Persephone by Sally Pomme Clayton. 2009.

Will Spring Be Early or Will Spring Be Late?

Persephone by Clayton, Sally Pomme — Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2009--398.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.3 An illustrated retelling of the story of the goddess Persephone, who was forced to live underground and become Hades' bride, until her mother finds a way to reunite with her daughter and release her from Hades' Underworld.

Rationale: Greek mythology is often studied in the middle school as part of language arts and/or social studies when ancient Greece is studied in social studies. In the schools I’ve served that has meant sixth grade or ninth-tenth grades.  My private school has chosen to do a mythology unit in the eighth grade, using the d’Aulaires’ classic D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths as the basis of the study. The Rick Riordon books about Greek and Egyptian mythology have created an interest in mythology at lower grades. Take advantage of that interest to add to the 290s. For my elementary school, I add picture books; for the middle school, I add collections of myths. The books recommended here include myths about and Persephone, Hades, and Demeter. If you want to do a stand alone lesson, use the ideas from Fresh Plans or Erdmans in the springtime or when a class studies the causes of the seasons.

Teacher Resources:

Lesson plan available at Erdmans Books for Young Readers http://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/Eerdmans/Persephone_DG.pdf

Fresh Plans at http://www.myfreshplans.com/2011/03/persephone-and-demeter-lesson-plans/

Includes ideas for Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science

Persephone’s Flight video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52ZAxKvZkiM

Related Books:

Demeter & Persephone : Spring held hostage : a Greek myth (Graphic Myths And Legends) by Fontes, Justine — Graphic Universe, 2007. 292.2; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 3.3. A graphic novel adaptation of the Greek myth in which the grief felt by Demeter over the loss of her beautiful daughter Persephone, who has been kidnapped by the god of the underworld, causes a permanent winter to fall over the land.

Michael Townsend's Amazing Greek myths of wonder and blunders. by Townsend, Michael (Michael Jay), 1981- — Dial Books For Young Readers, 2010--398.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.0 "Welcome to the wonderful world of Greek mythology.";The foolish King Midas and the golden touch -- Pandora and the box of mystery -- Pygmalion and his rocky relationship!!! -- The abduction of Persephone -- Arachne gets a big head -- Perseus vs. two nasty kings and a really ugly monster -- Pyramus and Thisbe: an icky love story -- The short flight of Icarus! -- Hercules and the ten labors (give or take a few) -- The drawn-out finale. A collection of comics that interpret Greek myths, depicting stories about characters such as King Midas, Pandora, Arachne, Icarus, Hercules, and others.

Olympians. 4,Hades, lord of the dead by O'Connor, George — First Second, 2012--741.5; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 4.0 A fictionalized account, in graphic novel format, of the Greek myth of Hades, God of the Underworld, and his abduction of the goddess Demeter's daughter, Persephone, to make her his wife, and the chaos that ensued.

Greek myths : three heroic tales by Lupton, Hugh  — Barefoot Books, 2017. 398.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.2. Demeter and Persephone --tTheseus and the Minotaur -- Orpheus and Eurydice. Contains the Greek myths "Demeter and Persephone," about a goddess who is taken away from her mother to the underworld, "Theseus and the Minotaur," about a man who fights a monster in a maze, and "Orpheus and Eurydice," about a singer who travels to the underworld to bring back his dead lover.

Greek myths (Classic Starts) by Namm, Diane  — Sterling, 2011. 398.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.6. Retells fifteen ancient Greek myths, featuring the stories of Heracles' mighty tasks, Pandora's box, King Midas's golden touch, and more.

The house of Hades (Heroes Of Olympus, Book 4) by Riordan, Rick — Disney/Hyperion Books, 2013 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 4.7. Greek and Roman demigods from the Prophecy of Seven must work together to seal the Doors of Death--and help Percy and Annabeth escape the Underworld in the process.

The McElderry book of Greek myths by Kimmel, Eric A  — M.K. McElderry Books, 2008--398.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.2 Prometheus -- Pandora's box -- Persephone and Hades -- Echo and Narcissus -- Arachne -- Pygmalion and Galatea -- King Midas and the golden touch -- Orpheus and Eurydice -- Jason and the Golden Fleece -- Daedalus and Icarus -- Theseus and the Minotaur -- Perseus and Medusa. Contains illustrated retellings of twelve classic Greek myths, including the stories of Pandora, Icarus, King Midas, and others.

The beautiful stories of life : six Greek myths, retold by Rylant, Cynthia  — Harcourt, 2009 398.2; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 5.3. Contains illustrated retellings of six stories from Greek mythology, including the tales of Pandora, Persephone, Orpheus, Pygmalion, Narcissus, and Psyche.

Time for flowers, time for snow : a retelling of the legend of Demeter and Persephone by Huser, Glen — Tradewind Books, 2013. 782.1; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.3. A retelling of the Greek legend of Demeter and Persephone that features song lyrics from the opera. Includes CD.

Treasury of Greek mythology : classic stories of gods, goddesses, heroes & monsters by Napoli, Donna Jo — National Geographic, 2011. 398.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.1.  Presents illustrated retellings of classic Greek myths, sharing the stories of Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena, Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa, with sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster that link the tales to constellations, history, geography, and culture, and including profiles, a family tree, and other resources. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.

Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire's book of Greek myths. by D'Aulaire, Ingri  — Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub., 1962. 292; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.3. Presents illustrated retellings of the myths of the gods and godesses of ancient Greece and their mortal descendants.

Mythological creatures : a classical bestiary : tales of strange beings, fabulous creatures, fearsome beasts, & hideous monsters from Ancient Greek mythology by Curlee, Lynn — Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008--292.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.8 An illustrated guide to the beasts often found in ancient myths that describes each creature's origins and what role it has played in world mythology.

Greek myths by Turnbull, Ann  — Candlewick Press, c2010 p2011. 398.2; Int Lvl: 5-8. An illustrated collection of Greek myths that includes the stories of Persephone, the Minotaur, Perseus, Medusa, King Midas, and others.