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A review by gwynsvan
D'Aulaires' Norse Gods and Giants by Ingri d'Aulaire, Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
5.0
I think of this book as having been a sort of landmark in my intellectual development. I discovered it in my school library during my second grade year, and fell in love with it. I checked it out a few times during that year, but one time, I encountered a library aide who didn't want to let me have it. The library was organized by grade level, and we primary kids weren't allowed to check things out from the higher level sections. Eventually my mother had to meet with the librarian, and after that I was the ONLY KID IN THE SCHOOL who was allowed to check out any book I wanted. What a stupid way to run a library.
Anyway, this book got me interested in mythology. I spent the next couple of years reading every collection of myths I could get my hands on. I read stories from all over the world, but by fourth grade, I'd decided the Greeks were the best. I became a fourth grade Greek mythology expert.
I believe that this book by the D'Aulaires, with its gorgeous colored-pencil illustrations, started me on a path that eventually led to my interest in language, historical linguistics, medieval history and literature. When I was in high school, I special-ordered a copy from a local bookstore, so that I could finally own the book that had such an effect on my life. In college I read some of the sagas in Old Norse and loved them. Thank you, Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire!
Anyway, this book got me interested in mythology. I spent the next couple of years reading every collection of myths I could get my hands on. I read stories from all over the world, but by fourth grade, I'd decided the Greeks were the best. I became a fourth grade Greek mythology expert.
I believe that this book by the D'Aulaires, with its gorgeous colored-pencil illustrations, started me on a path that eventually led to my interest in language, historical linguistics, medieval history and literature. When I was in high school, I special-ordered a copy from a local bookstore, so that I could finally own the book that had such an effect on my life. In college I read some of the sagas in Old Norse and loved them. Thank you, Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire!