Tells the mythological origin of the Greek god Ares, his abilities and bloodthirsty temperament, and some of his warlike deeds.
From School Library Journal
Gr 3-4-Although Temple tries to summarize several myths in connection to each of the selected gods in a way that will hold the attention of readers, these complex tales are sometimes overly simplified. For example, in Hera, the author states that Heracles was brought to Olympus to live; most sources that mention a stay on Olympus give him only a brief stop there. Temple does offer insightful historical information about Greek rituals, worship practices, and architecture, and a helpful "Principal Gods of Greek Mythology" family tree will give readers new to the myths a handy reference to sort out the characters. Squier's illustrations are eye-catching.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
From Booklist
Keeping up with the multitude of characters from Greek mythology can be a handful. Illustrated with colorful digital artwork and accompanied by a map of ancient Greece, these entries in the Greek Mythology series give children a brief, age-appropriate overview of some of mythology’s most interesting gods and goddesses. Ares explains the god’s moody behavior and desire for battle and highlights the differences between him and his biggest rival, Athena, also a goddess of war. Other features include sidebars, which make connections to art, the constellations, and other areas of ancient Greek culture. Good background knowledge for the Percy Jackson series, too Grades 2-5. --Angela Leeper
