Greeking Out: Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths

Greeking Out

by Kenny Curtis, Jillian Hughes, Javier Espila (Illustrator)

From the creators of National Geographic Kids’ wildly successful Greeking Out podcast, this New York Times best-selling tie-in book delivers a clever tongue-in-cheek retelling of 20 classic Greek myths.

This kid-friendly collection of tales from Greek mythology showcases familiar favorites from the well-loved Greeking Out podcast as well as brand-new, never-before-aired stories. Join Persephone on her journey through the mystifying depths of the Underworld. Venture onwards with Heracles as he tackles his 12 death-defying labors. And join mythological figures you may not have heard of before, including scheming gods and goddesses, honorable—and not so honorable—heroes, and magnificent monsters.

Dynamic, playful illustrations coupled with laugh-out-loud storytelling and real information about ancient Greece—delivered by the all-knowing Oracle of Wi-Fi—make this collection of fabulous fables a fresh addition to any history-lover's library.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Middle Grade, Greek Mythology, Ancient

192 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never tire of reading about these crazy Greek myths!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling! Words were explained and that might not be in today’s vocabulary like loom. It was somewhat snarky in a very enjoyable way without any particular meanness. Modern sensibilities were acknowledged such as the different ways women were treated then. A few tales were new to me which was a real treat!! The back matter was superb with a map showing locations of some of the tales. Much more than just the obvious such as Mt. Olympus! Highly recommended! I’m not surprised to discover National Geographic as the publisher.

[Bhavi Vyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading these stories with my kids. The stories are written in such a fun way that it totally captures young readers attention and they are constantly asking for more. Can’t wait for the 2nd book, and of course now we love the podcasts too.

[Jessica S · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I absolutely loved this book! This keeps Greek Mythology appropriate for younger kids in a fun way. Highly recommend!

[Valente]

This book truly changed my perspective of Greek mythology it was action packed and fun

my favorite character was Hermes

it was very interesting and the jokes were pretty fire too

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey there, fellow bookworms! Today, I’m super excited to share with you this awesome book called Greeking Out: Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths. Are you ready to dive into some epic adventures with gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters? Let’s go!

So, this book is from the same cool folks who make the Greeking Out podcast that you might have heard of. It’s all about Greek myths, but don’t worry if you don’t know much about them yet because this book makes it super easy to understand!

Inside, you’ll find 20 different Greek myths. Some you might already know, like the story of Persephone and her adventure in the Underworld. But there are also new stories you might not have heard before, with gods and heroes doing all sorts of amazing and sometimes silly things.

One of my favorite parts is following Heracles, also known as Hercules, as he goes on these super tough adventures called labors. He has to do things like fight monsters and capture magical animals. It’s like a big action movie, but in a book!

And get this, there are these funny and colorful illustrations all over the book that bring the stories to life. They’re so cool and make the book even more fun to read. Plus, there’s this Oracle of Wi-Fi who pops up every now and then to give you extra info about ancient Greece. It’s like having a wise and funny friend guiding you through the myths!

What’s really awesome is that while you’re having fun reading these stories, you’re also learning a lot about ancient Greece. You’ll find out about their gods, their heroes, and even their monsters. It’s like sneaky learning, but way more fun!

So, if you’re into adventures, myths, and learning cool stuff, Greeking Out is definitely the book for you. It’s packed with excitement, laughs, and tons of interesting facts. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down once you start reading!

[Russell F · Rating 5 out of 5]

National Geographic Kids’ Greeking Out is an awesome children’s book. It is a wonderful way to introduce kids to Greek Mythology. The book is a modern retelling of classic myths. It is brilliantly written with incredible illustrations. The best part is that the book is tied to a popular podcast. Each podcast is about twenty minutes and hugely enjoyable. The theme song is also great.

I came across Greeking Out while driving home from dropping off my son at college. It was a long drive, and I was getting tired of listening to music. I just stumbled on to the podcast while looking for something different to listen to. My wife and I listened to several episodes during our trip. We really enjoyed them. The podcast was so good, I thought the book was worth a read. I highly recommend this book if you have young children (8-12). The book and podcast will have your child learning the classic myths in no time. The parents will also enjoy revisiting this genre.

[Jurgis Karpus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introduction to Greek mythology for modern kids. The authors retell these timeless stories in a fresh, accessible way while keeping the original intent and messages intact. My kids and I—especially my 9-year-old son—were completely absorbed as we prepared for our holidays in Greece. Each chapter ends with thoughtful reflections that we thoroughly enjoyed discussing. A hidden perk is that my son now recalls the heroes, gods, and demigods we come across in ruins, museums, and all around splendid Greece (his memory, of course, far outshines mine). We haven’t listened to the podcast on which it is based, but the book stands strongly on its own. We’re already making our way through the sequel.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Greeking Out podcast is geared towards young kids. But I'm a 30-something mythology fan without kids of my own who really loves the podcast. This book was just as amazing as the podcast! I loved everything about it. The stories themselves. I mean, no matter how many times and versions I read of Greek Mythological stories, they always impress me. The fun illustrations were also really cool. And it was really well-written, too. Overall, it was just excellent!

