Persephone

by Sally Pomme Clayton, Virginia Lee (Illustrator)

When Hades carries Persephone down to the Underworld, her mother curses the Earth and everything stops growing. It is winter all year round. Persephone must return to Earth - but how can spring return where winter reigns?

Genres: Picture Books, Mythology, Childrens, Greek Mythology, Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales

30 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2009

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book mainly for the beautiful illustrations!! The story is a quick recap on Greek Gods and why there’s 3 months of winter.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the cover image I wanted this book. It is perfect for the myth: lovely and sad and dark and mysterious. Several other illustrations were also quite striking, especially the one where Demeter's cloak is turning into storm cloud to spread winter over the earth. I like the visual connections the illustrator made between the gods and the natural forces they represent. Those images are the most memorable part of the book, however. The retelling itself was nothing special. In fact, I thought it was weak in a few places, and it was odd how at the beginning the author seems to go out of the way to avoid saying that Persephone is not an ordinary girl. Is it supposed to be a surprise? That seems like a strange approach to mythology. If you're only getting one book on this topic I would definitely recommend Penelope Proddow's Demeter and Persephone: Homeric Hymn Number Two over this version.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a stunningly beautiful picture book about the greek myth of Persephone. This has always been my favorite myth, and Hades my favorite god. That may seem odd, but stop and think about it. Hades married one woman, and even though he tricked her, he didn't assault her (in most versions) like just about every other god does to the women who catch their eye. He also shares her with her mother. By comparison he's almost not a terrible person. Anyway, this story can never really be aimed at young children due to its very nature, but older kids might enjoy reading this on their own.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book retells the fascinating story from Greek mythology of Persephone, the lovely daughter of the Earth Goddess Demeter, who attracted the eye of Hades, King of the Underworld. Hades decided Persephone should be his queen, so he scooped her up and took her down to his kingdom.

Persephone was depressed, and Demeter was angry. The daughter wouldn’t eat, and the mother caused the earth to freeze up and bear no plants. For a whole year, nothing grew:

"It was a year of hunger and misery. It was winter all the time. No one recognized the Great Goddess [Demeter], wrapped in her cloak, weeping and waiting for the world to die of hunger.”

Zeus, like many men, took a while to notice anything was different, and when he did, he sent his messenger Hermes down to Hades to retrieve Persephone.

Hades agreed to let her go, but asked Persephone to eat something first to have the strength to return. In this retelling, she takes three pomegranate seeds. (Other versions have her eating six seeds.)

In any event, she was allowed to return, but she had to go back to be with Hades for three months of the year - one for every seed she had eaten. When she was back in Hades, winter would come to the Earth, and when she returned, Demeter once again is happy, and Earth once again bears fruit.

English Illustrator (and sculptor) Virginia Lee uses lovely watercolors to depict the splendor of the Greek Gods and the changing emotions of the main actors in this story. (Her speciality is mythology, and she worked on the movie set of "Lord of the Rings.") She does some amazing fantastical work that you can see on her blog, here.

Evaluation: The story of Persephone has a lot of appeal, and will no doubt inspire many questions from young readers (recommended for ages 7-10) about origin stories, mythology generally, and even morality.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely done.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this as a gift, a long time ago after a family tragedy and found comfort in its pages as a little girl. This book is what got me into researching and learning about Greek mythology. To this day, my family puts a pomegranate on our doorstep at the end of winter, asking Persephone to come back to us and grant us spring. I would absolutely recommend everybody read this book, the illustrations are just stunningly beautiful and the story is well written, short enough to keep children’s interest but detailed enough to get the whole story across. I love it to pieces, it will stay with me forever.

[sara l · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this when i was a kid, and i instantly fell in love with the story of persephone. this will forever be my favorite. 🖤

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations and a great vocabulary that allows for just enough conversation with elementary school students. So well done.

[Rose Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. A very short story with a simplistic progression. But it is a children's story, so it makes it easier for them to understand. Only critique is I felt the ending was very abrupt.

[Raquel Pilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Persephone's myth, or the seasons Greek myth is an interesting story, one of my favourites!
This version was not the best in my opinion, but I was gripped by the illustrations that totally match the myth!
Being a non-native English spea... I mean, reader, I found the text way descriptive and in the last paragraphs I got a bit lost. Anyway, nice version, beautiful illustrations!

