King Midas exchanges his first rose bush for the ability to turn things into gold - but it only makes him happy for a few moments. When he turns his clothes, his dog and finally his daughter into gold by mistake he knows he must find a cure. By the author of "The Mystery of Cupboard".
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The human obsession with unbridled wealth is timeless, and in this retelling of the Midas tale, the king of that name has it bad. As in the myth, Midas sates his lust for gold but turns his beloved daughter into a lifeless gold statue. The treacherous journey he undertakes to bring her back to life is an odyssey of self-evaluation, and the inevitable discovery that life is more precious than riches is rather more hard-won than in traditional fairy tales. In Banks's masterly hands, Midas's classic character flaws are blended with contemporary human foibles to create a wonderfully vulnerable tragic hero. By offering Midas a meaningful escape from his misery through his daughter's love, Banks gets to the heart of the legend while fleshing out the story with first-rate adventure. This first American edition is a revision of the version published in the U.K. in 1976. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-- In this expanded version of the King Midas story, a magician named Nandan, himself bewitched, helps teach the king a lesson by endowing him with the power to transform everything to gold. When the power goes awry and he has turned both his dog and his daughter into gold, a distraught King Midas desperately seeks to undo the spell. The tale acts as a prelude to a fantasy adventure, which is where the plot grows thinner and weaker. Midas must now find the River Cijam, whose magical properties will de-spell his hands. This quest involves an evil witch, her cat, and a dragonlike creature called a Mumbo. Banks's chatty, effusive, humorous prose style gives the story a vaguely contemporary feel, but provides very little dramatic tension or suspense. The plot plods on with all ending happily-ever-after, and the Mumbo taking up residence at the palace. The illustrations do nothing to dispell the impression that the story could easily translate into a full-length animated cartoon. --Corinne Camarata, Port Washington Public Library, NY
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Jennifer Mo
Format:Paperback
Lynne Reid Banks shows herself to be a completely versatile and always diverting story teller-- from The Indian in the Cupboard to The Farthest-Away Mountain to The Adventures of King Midas.
In this work, the old Greek myth is dusted off, given a thorough polishing and made into a lively and entertaining children's story. While Banks takes extreme liberties with the myth, the result is something so fresh and fun it doesn't matter. King Midas is transformed from a greedy miser to someone who simply has an obsession with gold (among other things, like growing roses). His quest to save his daughter, whom he turned into gold quite by accident, becomes an exciting adventure in which Midas is tested and changed. Along the way, he meets a mumbo (think baby dragon), defeats an evil witch, clears the throat of Old Gollop, saves a magician and learns the importance of a flandy-bake.
A very fun, fleshed out fairy tale filled with Banks' usual wit. If you like this one, also try her other fantasies.
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
"The Adventures of King Midas" promised to be a great book. After all, with a classic story like that and the author of the wonderful "Indian in the Cupboard" series, how could you go wrong? Apparently, you could. Reid's book tried to be a page-turning fantasy, but you just can't get very excited about what will happen next. True, it wasn't horrible to read, but it just didn't live up to it's potential. One problem was that Reid did not really develop her character's as much as she does in her other books. She fails to bring out the magic that is just dying to get out. Although it was not the worst book I've read, it sure could've been a whole lot better.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars
5 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A clever and fun retelling of a Greek myth
Dec 31 1999
By Jennifer Mo
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Lynne Reid Banks shows herself to be a completely versatile and always diverting story teller-- from The Indian in the Cupboard to The Farthest-Away Mountain to The Adventures of King Midas.
In this work, the old Greek myth is dusted off, given a thorough polishing and made into a lively and entertaining children's story. While Banks takes extreme liberties with the myth, the result is something so fresh and fun it doesn't matter. King Midas is transformed from a greedy miser to someone who simply has an obsession with gold (among other things, like growing roses). His quest to save his daughter, whom he turned into gold quite by accident, becomes an exciting adventure in which Midas is tested and changed. Along the way, he meets a mumbo (think baby dragon), defeats an evil witch, clears the throat of Old Gollop, saves a magician and learns the importance of a flandy-bake.
A very fun, fleshed out fairy tale filled with Banks' usual wit. If you like this one, also try her other fantasies.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
King Midas
Mar 25 2009
By M. Criss
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a great find. It is not well known, but is terrific for elementary read-alouds and many life lessons about gratitude, greed, courage, and more. Delightful, funny, even a little scary. Great book for all ages.
5.0 out of 5 stars
MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LOVED THIS BOOK
May 2 2013
By Sandra Patton
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this for my ten year old daughter and she finished it in one day. I asked her if she "liked" the book and she said, "I LOVED it!!!" So, my daughter recommends this book. ;) Since I didn't read it, I can't tell you much about it -- I can only relay that she LOVED it. :)
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
