Your kids can totally ‘Greek out’ on Greek mythology with new book from National Geographic Kids

Why did the Olympians challenge the Titans? What makes Asclepius different from other heroes? How is Athena like Wonder Woman?

This all might be Greek to you. But you and your kids can better understand Greek mythology through Greeking Out: Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths, a new book from National Geographic Kids.

Penned by the father-daughter duo of Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes, this New York Times best-selling book ties in with the podcast of the same name that Curtis hosts. The podcast, now in its ninth season, began as a fictionalized podcast featured in Crispin Boyer’s book series Zeus the Mighty. 

Scouts were introduced to Zeus the Mighty in the November 2019 issue of Scout Life magazine. They can read an excerpt from Greeking Out about King Midas in the October issue of Scout Life.

Greeking Out highlights 20 classic Greek myths, retelling these tales in a fun, yet educational way. A character from the podcast, the Oracle of Wi-Fi, helps add context and fun tidbits throughout the text.

“It’s got fire-breathing dragons and monsters – and sidebars on the Olympics and how to eat like the Greeks,” Hughes says. “There’s a good blend of fun stories and educational facts. We know the importance of that.”

Heroic lessons

Using colloquial language, Curtis and Hughes explain the myths’ themes in a simplified, kid-friendly manner, aimed for readers ages 8-12. The writing duo draws comparisons to more modern characters to help readers connect with the ancient heroes and villains.

“These are the OG Avengers,” Curtis says. “You have an opportunity for kids to see that the characters are very fallible and that power doesn’t equal good. Good people can still make bad choices. Your choices matter.”

Readers will not only recognize the similarities with fictional heroes and villains of our era, but also real-life names, like those of constellations and planets, and of idioms, like the Trojan horse or Pandora’s box. More so, reading and discussing the book with your children can enhance their reading comprehension and understanding of this ancient culture.

“What I want kids to take away is the idea that listening to a story and telling a story is part of the process,” Curtis says. “This was their entertainment; this was their Netflix in ancient Greece. This was how people made sense of the world around them. It allows you to use stories to understand the world and each other. Storytelling is a way to express yourself; it’s an art.”

Learning together

“National Geographic Kids has a history of providing quality material that’s fun and educational,” Curtis says. “They have experts upon experts that help curate content for kids and families. That’s a seal of approval. These are great stories for kids and adults to read together.”

Readers can also marvel at Javier Espila’s playful illustrations throughout the book and ponder the meaning of each tale. At the end of each story are takeaway boxes, filled with prompts to make you think.

“We hope our readers will be inspired and fall in love with the art of storytelling,” Hughes says.

The podcast is available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Five brand-new stories not aired on the podcast are featured in the book, Greeking Out, which is available on Amazon for $17.99 ($10.99 on Kindle) and wherever books are sold.

You can also check out this helpful educator’s guide.