Beast Keeper (Beasts of Olympus Series #1)

by Lucy Coats, Brett Bean (Illustrator)

Overview

Beasts of Olympus is a series of 144-page illustrated chapter books set in a magical Ancient Greece where strange things still walk the Earth. Beast Keeper tells the story of Pandemonius (a.k.a. "Demon," the half-god son of Pan) who, on his tenth birthday, is called upon to look after all the mythical creatures that belong to the stables of Olympus.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780448461939
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	01/08/2015
Series:	Beasts of Olympus Series , #1
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	464,721
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	840L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

About the Author

Lucy Coats studied English and Ancient History at Edinburgh University, then worked in children's publishing and now writes full time. She is a gifted children's poet and has also written several picture book texts. She is widely respected for her lively retellings of myths. Her 12-book series, Greek Beasts and Heroes, was published by Orion in the U.K. Beasts of Olympus will be her first U.S. publication. Lucy's website is at www.lucycoats.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @lucycoats.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1

Demon was chatting to the chickens about eggs when his dad arrived. He’d never met his dad before, but he knew it was him all right. His dad had:
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Beast Keeper #1"
by .
Copyright © 2015 Lucy Coats.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Young Readers Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

★ 10/27/2014
Eleven-year-old Demon has his work cut out for him when his father, the god Pan (who he has just met for the first time), steals him away from his human mother and assigns him to look after the Stables of the Gods. In this rippingly funny first book in the Beasts of Olympus series, readers get an alternate perspective on classic Greek myths as Demon tends to the Cretan Bull, Hydra, and other creatures that have suffered at the hands of gods and heroes—especially Heracles (“Nice people did NOT go around pulling skins off poor innocent lions”). Bean’s dynamic cartoons amp up the comedy and drama, while a glossary and pronunciation guide round out a story that, underneath its fun, offers food for thought on everything from absentee parenting to the mistreatment of animals (even immortal ones). Simultaneously available: Hound of Hades. Ages 7–9. Author’s agent: Sophie Hicks, Sophie Hicks Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

01/01/2015
Gr 3–6—Pandemonius, also known as Demon, the 11-year-old son of the Greek god Pan, is unwillingly roped into a messy job as a stable boy caring for the mythical beasts of Olympus. While the story remains mostly true to the original mythology, plenty of humor and some modern slang are inserted, such as when the hapless hero debates how to address his father, "Your Godness? Your Holiness? Your Dadness?" Scatalogical humor abounds as Demon copes with mountains of beast poo and flatulent Cattle of the Sun. Purposeful anachronisms such as robots and a computerlike machine made by Hephaestus, god of the forge, are presented as evidence of the Greek gods' omniscient powers. Hercules is the villain in this tale as Demon works on doctoring up poor animals injured during his Twelve Labors. Demon's ability to speak with animals comes in handy as he soothes cranky creatures, such as a bald Nemean lion, Stymphalian birds in need of new feathers, and a Cretan bull that has lost its fire. His biggest challenge is curing Hera's beheaded pet Hydra. Energetic cartoon illustrations enhance the fast-paced excitement. A glossary and pronunciation guide featuring all the major players in the Greek pantheon are included.—Madigan McGillicuddy, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Atlanta, GA

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