Atalanta's Race

by Shirley Climo

[cherryblossommj]

Today taking things a bit differently for school, we are watching the TV series Alantis on Hulu. My children, especially the older girls are loving picking out the Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines as they make an appearance in each episode. As we have come to S1 E10 - "The Price of Hope," our heroes are in trouble and saved by an arrow wielding heroine. "It's Artemis," my oldest yelled, but then the girl introduced herself to Jason and Pythagorus as Atalanta. "Who?" So, my response was to get out this book for a read aloud.

My girls are enthralled for this new Greek Myth and heroine to add to their adventures. They are outraged at the injustice of feminine inequality in the tale and the idiocy of such a man "who doesn't deserve to be king!" The illustrations are one of the best parts of the story declares my oldest. As she reads aloud with pretty good pronunciation of Greek names and great royal haute in her voice we are all entertained. (The eight, almost nine-year-old, is reading aloud with the six, soon to be seven, next to her and the three, almost four, on the older side across the couch. She's even calling out the announcers messages at the Arcadia court gathering with the Etheopians.

I'll be pulling out the Atlas next to review some geography. Not a bad homeschool lazy day after all...

I own this book, and purchased a paperback picture book copy on the recommendation of The Well-Trained Mind.