in the bright and colorful artwork as it sets a cheery mood in keeping with the rhythmic beat. The plot is minimal as the sole conflict is the whether there is enough room for all the lowercase letters at the top of the coconut tree.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
With the aid of an interactive prop, such as magnetic letters on a tray with an illustrated coconut tree or whiteboard, this book is ideal in a preschool and/or Kindergarten setting, especially at the beginning of the school year as it welcomes participation. Musically, young children may clap to the beat. Or they may wish to reenact the story. A child’s name may be stamped onto a paper coconut tree to aid in letter identification.
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Illustrator: Mark Hess
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Hereos, gods, overcoming failure
Opening line/sentence:
Listen to my tale, one of cunning and glory.
Brief Book Summary:
This book is about Hercules and how he came to be a hero. It starts off with the beginning of his life, the story tells us that he is half human half god. He does not find out until he gets older that he has super string strength. The rest of the story tells us how he figures out how to control his strength and be a hero for his people.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
The myth of Hercules is a complex one. It is the story of a man who is almost a god, but who succumbs to the foibles of man. He must tame his anger and great strength, and when he does, he is no longer a man, but truly becomes a god. Kids will be drawn to his heroic deeds, but the dark side of Hercules is not whitewashed. It is a compelling story that can be read on several levels. The great strength of Hercules and the monsters he encounters and overcomes are depicted in colorful, bold acrylics. The paintings remind one of the great Greek statues found in many of the world's museums.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Carolyn Phelan (Booklist, June 1 & 15, 1997 (Vol. 93, No. 19 & 20))
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
This is a multi-book review. See also the title Hercules. Just in time to ride the wave of interest generated by the Disney movie version of Hercules (scheduled to open in late June), these books offer the same basic story in two different formats. Each tells Hercules' life story, including Hera's hatred of her husband's son; Hercules' various feats of valor including his 12 labors (in each book, most of these are summarized, with a few dramatically told); the suffering he experienced from his rage; and how he met his death and became immortal. Younger for reading aloud. In a large-format, picture-book edition, Lasky's version of the story is told in first person by the hero himself. The telling is straightforward and dramatic, though it covers a lot of story in a short span. Equally bold and full of action are the illustrations, acrylic paintings that extend across the 15 double-page spreads, with the text appearing within bordered insets. Notes refer to the author's and illustrator's research. A handsome edition for library shelves. To meet the high, short-term demand for books on Hercules, librarians should consider the paperback edition of Moore's book. Divided into short chapters and printed in large type, this third-person narrative also tells a dramatic story but in a version that is easier for children to read. One full-page illustration (not seen in final form in the reviewer's galley) appears in each chapter. The author's note suggests that children look in the night sky for constellations related to Hercules and other characters from Greek mythology.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The first review talks about how kids will take reading this book. I believe that it could be read to any age group above second grade. So, I do not agree when this review says any age. I think that some of the words and sentences would be too complicated for younger ages to understand what is going on. The second review talks about this book in great detail on the different techniques that the author used to please the readers.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book has been purposefully designed to be approachable for young readers, especially in terms of understanding the abstract early literacy concept of graphic representation of letters and letter identification. The style primarily manifests in the bright and colorful artwork as it sets a cheery mood in keeping with the rhythmic beat. The plot is minimal as the sole conflict is the whether there is enough room for all the lowercase letters at the top of the coconut tree.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
With the aid of an interactive prop, such as magnetic letters on a tray with an illustrated coconut tree or whiteboard, this book is ideal in a preschool and/or Kindergarten setting, especially at the beginning of the school year as it welcomes participation. Musically, young children may clap to the beat. Or they may wish to reenact the story. A child’s name may be stamped onto a paper coconut tree to aid in letter identification.
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