Greek and Roman mythology is normally one of the easier sells for children, full of proto-superheroes, nightmarish monsters, and petty gods, but to help lure those unswayed by classicism's allure, the Mythlopedia series spices things up with sassy artwork, a pastel color scheme, and an OMG sensibility. All in the Family! provides profiles of the wide pantheon of complicatedly related non-Olympian heroes and mortals, from Achilles ("I quit! I never wanted to fight in that stupid Trojan War anyway") to Theseus ("Killing that bull-headed freakshow was no big deal. I was all, take that! And that!"). Aside from the heaps of information coming from all angles on just about every page, each book also contains a decent family tree, a rudimentary star chart, and lists of further reading. Will these books make a true mythology lover's skin crawl? Absolutely. But for kids unconvinced that anything so old and gray could have any bearing on their lives, these books provide a feisty if somewhat pandering guide to the many cultural references lingering from antiquity.

Gr 4-6 Jam-packed with trivia, brief profiles, god and goddess relationships, stories, "Top 10 Things to Know About Me" facts, and entertaining illustrations, this title explores 20 heroes and mortals of classic Greek mythology. The selections include the well-known Achilles, Heracles, Odysseus, and Pandora and the more obscure Meleager, Orion, Atalanta, and Bellerophon; each one is given lively treatment. A helpful introduction, a glossary, recommended Web sites, and a family tree complete the package and make this a treasure trove of facts for report writers. While somewhat cluttered, the lighthearted style and humorous collage and cartoon illustrations may draw even the most reluctant of readers. However, those with some knowledge of Greek myths will get the most out of it, and laugh at the inside jokes. Useful for collections where mythology is popular and part of the local curriculum. Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada