Reference Reviews

Doug’s Student Reference Room

U.X.L. Encyclopedia of World Mythology, edited by Rebecca Parks. 5 vols., 1078 p. Detroit, MI: U.X.L., 2009. ISBN 13: 978-1-4144-3030-0 ; ISBN 10: 1-4144-3030-2. $305.00

Frequently students study mythology in their language arts courses as a form of adventure story-a kind of fantastical tale of heroes, gods and monsters full of action and intrigue. This collection faithfully recounts the world’s major myths, but also provides a rich introduction to mythology as a reflection of the values and beliefs of a culture and of the ways ancient myths live on today. Arranged alphabetically in over 300 entries from forty-plus cultures, articles are grouped into five major categories: character, deity, myth, theme and culture. Typically, entries include a topic overview; an “in context” section that explains the topic’s relationship to a broader culture; themes and symbols connected to the topic; and the art, literature and everyday life associated with the topic. A feature particularly useful in schools, the “Read, Write, Think, Discuss” prompt extends each entry into additional areas of research and poses questions that might lead to essay or discussion activities. Eight pages of color photos and illustrations brighten each volume; black and white photos also accompany many of the entries. The language of this set targets middle school and above; entries are detailed but succinct, and occasional sidebars highlight related stories. The e-book version of this collection would allow for teachers and librarians to design whole-class lessons in which students compare and contrast myths and mythical characters and the context of myths from different cultures. Each volume also includes an alternative table of contents organized by culture, a timeline, a glossary of key terms, a list of recommended reading, a detailed set of research and activity ideas and a comprehensive index. This set provides the kind of context beyond the myths themselves that will make it a valuable tool across the curriculum and of interest to the general public. Highly recommended for middle school, high school and public libraries.