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your kids have even a passing interest in Greek mythology— mine love it— you’ve gotta grab this collection of 20 classic stories. Colorfully illustrated, funny, and engaging, the stories are all a blast. Is the humor a little forced sometimes? Sure— but the batting average is high enough. Are the Greek names difficult to pronounce when reading out loud, prompting ridicule from young audiences? Hahaha why do you ask? But even so, a great treasury of timeless stories, too appealing to resist.

[Benjamin Bookman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the podcast - the interaction there is a big part of the charm, which the book just can't replicate - but a good attempt. The stories are well summarized for a young audience (i.e. a bit sanitized, but in a tasteful way for the most part), the illustrations add depth, and the sidebars are interesting.

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The inconsistency of language, colloquial and former, felt jarring to me. You can’t say dude in one sentence and then two lines below have a kid say “Father”.

Also there is an error in one of the myths. Artemis can shape shift independently. She doesn’t need Apollo to transform.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great and I definitely plan to check out the others in this series. It was beautifully illustrated and I like how the myths were connected to life lessons. Additionally, there were some myths represented that I was not familiar with. I learned something.

[Polina Gortman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and engaging with awesome illustrations!

[Jak Krumholtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book recommendation from my son and this was a fun one that also taught a lot.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun stories with some real world lessons.

[Bookwormgyrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun retelling of Greek myths. Based on the equally fun podcast 5.0 Folios

[Shay Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly engaging, great illustrations and captivating story telling for all ages. Highly recommend!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I really loved this book. It was informative and funny. Perfect for kids

[Carrie Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great retelling collection of many classic greek myths for children. I know I would have loved this book when I was a child and falling in love with Greek mythology.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun retelling of classic Greek myths. Although simple, it is not a dumbed-down version. The stories are given life and humor and I enjoyed refreshing my memory with this book.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book! I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the second one. Really helpful to have the pronunciation guide in the back!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tone of this book. It was relatable without being too pandering. The pages were well-designed as well and dynamic. Very much kept my interest.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and entertaining character summaries. My problem with Greek mythology is that I can’t ever remember who is who and who did what. It just won’t stick in my brain.

[Libby]

(P-Lib) I saw an article about this book and thought it would be a good one for me to read so I can finally learn about all the Greek myths. Even though this was a well-designed book -- with great call-outs and illustrations, I feel like I still didn't learn too much. There is SO much information about SO many different stories, and I can't keep them straight. Much less differentiate the Greek stuff from the Roman stuff. I don't get it. Why is mythology so beloved? I remember at college, it was the class that always filled up first. Shrug.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

With updated language and a friendly WI-Fi oracle that connects elements from Greek mythology to our own lives, Greeking Out: Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths outshines older National Geographic publications such as Treasury of Greek Mythology. Greeking Out includes twenty chapters (each containing a single story and a summarizing lesson). The book begins with “The Olympians Versus the Titans,” moves on to myths including “Heracles the G.O.A.T.,” “Atalanta Warrior Princess,” and ends with “Till Death Do Us Part…and Then Some.”

Based on the Greeking Out podcast, this book is an ode to traditional storytelling with a conversational style and witty remarks. Each chapter includes an opening comic-like spread that features the main individuals who will be featured in the myth, one to three supplemental story images (also in the comic style), and one to two stock photographs that include real-life connections from the myths to today. The comic-like illustrations are entertaining, but they do not always enhance understanding or clarify the myths they portray. Unfortunately, the placement of some images and asides do not align with the text on the page. This can make it difficult for readers to determine a natural path through the text and asides.

Throughout the book there are interesting extra spreads: “Say What? Famous Greek Expressions,“ “Eat Like the Greeks,” “Monster Mash,” “The 12 Labors of Heracles,” “Powerful Women in Greek Mythology,” and “Play Like an Olympian.” However, these extras are not listed in the table of contents, so they could be missed by someone who is not reading from cover to cover. The book itself has excellent back matter. However, some material, including a map, may have been better placed in the beginning. While there is an extensive glossary, the introduction neglects to mention that the pronunciation of Greek names and places only appears in the back of the book. Small changes would have made this more accessible to littles, yet it still works well in the read-aloud setting. Greeking Out can be read cover-to-cover to get a full picture of Greek mythology or readers can focus on chapters that feature their favorite myths.

4 STARS - RECOMMENDED (Independent Reading - Grades 5+, Read Aloud - All Ages):
Greeking Out: Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths will delight newbies, fans of Greek mythology, and fans of the Greeking Out podcast. Text features could have been adjusted to make the text more accessible to all readers. However, the minor issues with text features do not detract from the overall value of an updated book on Greek mythology that speaks to this generation. Myths are retold in a way that makes them accessible beyond the target audience.

Thank you to the publisher who provided a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Elliot (Ginormous nerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:(5)Wonderful artwork. Great retellings