Dragonslayers: From Beowulf to St. George

Gr 6–8—These books are similar in format and quality. Both are text heavy, featuring plenty of information on the myths and legends themselves, as well as on the historical and cultural significance of the stories, and both include illustrations drawn from famous works of art as well as maps and reference materials. The images are often stunning, and they lend authority to the in-depth information presented. Dragonslayers uses time periods-ancient, holy, medieval-to provide summaries of various myths. Unfortunately, the myths outside of Europe get little attention. Jason tells the story from start to finish, and this direct, fact-based format make the telling a bit dry, suggesting that the series is better suited for comparison and analysis of a type of myth rather than one specific story. These would be good choices for reports or readers with a serious interest in the subject.—Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City