Pandora

"The jar is not to be opened! No. Never. Never. The gods have commanded it. The gods have commanded it!" - thus Pandora has been warned, and yet despite numerous warnings from her husband Epimetheus and servant Xerxes, the beautiful Pandora's curiosity will not be sated until she opens the jar and faces the consequences. The story here is written in verse form and flows well, carrying the reader along with the story - and makes for a great read-aloud for elementary age students. My 5-year-old daughter enjoyed this story immensely and the beautiful full-color illustrations make this a visually-appealing tale as well. There is even a list of character's names and their significance. I'd recommend this to children ages 5 and up.

Pandora is a beautifully illustrated and poetic book that introduces young people to the foundations of western culture. The Greek myths hold many origins to our modern understanding of human behavior and character. Robert Burleigh has done a beautiful job of bringing this myth to life. As a teacher, I highly recommend this book for grade elementary school or middle school. Although you have to order it from outside sources, it's worth it.

"What was in the jar?/The jar that was closed tight/And not to be opened!/What was in the jar?/It was all Pandora could think of!" So begins Robert Burleigh's marvelous retelling of Pandora. His poetic text written in easy to read, short sentences, is compelling and filled with excitement and drama as the tension builds toward the inevitable climax and hopeful ending. Raul Colon's elegant and evocative illustrations complement the story beautifully, and together word and art bring the myth to life in rich detail. With a character list and informative forward to enhance understanding of the story, Pandora is perfect for youngsters 8-12, and is an engaging introduction to Greek myths that shouldn't be missed.