I Am Arachne Fifteen Greek and Roman Myths

Spinning, I can't stop spinning, so stay a minute, and I, Arachne, will spin a story for you . . . In this singular collection, the heroes and heroines of fifteen Greek and Roman tales give their own dramatic accounts of events. From the magnificent spinner Arachne, who learns that a mortal should never challenge a god, to the god Pan, who prefers Earth to Mount Olympus, to the beautiful, self-indulgent Pandora and the gold-stricken Midasthe reader becomes a confidant to the tellers of these sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, always engaging tales of wonder, woe, romantic love, and jealousy. Mordicai Gerstein's energetic, whimsical illustrations combine with Elizabeth Spires's playful renditions for a totally fresh take on familiar and not-so-familiar myths.

Elizabeth Spires is the author of three other books for children, including The Mouse of Amherst, and four collections of poetry for adults. Her next book, I Heard God Talking to Me, will be published by FSG in Spring 2009. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

Mordicai Gerstein is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including The Wild Boy an ALA Notable Book, and The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (available from Square Fish). He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

“Spires, author of The Mouse of Amherst (1999) makes ancient tales unusually vivid and immediate by recasting them as first-person accounts. . . . Mordicai Gerstein’s crosshatched ink drawings add touches of visual elegance to the stylish retellings. . . . a truly memorable read-aloud candidate.”—Booklist
“Spires has a poet’s ear for language.”—Voice of Youth Advocates