Synopses & Reviews
In ancient Greece, the gods control every life, from peasant to King. When newborn Princess Atalanta is left to die on a mountainside because her father wanted a son, the gods send a bear to care for her. Adopted by a woodsman, she grows into a great hunter and athlete, and is eventually reunited with her father, the King. But as she gets older, Atalanta has no use for the gods and gives them no credit. When she must run the most important race of her life, on which her future happiness rides, the gods intercede once more--and Atalanta learns they will not be ignored forever.
Review
"Climo and Koshkin, previously paired for Stolen Thunder: A Norse Myth,
reconfirm their compatibility with this stately picture book. Delving
beyond the surface of the Greek myth of the fleet-footed princess,
Climo's well-told tale raises issues of female worth and inclusion in
male-dominated activities. . . . Koshkin's striking, deep-toned,
classically inspired paintings amplify the drama: framing each painting
with architectural motifs, he matches Climo in her sensitivity to
detail and ambience."
Review
"By starting Atalanta's story with her rejection by her father, and
carrying it past her race and marriage to her transformation into a
lioness, Climo hints at the rich psychological interest in her tale. .
. . Koshkin's delicate but vibrant paintings, done in a style evoking
the antique, set the raven-haired heroine and blond hero into an
archaic Greek world of dress and décor. A slender architrave, pediment,
and columns frame each picture. . . . There are many retellings of
Atalanta's story, but none surpasses this one."
Review
"Climo and Koshkin, previously paired for Stolen Thunder: A Norse Myth, reconfirm their compatibility with this stately picture book. Delving beyond the surface of the Greek myth of the fleet-footed princess, Climoand#8217;s well-told tale raises issues of female worth and inclusion in male-dominated activities. . . . Koshkinand#8217;s striking, deep-toned, classically inspired paintings amplify the drama: framing each painting with architectural motifs, he matches Climo in her sensitivity to detail and ambience."
Publishers Weekly
"By starting Atalantaand#8217;s story with her rejection by her father, and carrying it past her race and marriage to her transformation into a lioness, Climo hints at the rich psychological interest in her tale. . . . Koshkinand#8217;s delicate but vibrant paintings, done in a style evoking the antique, set the raven-haired heroine and blond hero into an archaic Greek world of dress and dand#233;cor. A slender architrave, pediment, and columns frame each picture. . . . There are many retellings of Atalantaand#8217;s story, but none surpasses this one."
School Library Journal, Starred
About the Author
Alexander Koshkin has illustrated several books for Clarion. He lives in Moscow, Russia.Shirley Climo is the author of many popular folklore books for children. She lives in Los Altos, California.