Title of the work
Country of the First Edition
Country/countries of popularity
Original Language
First Edition Date
First Edition Details
Athina Bali, Match and Learn the Greek Gods. Petita Demas, London, 2016, 36 pp.
ISBN
Awards
Match & Learn the Greek Gods is the Winner of a Parents’ Choice Approved Award;
Selected by The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts NY to receive a W³ Silver Award;
Recognized as a Finalist in the Made for Mums Toy Awards ( see here, accessed: July 31, 2018).
Genre
Instructional and educational works
Myths
Picture books
Toy and movable books
Target Audience
Children
Cover
We are still trying to obtain permission for posting the original cover.
Author of the Entry:
Ayelet Peer, Bar-Ilan University, ayelet.peer@gmail.com
Peer-reviewer of the Entry:
Lisa Maurice, Bar-Ilan University, mauril68@gmail.com
Elżbieta Olechowska, University of Warsaw, elzbieta.olechowska@gmail.com
Athina Bali (Author)
Summary
This book contains colourful stickers and illustrations. Each page shows a description of a Greek god for whom the child needs to find the corresponding sticker. Furthermore, there are several stories in the book containing moral lessons on teamwork, winning and losing, respecting nature etc.
Analysis
This book offers a fun way to learn about the Greek gods. The illustrations are vivid, colorful and represent the 12 Olympians. There are several main stories with valuable lessons. For example, Athena and Ares are playing a game of throwing spears, and the moral is that winning isn't everything. Then we have a story about Hephaestus, who interrupts Aphrodite's beauty sleep. The short-moral stories match the roles of the gods (Hephaestus makes a lot of noise while he works, Aphrodite needs her beauty sleep, Ares is anxious to win a match; Apollo is singing, and Artemis is helping the wild animals). Besides the main story, we have short descriptions of the other gods and a place for a sticker. The brief descriptions include the god's name, siblings, favourite animal and attribute. The gods behave almost as naughty children who need to be taught how to behave by some other, more responsible god (Poseidon, Demeter, etc.) It is a lovely and light-hearted reading that should engage children. Especially since they see that the gods also need to learn some manners. This way, children are introduced to the different attributes of the gods but also get more familiar with the characters through the short stories.
Addenda
Entry prepared on: Match and Learn the Greek Gods Petita Demas, 3rd edition, London, 2017, 36 pp.
