Adapted from the seventh Homeric Hymn, this picture book tells the story of the god Dionysus, his capture by foolish Tyrsenian pirates, and the terrible fate the son of Semele inflicted upon his would-be captors.

Dionysus and the Pirates, like Proddow's two other books inspired by the Homeric Hymns (Demeter and Persephone and Hermes), is unique in that it presents its mythological story in a form that closely approximates the original ancient literature. The author is to be commended for the respect she shows both her material and the intelligence of her young readers. Barbara Cooney's illustrations have a colorful immediacy that lends itself well to the story.

As noted in my reviews of Demeter and Persephone and Hermes, Lord of Robbers, these books are adaptations of poems written more than 2000 years ago in dactylic hexameter. The text is in non-rhyming poetic form, and does not "read" in the same way as a more narrative retelling might. While not the best introduction to the world of Greek mythology, these books are an excellent choice for young readers who already know something about the topic, and want to start exploring issues of source and text. ( )