Isn't choosing books for kids these days really difficult? Especially classics, I didn't want to take them up because I was worried the kids would get bored. But recently, the movie 'Odyssey' came over to our house, and as a result, we encountered Willma Publishing's *Odyssey*. Wow, this is truly the book 'Dad have been looking for'!
This book is a work that mixes humor and emotion to present the epic of ancient Greece to today's children's perspective. It's not just a summarized version of Homer's original; the modern author, Geraldine MacCrunn, freely reimagined it, changing scenes, order, and even adding dialogues or events not found in the original. Thanks to this, our kids can read it smoothly without feeling burdened, whether they are in elementary, middle, or high school!
The author of this book is Geraldine MacCrunn, a very talented writer selected to be a posthumous official author for the 100th anniversary of Peter Pan's birth. She has also received many prestigious literary awards, such as the Guardian Angel Award. It really makes me think, 'If it's this writer, I can trust to leave this to my child!' Since she understands the hearts of children so well, she must have written this in such an enjoyable way?
The book illustrates the 100 years of Odysseus's journey, traveling back to Ithaca to return to his beloved wife Penelope and son Telemachus after ending the Trojan War, all mapped out in a guidebook. When our child asks, "Dad, where is this? Where is that?" while looking at the map, I felt like I was embarking on an adventure with them too. Ten years! Dad can't be separated from our family for even a day! (Sorry, I might have leaned a bit too far indeed.^^;)
The story of *Odyssey* is really exciting. Odysseus meets the one-eyed giant Polyphemus who eats people, gets caught in a spell turning his subordinates into pigs, and fights the sirens who lure sailors with beautiful songs. Plus, the sea god Poseidon keeps interfering, making the journey home very perilous. However, Odysseus doesn't give up and overcomes all these dangers with wisdom and cleverness. My child also reads this book and says, "Dad, Odysseus is truly smart!" I hope our child too will be able to overcome the difficulties that come, like Odysseus does!
The woodcut illustrations by Theodore Penn Such a wonderful sight. Even though it's a hundred years old, it vividly captures the moments of adventure, which allows children to feel even more enjoyment in reading the book. The fun of looking at the pictures is quite a treat!
Odysseus doesn't just appear as a perfect hero. He's smart and brave, but sometimes arrogant and makes mistakes, like this, or makes wrong judgments. This part I really liked. It allows our children not just to read it as a fun myth, but to naturally learn, 'Ah, even heroes can make mistakes,' and 'My actions have responsibilities.' Dad also makes mistakes sometimes? (Laughs)
The back of the book is full of rich supplements like the Homer author's files, character dictionaries, and glossary. Especially the 'Thinking More About the Odyssey' section helps our child develop the power to think from various perspectives. They ask questions like, "Dad, What would happen if Odysseus had heard the siren's song directly?" and the fun of reading discussion while eating is quite a treat!
After reading *Odyssey*, my 6th-grade son said he wanted to read the full translation too! This is a truly grateful book that made the child realize the fun of classics on their own. Soon, we'll re-watch the movie together and dive back into Odysseus's adventures. For dads who want to show their children the joy in classics, this book is highly recommended!
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