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About King Midas: The Golden Touch
Product Description King Midas is a proud and foolish king who loves gold above all else. In return for helping him one day, a satyr grants the king his dearest wish -- all that he touches will turn to gold. For a time, the king enjoys his gift. But then the food he puts to his mouth turns to gold so he cannot eat. And the horse he mounts turns to gold so he cannot ride. And everyone he touches turns to gold so he no longer has any family or friends. He has all the gold he could ever want, but he's not at all happy. How King Midas learns his lesson and finds happiness is the heart of this classic Greek myth, brought to new life by award-winning artist Demi's own golden touch. Sparkling with the colors of the Aegean Sea and with the splendor of gold, this elegant and humorous retelling of an ancient myth will be cherished by readers of all ages. Amazon.com Review "Blessed" by the god Dionysus with the ability to turn everything he touches to gold, greedy and ignorant King Midas quickly learns that one must be careful what one wishes for. When his food and drink turn to gold, as well as his servants and every other living thing in the palace, Midas is immediately penitent. "Why did I ever ask for such a stupid gift?" he cries, as his teardrops turn to gold. This classic Greek myth may be familiar to many readers, but few will deny that it has ever been presented so spectacularly. Award-winning artist Demi's paintings are shot through with gold, against Mediterranean backdrops of sea blue and purple. Each page of this gorgeous picture book is bordered with golden patterns, and a four-page fold-out depicts Midas transforming his many-columned palace into solid, immobilized gold. Here is a perfect introduction to Greek mythology for young readers who will be as mesmerized as Midas by the allure of the golden touch--Demi's in this case! (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter From Publishers Weekly King Midas: The Golden Touch by Demi retells the classic Greek myth about the greedy king. Gold-leaf accents fittingly embellish illustrations reminiscent of those found on a Grecian urn. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 2-4-Demi's terse, choppy retelling will not appeal to those who like classic tales left intact, because nearly all that remains of the original story is the king's name and the golden touch itself. The reteller portrays King Midas as "weak and ignorant, miserly and greedy," a man who, when asked to judge a music contest between Apollo and Pan, chooses the less talented Pan as the victor, causing the angry Apollo to curse him with furry donkey's ears. Midas is granted the golden touch by the god Dionysus as a reward for returning Silenus the Satyr to him. The golden spell is broken when he visits an oracle, who tells him to bathe in the River Pactolus. Illustrations feature detailed gilded borders top and bottom-a different pattern on each spread. Gold highlights the clothing of the cartoon-faced, stylized characters, as well. Charlotte Craft's King Midas and the Golden Touch (Morrow, 1999), with its classic medieval-style oil-and-watercolor paintings by K. Y. Craft, and John Warren Stewig's King Midas (Holiday, 1999), populated by Omar Rayyan's whimsical creatures and caricature-faced Midas, are both skillful retellings of the myth in which the king realizes the folly of his wish after he turns his beloved daughter into gold. Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Gr. 2-4. Demi's lavish use of gold and her wizardly way with color and line are brilliantly suited to this retelling of the Midas tale. Midas is king of Phrygia, and he is neither good nor wise. When he offends the god Apollo, he is afflicted with donkey's ears. Children (and adult readers) may squirm with recognition when the king's barber, bursting with the secret knowledge, whispers into a hole in the ground, "King Midas has donkey's ears." When
