Title of the work
Country of the First Edition
Country/countries of popularity
Original Language
First Edition Date
First Edition Details
Nancy Loewen, Not the Curious Kind: Pandora Tells All. North Mankato, MN: Picture Window Books, a Capstone Imprint, 2014, 32 pp.
ISBN
Genre
Humor
Mythological fiction
Picture books
Target Audience
Children (4–8 years old)
Cover
We are still trying to obtain permission for posting the original cover.
Author of the Entry:
Allison Rosenblum, Bar-Ilan University, allie.rose89@gmail.com
Peer-reviewer of the Entry:
Lisa Maurice, Bar-Ilan University, mauril68@gmail.com
Elżbieta Olechowska, University of Warsaw, elzbieta.olechowska@gmail.com
Picture courtesy of Nancy Loewen from her official website (accessed: June 27, 2018).
Nancy Loewen (Author)
Nancy Loewen (1964– ) is an American author. She has published more than 140 books for children and young adult readers.\
She has also written personal essays, short fiction and picture books.
The author holds a MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University.
She worked as an assistant editor and an editor for various publishers.
Nancy Loewen received numerous prizes and accolades for her books., from the New York Public Library, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Society of School Librarians International, and more.
Source:
Official website (accessed: June 27, 2018).
Bio prepared by Allison Rosenblum, Bar-Ilan University, allie.rose89@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of Ryan Pentney.
Summary
This is the story of Pandora, told from her point of view. She gives a rational explanation for why the box was opened, blaming it on her cat, saying that one day, while cleaning the living room, Pandora forgot to lock Cuddles up while she placed the vase on the floor so she could dust the shelf. It was Cuddles who knocked the lid off.
Analysis
The story of Pandora is told from her own point of view with illustrations on every page, almost like a comic strip or graphic novel for children. The author includes discussion questions and suggestions for further reading to understand the story better, as well as a glossary of terms. While the story does use the basis of the myth surrounding Pandora’s vase – the creation of man by Prometheus, his stealing fire from the gods, and Zeus’ creation of Pandora as a punishment for Prometheus – Loewen completely disregards any mythological reference to Pandora’s curiosity and lays all the blame on the cat for knocking the lid off the vase.