[Whitni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Persephone is a picture book retelling of the classic Greek myth. Persephone is collecting flowers and other pieces of nature when Hades appears out of the Underworld to take her as his bride. Persephone's friends find the flowers left behind after her disappearance and alert Demeter, goddess of the Earth-- and Persephone's mother. After Demeter's search for her daughter comes to an end with no resolution, she sentences Earth to an everlasting winter. This curse lasts for a year. Zeus, father of the sky, notices this change and fears for the Earth's survival. He sends his messenger, Hermes, to the Underworld to find Persephone and return her to her mother. After Hermes arrival, Hades agrees to free Persephone but not without offering food. Persephone, who is gleeful to be returning home, accepts the food and flies with Hermes out of the Underworld and returns to Demeter. All seems well until Persephone reveals that she has eaten food of the Underworld and therefore, must pay the price of eaten food of the Underworld as a living person.

I believe this folklore is best suited for second grade due to it's depth and format. However, I could see this being used in upper grades if needed. This book could be used to discuss central message and moral. Plus, the story is simple and easy to remember. I think that second grade students would be able to comprehend and connect to this story with ease.

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Hades x Persephone picture book. Gorgeous illustrations and captivating writing.


✨✨✨✨✨

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the text is not my favorite retelling of the Demeter/Persephone myth, the pictures are absolutely stunning. This is the most beautifully illustrated Greek myth since Alan Lee illustrated Black Ships Before Troy The Story of the Iliad by Rosemary Sutcliff.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Genre- Traditional Literature
2. Awards- None
3. Grade Level- 3-4
4. I could use this when discussing myths with my students. I could read this myth perhaps with a couple other popular myths that explain why things are the way they are. I could then ask the students to work together and come up with their own myth using the gods we have learned about in Greek mythology to explain an event.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the best retelling of the Greek myth that I've read yet. Virginia Lee's illustrations, especially of the underworld, are beautiful and haunting. This will have to be ordered for my library's collection!

[Izi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Greek Myth... I hadn't ever heard the story before, and I really liked it! The pictures were quite interesting as well.
And just a tip: if you are ever in a fairytale/myth, in a bad guy's home, do not eat anything. Okay?

[Court · Rating 3 out of 5]

Persephone is whiny. I don't like her. Hades could do better.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

English author/illustrator team Sally Pomme Clayton and Virginia Lee retell the classical Greek myth of Persephone in this gorgeous picture book. Gathering flowers in a sunny vale, the eponymous young goddess is kidnapped by Hades, the god of the Greek underworld, and taken to his domain to become his queen. Her mother Demeter, the goddess of fertility and of the harvest, searches the world for her daughter, and being unable to find her, retreats deeper and deeper into grief and rage, leading to eternal winter on earth. It falls to Zeus to restore order, commanding his brother Hades to release his captive. But that god has a trick or two up his sleeve (as well as a few pomegranate seeds), and Persephone's release is only temporary...

Both fascinating and disturbing, the myth of Persephone is one that has exerted a pull on the imaginations of many over the millennia. A pourquoi tale explaining the changing of the seasons—the months of winter occur when Persephone is with Hades, and far from her mother—and a story of a young woman's separation from her natal family through marriage, it has been retold countless times, in both painting and other visual arts, and through the written word. When it comes to children's retellings, I have a great fondness for Penelope Proddow and Barbara Cooney's Demeter and Persephone: Homeric Hymn Number Two , a picture book adaptation of the Homeric Hymn from which the story is taken. That said, I am glad to have now also read this version from Clayton and Lee, which is simply enchanting! The telling is engaging, but it is the artwork which really makes this one special. I loved the use of color and form throughout, and appreciated so many of the little details, from Persephone's hair (which looks the closest to classical sources, of any illustrated version I have seen), to Demeter's cloak spreading a storm of darkness across the land. Apparently Virginia Lee is the daughter of artist Alan Lee, who has illustrated many gorgeous books, and who was the concept designer for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films, upon which Virginia Lee also worked. It's a shame that she appears to have only illustrated a few books. Highly recommended to young mythology lovers, and to anyone who appreciated beautiful picture book art. I read a copy from my public library, but think I would like to add this one to my personal collection.

