Moving on to Greek myths

On Friday the kids watched Arthur on PBS in the afternoon. It was an episode they'd seen before, but not recently, and it hadn't stuck with them. In it, D.W. is challenged to write a story that is more interesting that whatever books Arthur and Buster are currently reading. D.W. accepts the challenge, then gets upset when she realizes she can't write. She bemoans this to her grandmother, who tells her that in ages past stories were not written down, but told orally. D.W. then proceeds to tell a story to Arthur and Buster that is an adaptation of Homer's Odyssey, which her grandmother had shared with her.

Later, Sayer re-told the story to me. I told her that it was a Greek myth story with perhaps a bit of history in it. (And that her version added in a few extra monsters so it was a little bit hers, too. :) ) But we were talking myths again, and she was very interested.

So last night I brought out D'Aulaire's Greek Myths and we read through the stories of Gaea and Uranus, the Titans, Zeus conquering his father and becoming king of the gods, and the stories of Hephaestus, Hermes, Hera, Ares, Aphrodite, and Athena. Tonight we'll pick up with Poseidon. Sayer is enthralled. :)