Young Zeus by G. Brian Karas


Title: Young Zeus
Author/Illustrator: G. Brian Karas
Genre: Traditional Literature, Fiction
Age: 8-12

This is the story of how young Zeus became ruler of the heaven and earth, and had his family right by side. It all started when Zeus' mother Rhea took her son to an island in Crete to be protected from his evil father. He lived a beautiful life and was protected by a goat, who was enchanted she-goat named Amaltheia. He lived out most of his childhood on this island unbeknowest his about what is father's plans where. Over time Zeus wondered why he had no one to play with and Amaltheia told him the story behind his father and why he was on this island. She told him that he had 12 children who were giants, also known as Titans, and that Cronus, his father, loved them very much, he also had 3 children who were Cyclopes, and six of whom were monsters, known as Hundred-Handers, he didn't love them very much and had them locked in the underworld forever. His grandmother cast him off the throne, Cronus knew that only a blood relative could take the throne, so to stop that from happening he swallowed his children whole and they lived in his stomach. His mother tricked him and gave him a blanket covering a rock and pretended it was Zeus, and he swallowed it up not realizing anything.
As Zeus got older he became more and more troubled about his evil father, and knew he had to free his brothers and sisters. One day when he was in a terrible mood, while his mom was onlooking from the shadows he had a fit and threw a mountaintop into the sea. His mother introduced herself and together they devised a plan to overthrow Cronus and free his siblings. When Cronus was sleeping Zeus slipped a poison down his throat which caused him to "throw up" his siblings, once free they all beat Cronus. Once they finished, Zeus knew he had to free the monsters and Cyclopes, because they were also his family. He slipped the dragon some sweets which distracted him. Zeus freed his uncles and they, along with his siblings defeated the Titans. The Cyclopes gave Zeus a bundle of thunderbolts to help him defeat the Titans. Once they were defeated there was a disagreement about who would rule all and Zeus shouted and claimed he was ruler and made himself the boss essentially and that's how he became the ruler of all, with the help of his family.
I think this book is perfect in a way for children who have older siblings and want to be in control and the "leader".  I think this best fits grade levels 1st - 3rd, since that's when young students like to be the center of attention, especially if they have older siblings, or if they're in the middle and get bossed around by their younger siblings.
- Peace. Love. Giraffes.




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