Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys is a children's book written by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne in which he rewrites myths from Greek mythology. They are all stories within a story, the frame story being that a Williams College student, Eustace Bright, is telling these tales to a group of children at Tanglewood, an estate in Lenox, Massachusetts, where Hawthorne lived for a time. A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys covers the myths of, The Gorgon's Head, The Golden Touch, The Paradise of Children, The Three Golden Apples, The Miraculous Pitcher, and The Chimæra.
Is Wonder Book appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 8 and up.
This is a gentle retelling of Greek myths adapted for children, featuring heroes facing monsters and mythical challenges. Violence is mild and age-appropriate (Medusa's defeat, the Chimera battle), with moral lessons about greed, kindness, and courage.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death, monster/creature peril, and transformation/curse.
Who'll love this
Kids who love adventure stories and Greek mythology will enjoy following famous heroes like Perseus as they battle monsters and go on epic quests.