I Need a Hero!: Finding heroes in literature

    “Courage comes after.” My kids recognize this phrase. Conquering fear is serious business, and real heroes can inspire courage in our children. Although today’s “idols”, sports headliners and Hollywood starlets are a pretty tough bunch, I think some of these literary heroes could take them on: 

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire (Doubleday). This is my favorite reference book of Greek Mythology, with Olympus as the birthplace of heroes. It starts at the beginning and traipses through Zeus and his family, the minor gods and then the Mortal Descendents of Zeus such as King Midas, Sisyphus, Hercules and Oedipus. Each is a short story, good for bedtime reading. A complete index in the back makes this the go-to book for any question that comes up from reading other sources. (Ages 8 and up)

Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan (Hyperion). Once kids understand the “who’s who” of Greek Mythology, they will pour themselves into this series. The Percy Jackson series is about a current day boy who is a Half Blood - - his father is a Greek God. This means he attracts all the monsters of the mythological world. Percy spends the summer trying to figure out who his father is and battling Ancient Foes (“Minotaurs, Hellhounds and Furies, oh my!”) with his newfound Half Blood friends. There are four books in the series, all full of action and suspense! (Ages 10 and up)

Cracker! The Best Dog in Viet Nam, by Cynthia Kadohata (Simon & Schuster). First a show dog, then a pet, and now a bomb-sniffing point dog in the Vietnam War, Cracker tells this story from a dog’s point of view. Her voice is calm in the midst of chaos, and she vividly illustrates the military canine program. Her relationship with her handler, Rick, and their separation during a mission creates the drama of the story. She is a true hero. (Ages 10 and up)

My Father’s Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett (Random House). A revived classic that shows how clever and resourceful a child can be in any situation. “Look how he could solve every problem he faced – all by himself!” A mother’s dream lesson. An ALA Notable book, it is the perfect introduction to chapter books, and a fabulous read-aloud. This tome is first in a three-book series with ELMER AND THE DRAGON and THE DRAGONS OF BLUELAND to follow. (Ages 8 and up)

Graceling, by Kristen Cashore (Houghton Mifflin). This hero is named Lady Katsa, and she has one blue eye and one green eye. In a land of seven kingdoms, these eyes identify her as a Graceling, a person with special talents. Her talent is killing and she is used by the king to do his dirty work. Katsa struggles to find the redeeming quality of her talent, and learns that it might not be what she assumes it to be. A story with both action and romance, Katsa deals with issues such as following your instincts, doing the right thing, and figuring out who you are. Appeals to both boys and girls. (Ages 12 and up)

Julie Hubble sees heroes all around Leawood.