Mythology of the World
Set of 5 titles
Hi-Lo YA nonfiction. Mythology of the World introduces readers to mythological traditions around the world. The series covers the gods, goddesses, heroes, villains, monsters, and themes that have been important to a wide variety of cultures. Each book includes a graphic that presents key information visually, source notes, and resources to aid in further research.
Mythology of the World - Booklist
Similar in format and concept to the publisher’s The World of Greek Mythology series but broader in coverage, the Mythology of the World series covers myths from ancient civilizations in Europe and the Middle East as well as Egypt, Mexico, and China. “At a Glance” topic lists, wide-spaced lines of type, and simply written sentences make the content accessible to students who may be reading below their grade level, while the well-chosen illustrations and cover art, mainly from stock photo and image sources, give the books an appealing look. After retelling a creation story, Gods discusses rulers of the living world and the underworld, as well as deities who meddled and those who inspired. Heroes and Villains includes characters from Greek, Irish, Babylonian, Norse, and Chinese myths. Beyond the obvious choices such as the Hydra and Cerberus from Greek mythology, Monsters and Creatures introduces Chinese shapeshifters and Scottish kelpies. In addition to briefly retelling mythological stories, Themes points out that certain topics, such as creation, death, the afterlife, and the hero’s journey, were common within the narratives of many cultures’ myths. While mythology fans are more likely to enjoy books of myths with fuller storylines, this series may help students working on assignments that involve cross-cultural similarities found in mythologies around the world.