[Jessica Riben]

Title: Persephone
Author: Sally Pomme Clayton
Illustrator: Virginia Lee
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Do not eat food that you are not sure of where it came from, sadness, darkness, liveliness. Seasons (winter to autumn)
Opening line/sentence: Persephone was playing in the fields, running, laughing, and chasing her friends.
Brief Book Summary: (2-3 sentences in your own words)
Persephone is outside picking flowers and playing with her friends, when all of the sudden Hades, the King of the Underworld sweeps her up. He takes her into the Underworld where he makes her the Queen of the Underworld. Hades explains that the gold is all for her, but she doesn't care. She refuses to eat or sleep, and is very sad that she is stuck in the Underworld. When her friends find out she is missing they tell her mother, Mother Demeter, Goddess of earth. Her mother is very sad and looks for her day and night but cannot find her anywhere. Demeter curses the Earth and froze everything, allowing nothing on Earth to grow. Father Zeus, God of the Sky told Hermes, to go get Persephone from the Underworld and return her to her mother. Hades tells her that he will not keep her if she is unhappy being in the Underworld. He tells her to eat some of his berries before they leave because she hasn't eaten in a while. Persephone eats three of the pomegranate seeds then returns to her mother, who is so excited to she her. Just then, grass begins to grow and flowers begin to bloom and Demeter is very happy. Then she asks Persephone if she ate anything in the underworld, and she replies that she had eaten three pomegranate seeds. Her mother was so upset and explained that she cannot eat the food of the dead. For three months every year, Persephone has to return to the Underworld. Once the three months are over, she can return to Earth and the ice melts and plants begin to grow again because Spring has come.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (cut & paste)
Midwest Book Review (Children's Bookwatch, May 2009)
Featuring sweeping and beautiful color illustrations, Persephone is a picutrebook retelling of the classic myth of Persephone, daughter of the harvest goddess Demeter. When Hades, King of the Underworld, crossed paths with Persephone, he found her so beautiful that he kidnaped her and took her to his Underworld kingdom. Demeter grieved over the loss of her daughter, and the earth turned ice cold and barren of food. To save Demeter's breaking heart and stop famine from destroying the land, Hermes traveled to Hades and persuaded him to let Persephone go - but not before she had eaten three pomegranate seeds. Thus, Persephone must return to the Underworld for three months each year; during this time, Demeter grieves, the snows come, and food grows scarce. A two-page postscript about the story remarks on how the pomegranate is perceived as connected to both death and life in Greek culture today. An excellent and enthusiastically recommended rendition, highly recommended especially for public library children's collections. The Folklore/Fairytale Shelf ...., Eerdmans Books for Young Readers c/o Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, $18.00. n/a
(PUBLISHER: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (Grand Rapids Mich.:), PUBLISHED: 2009.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (cut & paste)
Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
In this lively retelling of the Greek myth Persephone, a young goddess, is off by herself enjoying the riches of springtime when Hades, the King of the Underworld, kidnaps her and carries her off to be his reluctant queen. Her mother Demeter, Goddess of Earth, searches for her in vain. Learning that Persephone has been taken underground, Demeter curses and freezes the earth. Zeus, King of the Gods, sends Hermes to demand the return of Persephone. Hades agrees, but insists that Persephone eat before she leaves. When she returns, the earth above comes back to life. But Demeter s joy is diminished when she learns that Persephone has eaten three pomegranate seeds in the Underworld. This requires her to return there for three months every year. And so we have winter on Earth. Double-page scenes of detailed landscapes and underground caverns form the environment of the melodrama. Using mixed media, Lee has reproduced the flavor of ancient Greek painting, including stylized horses, curling hair and beard. The controlled hues of the browns of the Underworld and the greens of Earth evoke associated emotions. The scene of the chariot ride through Hades is particularly effective. Notes fill in information about the legend and its continuing significance. Don t pass by the end pages and title page. 2009, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, $18.00. Ages 7 to 11.
(PUBLISHER: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (Grand Rapids Mich.:), PUBLISHED: 2009.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
Both reviews mention explain how Persephone was taken into the Underworld but Hades. They also go into detail about the whole event, which help the reader visualize the story. In addition, these reviews talk about the illustrations and how it brings the story to life. One of the reviews mentions how the how the Greek painting details things like the horses, curling hair, and bread. These pictures help being the story to life by giving children a visualization of what is happening throughout the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
This is a great book to talk about the Greek gods and goddesses that all have their own unique powers. Teachers could be lessons on the types of gods and goddesses and where they came from. Also, this book is a good way to talk about the order of the seasons and how spring comes after winter.
Consideration of Instructional Application: (3-4 sentences in your own words)
This book has a lot of great activities that can be created from this book. After the lesson on gods and goddesses, students can create their own gods by giving them names and powers. This would also be fun to talk about the different seasons and create storyboards about what happens in each season. For example, in the summer we go to the beach and in the winter is snowing and is very cold.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet retelling of the Persephone myth.

