It's All Greek Mythology To Me

Apparently kids get gifts for Valentine's Day these days - at least mine do. Now, don't get me wrong, it's okay for them to get stuff - I'm just a little perplexed because when I was a kid a box of chalk hearts was about as good as it got. Good thing they've got Katy around to look after them.

This year Katy ordered them some books from the latest Scholastic book order form to come home from school. You remember what I'm talking about, they're the same two-page foldout form of the lumpiest, cheapest paper available and printed with smeary half-dry ink they handed out Back In The Day (I'm sorry to tell you, however, that the fine periodical "Bananas" is no longer offered.)

Anyway, Katy ordered Cameron a book of Greek mythology. I thought this was kind of cool because one of my favorite library books when I was a kid was a large book on the same topic. I had it checked out of the library pretty much nonstop for several years. Perhaps this makes me a gigantic nerd (perhaps?) but believe you me, I caught every damn reference to Greek mythology in every bit of literature I ever read.

On the night before Valentine's I was helping Katy wrap the kids' presents. I cracked the cover of Cam's new book.

...Hey, this illustration looks familiar...

I flipped a few more pages

... That picture of Gaia looks familiar too - hey wait a minute how do you know it's Gaia just looking at the picture?

My hands keep flipping pages while my brain goes deep into the archives. The realization is slow in coming but all of a sudden HOLY CRAP THIS IS THE SAME EXACT BOOK I READ AS A KID ARE THOSE GOOSEBUMPS WHOA HOLY CRAP.

Talk about your weird associative memories.

Anyway, the next day I did a little research on the title - D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths. Reading the reviews on Amazon showed me that while I may be a mythology geek, I am by no means alone. If you want to introduce your kids to classic Greek literature and heroes, or you want a refresher yourself, take a look. And if you check it out from the Weatherford Public Library, well, there's more than just Greek history in that particular volume.