Book Review of I Am Hermes
The Children’s Book Review
I Am Hermes
Written and Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein
Ages 5-8 | 72 Pages
Publisher: Holiday House | ISBN: 978-0-8234-3942-3
What to Expect: Mythology, History, Comic Book
Who is Hermes? Hermes is “the messenger of the Gods, and God of sports, business, sleep, liars, thieves, and mischief.” He’s also the God who “invented the alphabet, astronomy, gymnastics, games, music, song, and the lyre!” Hermes steals his brother Apollo’s cows, outwits twin giants, inspires Aesop to write his fables, and even takes over the internet (no, not really). With all of these accomplishments to his name, it’s easy to see why Hermes is the God that ordinary human beings love best! In I Am Hermes, Mordicai Gerstein helps Hermes to tell his amazing life story as a rollicking graphic novel, complete with monsters, pranks, and a happy ending.
I Am Hermes adapts a classic set of Greek myths to comic-book format, making skillful use of the humor, characterization, and action-packed momentum that make these tales such timeless classics. The volume is beautifully formatted, from the gold glitter garnishing Hermes robes on the front cover to the full-color illustrations of the narrative frames within. The graphic novel format provides opportunities for readers to build their visual rhetoric skills as well as giving these classics an up-to-date, modern feel. As a character, Hermes comes to life through humorous dialogue and quirky speech patterns. Overall, this is a fun dive into ancient history that readers are sure to enjoy.
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About the Author and Illustrator
Mordicai Gerstein was an American artist, writer, and film director, best known for illustrating and writing children’s books. Gerstein was born in Los Angeles, California.
I Am Hermes, written and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein, was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like I Am Hermes by following our reviews and articles tagged with mythology, Greek Mythology, and comic books.
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