Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams

General summary for the series see underAthena the Brain.In this installment, Athena meets the new boy in school, especially admitted by the headmaster Zeus – the boy Heracles (the Greek pronunciation is kept). The wise Athena is confronted with the brawny Heracles and the two form a strong friendship in which Athena helps Heracles in his dangerous tasks while he encourages her with her own problems. Furthermore it appears that bullying is not a problem only on earth. In the book we have t(...)

literary

YEAR: 2011

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aphrodite Arachne Artemis Athena Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Charon Cretan Bull Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Hades Heracles Hercules Hydra Nemean Lion Pandora Persephone Pheme Zeus

Gerald Vinestock, G. William

Crib and the Labours of Hercules

Crib (short for Christabel) is a 10-year-old clever and tomboyish girl, who has gone with her parents to visit relatives in Greece. While she stays with her uncle and aunt and looks after their horses, she hears on the news that strange phenomena are occurring: all the fierce monsters whom the legendary Hercules had vanquished eons ago, have suddenly returned to life and are hurting the local people. The government is desperate for a new Hercules to save the day. Crib’s uncle, Jonathan, a (...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Cretan Bull Erymanthian Boar Geryon's Cattle Heracles Hercules Hesperides Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Nemean Lion Stymphalian Birds Twelve Labours of Heracles

Mark Hess, Kathryn Lasky

Hercules: The Man, the Myth, the Hero

This of Hercules begins with his birth as "Palaemon" and Hera's initial attempt on his life by sending the two serpents to his cradle. After accidentally killing his teacher, Palaemon's mother sends him away. Although he thinks of himself as a monster, Palaemon goes on to make quite a name for himself as a strong warrior, not a monster, and was very happy until Hera tricks him into killing his family. This is when he becomes "Hercules", Hera's glory, and is sent t(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Apollo Atlas Augean Stables Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Cretan Bull Deianeira Delphic Oracle Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Lydia Megara Minyans Nemean Lion Nessus Olympus Omphale Palaemon Stymphalian Birds Thebes Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

Steve Kurth , Barbara Schulz, Paul D. Storrie

Hercules: The Twelve Labors

This is a graphic novel retelling of the myth of Hercules from his youth to after the labours. It includes glossary, index and further reading. There are only 4 panels devoted to Hercules’ youth and then we are told that as a grown man Hercules was told by the oracle of Delphi (which was manipulated by Hera) to serve King Eurystheus. Unsurprisingly, there is no mention of the murders he committed, this being a children’s story. All the 12 labours are then portrayed and we also meet p(...)

literary

YEAR: 2007

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Diomedes’ Mares Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Minos Nemean Lion Stymphalian Birds Twelve Labours of Heracles White Bull

Linda Cavallini, Alex Frith

Hercules: The World's Strongest Man

This book is a retelling of the story of Hercules aimed to encourage reading; the story was developed at the University of Roehampton with the consultation of Alison Kelly, Senior Lecturer. The story follows Hercules after he has killed his family and is performing his 12 labours until the gods forgive him. At the end, the story of how Hera tried to kill Hercules as an infant and how he joined the Argonauts is briefly summarized.(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Chiron / Cheiron Cretan Bull Diomedes’ Mares Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Geryon Hades Helios Hera Heracles Hercules Hesperides Hippolyta Hydra Iolaus Nemean Lion Persephone Prometheus Stymphalian Birds Zeus

Marc Cerasini , Isidre Mones

Step Into Reading: The Twelve Labors of Hercules

This is an illustrated depiction of Hercules’ labours. The book opens with the infant Hercules and the snakes. Then we see Hercules as a young man who fights others and seeks counsel from the oracle. The book focuses on the 12 labours which also end the book. There is a depiction of each labour separately.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Amazons Athena Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Charon Cretan Bull Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Erymanthian Boar Geryon Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Nemean Lion Oracles Stymphalian Birds Thebes Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld Zeus

Gary Baseman, John Harris

Strong Stuff: Herakles and his Labors

This is an irreverent retelling of Herakles’ labours, recounted in John Harris’ informal, contemporary prose and vividly illustrated by Gary Baseman’s loud, graphic paintings. The hero’s brawn is used as a literary metaphor: the cover credits Harris for his "fierce words" and Baseman for "powerful art". The Introduction, entitled "Our Story Begins", contextualises the time (Long, long ago) and place (Greece and far beyond), and briefly outlin(...)

literary

YEAR: 2005

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Amazons Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Diomedes (of Thrace) Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hesperides Hippolyta Hydra Nemean Lion Stymphalian Birds Twelve Labours of Heracles

Natallia Bashava , Siarheĭ Kavalioŭ , Kanstantsin Veranitsyn

Taras on Parnassus [Тарас на Парнасе (Taras na Parnase)]

This play is a presentation of the classic Belarusian poem Taras on Parnassus.To meet the needs of the production, the dramatist integrates the events of Taras’ family life into the plot of the classic poem Taras on Parnassus (Taras, a forester, got lost in the woods while hunting and found himself at Mount Parnassus, where he met the pantheon of ancient gods). The daughter of Taras and Paraska is getting married, but her father does not approve of her fiancé. According to the idea (...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2004

COUNTRY: Belarus

TAGS: Augean Stables Bacchus Ceryneian Hind Cupid Erymanthian Boar Hebe Hera Hercules Hydra Jupiter Mars Naiad Neptune Nymphs Parnassus (Mount) Saturn Satyr(s) Stymphalian Birds Venus Vesta Vulcan Zephyrus Zeus

Estudio Haus , Blake Hoena

The 12 Labors of Hercules: A Graphic Retelling

This is a graphic novel retelling of the myth of Hercules. It opens with Hercules as a grown man, ordered to serve king Eurystheus, and it ends with Hercules being turned into a constellation of stars. In addition, the novel contains notes titled "ancient facts" and a glossary, a further reading section, websites and an index. The reason behind the labours is briefly stated at the beginning: "in her jealousy, Hera drove Hercules mad with rage. In his madness, Hercules (...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Diomedes’ Mares Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hebe Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Minos Nemean Lion Stymphalian Birds Twelve Labours of Heracles White Bull

Robert Baxter, I. M. Richardson

The Adventures of Hercules

This is a picture book for an older audience. On each page we have a labour of Hercules with a water-color like illustration, thus we have a narration and illustrations of all 12 labours. The language is aimed at young adults rather than small children. The illustration are also not naïve but in a more adult style. The story follows Hercules from his infantry and the killing of the snakes, then we arrive at his adulthood (killing a lion, helping the king of Thebes, and killing his family) a(...)

literary

YEAR: 1983

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Atlas Augean Stables Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Delphi Diomedes’ Mares Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Geryon Hera Hercules Hippolyta Hydra Megara Nemean Lion Stymphalian Birds Thebes Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld White Bull Zeus

Robert (Bob) Blaisdell, Althea (Thea) Kliros

The Story of Hercules (in Easy-to-Read Type)

Hercules narrates his story, beginning with his birth as the mortal son of a god. He talks of how he was a child prodigy in warfare but failed at learning music. After killing the teacher that belittles him about failing at music, Hercules goes out into the world to learn what he can. After Hera challenges Zeus to prove Hercules is worthy of being immortal, Hercules jumps at the opportunity and completes twelve labours. (...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achelous Achilles Admetus Aegean Sea Aeolia Aeolus Aeson Alcestis Alcmene Alcyonian Lake Althaea / Althea Amazons Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Aphrodite Apollo Apples of the Hesperides Arcadia Ares Argo Argolid Argonauts Athena Atlas Augeas Autolycos Automedusa Black Sea / Pontus Euxinus Calydon Castor Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Chiron / Cheiron Cretan Bull Crete Cronus / Kronos Deianeira Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Echidna Elerion Enceladus Erymanthian Boar Erymanthus Eurystheus Eurytos Gaia / Gaea Geryon Giants Golden Fleece Greece Hades Hephaestus Hera Heracles Hercules Hesione Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hylas Immortality Iolaus Iole Iphicles Ithaca Jason Linus Minos Minotaur Mycenae Nemean Lion Nephele Nessus Nymphs Odysseus / Ulysses Olympus Orpheus Pallene Pasiphae Peloponnese Perseus Pholus Pillars of Hercules Poseidon Rhea Stymphalian Birds Telamon Thebes Theiodamas (King) Themiscyra / Themyscira Thespis Tiryns Titans Troy Twelve Labours of Heracles Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Zeus

Christina Balit, James Riordan

The Twelve Labours of Hercules

A picture book retelling of the story of Hercules’ life and the twelve labors he performed, aimed at younger readers and readers interested in visual storytelling. Text is accompanied by opulent pictures.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Admete Alcmene Alpheus Amazons Argonauts Artemis Athena Atlas Augean Stables Augeas Cacus Castor Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Charon Chiron / Cheiron Colchis Deianeira Delphic Oracle Diomedes’ Mares Dionysus / Dionysos Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Eurytos Geryon Geryon's Cattle Golden Fleece Hades Hebe Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hyllus Iolaus Iole Iphitos of Oechalia Jason Ladon Linus Minos Minotaur Mycenae Nemean Lion Nereid(s) Nereus Nessus Nymphs Olympus Omphale Peneus Perseus Pollux Poseidon Stymphalian Birds Styx Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld White Bull Zeus