I’ve been looking for a good Persephone book for so long that I’m thankful to even get this little bit in a children’s non-fiction book (it’s classified under Legends & Fairytales at my work/library). I don’t know why there hasn’t been a good one yet with all the other feminist retellings we have (Circe, Atalanta, Medusa, the women of Troy, etc.). All I’ve seen are “modern” retellings or over the top overwrought teeny bopper feeling dramatics (I’m not going to say what I’m referring to here because it’s something people love… 😅😅😅).

But this… this was beautiful! Super short, with just the myth details as they’re known to everyone done with really gorgeous illustrations. I read at the end that Virginia Lee who did the illustrations worked on some of the sculptures for LOTR and I thought her name was familiar!

My only qualm would be that we barely hear a word from Persephone herself, mostly just everyone around her, so I’m still waiting on something from her own perspective.

[Julianna Muth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Persephone" by Sally Pomme Clayton, tells the Greek mythological story of the beautiful young goddess Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of Earth. Hades, the god of the underworld, abducts Persephone from Earth and brings her to his realm in the underworld to make her his bride. Demeter is so distraught at the loss of her daughter that the Earth is plunged into a long winter." It was a year of hunger and misery. It was winter all the time." The people of the Earth suffer with no food. Zeus eventually intervenes insisting that Persephone be allowed to see her mother. Hades lets Persephone return home, but only for a limited period of time. Every year Persephone must return to Hades and, during that time, winter returns to Earth and so the Earth has its seasons according to this myth from ancient Greece.
This text, along with the lovely illustrations, provide children with background knowledge about this well known Greek myth about the change of seasons. This text also provides a simple and beautiful introduction on which to compare and contrast ideas about being pitted between two worlds, and the consequences of our actions. Once you are hooked on Greek Mythology, Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire's collection "D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths" is one of best ones out there. It’s written in a clear and simple style that children will understand and enjoy. Greek mythology in general can be summed up as entertaining and informative. Clayton's version of Persephone is entertaining and engaging.

[Michelle Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

Myth-Nature myth
None given
UMHB Library
Grades 3-6
• The main characters were not described in detail explicitly by the text, but inferences could be made by knowledge of Greek Mythology and the pictures.
• This was the classic myth that is told almost everywhere. However, I had never heard of the water nymph trying to stop Hades from taking Persephone.
• I would use this when teaching Earth science on the seasons and use this story as an introduction. If I was teaching English and the mythology unit came up, I would use it to start a conversation about the different Greek gods.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A muted color palette is used to depict the story of the kidnapping of Persephone. Some of the classical touches (the two torches, and the hair ribbon in the nymph's lake from the Roman version) are included. A good retelling of the story for autumn.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic story, but there really isn't anything to make this stand out above other versions. The writing is basic. The art is interesting but not totally alluring. My niece who loves classics will enjoy it anyway.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Persephone and Demeter is one of my favorites. This accessible telling of the Greek myth has beautiful illustrations and engages the attention of young readers. There is an author's note at the end that elaborates on the myth and it's relation to how people view the seasons.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork in this is reminiscent of K.Y. Craft and her Greek reimaginings. The story is swift and well-written. I can definitely see this multi-tasking as a classroom resource as well as a bedtime story.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This children’s picture book version of the Demeter-Persephone-Hades myth is beautifully illustrated and simply retold. I like that the water nymph tried to save Persephone from being forced underground. Hades comes off as powerful but not unkind or cruel, at least.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations to go with the no-nonsense writing. The story was very objective (as much as a Greek myth can be) which I liked. It is a children's book, but I wish we had more Hades.

[A.R. McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful rendition of Persephone. Gorgeous artwork and written in a simple yet eloquent way that both little ones and adults can enjoy.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The retelling of the myth is not particularly brilliant, and has few inaccuracies. The illustrations are however worth owning the book.