Gr 3-7‘By starting Atalanta's story with her rejection by her father (who wanted a boy), and carrying it past her race and marriage to her transformation into a lioness (because she failed to honor the gods), Climo hints at the rich psychological interest in her tale. A she-bear suckles Atalanta; a hunter raises her as a boy. Her athletic prowess first wins her notice, then acceptance, from her father; but what he really wants from her is a grandson. Melanion (Hippomenes in other versions) seems, at least, to love her for her own strong self. Atalanta, too, admires Melanion, and perhaps wishes him victory; although, as a true competitor, she tries her best to win. The apparent triumph of love is called into question by Aphrodite's revenge on the couple, both of whom are ungrateful to her for her gift. 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 decor. A slender architrave, pediment, and columns frame each picture. Aphrodite appears with her trademark swan and dolphins, while gorgeous double-spread endpapers depict the whole world of an ancient city-state. There are many retellings of Atalanta's story, but none surpasses this one.‘Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The proud, athletic Princess Atalanta does not believe in love; she declares that she will accept only the suitor who defeats her in a race. When the goddess of love provides Melanion with three golden apples, he uses them to distract Atalanta and win the race. Richly colored illustrations framed in Greek columns help tell the dramatic story of Atalanta's life. From HORN BOOK 1995, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud. Furious that the gods have sent him a daughter rather than a son, King Iasus of Arcadia orders the infant Atalanta abandoned in the forest. The baby, protected by a bear and raised by a hunter, grows into a beautiful young woman who can outrace any man in Greece. The time comes for her to choose a husband, but Atalanta refuses to marry any man who cannot outrun her. Through the intervention of Aphrodite, she finally meets her match. This dramatic picture book for older readers will find a ready audience in middle-graders studying Greek mythology, but younger children would also enjoy hearing it read aloud. Rich colors lend warmth to the stylized paintings that illustrate the myth. Note that the CIP places the book with folklore rather than mythology. --Carolyn Phelan

"A stately picture book, well told with classically inspired paintings that amplify the drama and match the author's sensitivity to detail and ambiance," wrote PW. Ages 6-10. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved