Reference Reviews

Doug’s Student Reference Room

Monsters: Pegasus, by Q.L. Pearce. 48 pp. Farmington Hills, MI: KidHaven Press, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-737-74082-0; ISBN-10: 0-737-74082-5. $26.20.

The first chapter of this volume details the origins of Pegasus, recounting stories from Roman, Norse and Greek mythology, all featuring tales of flying horses. While we learn about one blood-filled version of Pegasus' origin, in which the great horse leapt from Medusa's severed neck after Perseus cut off her head, much attention also is given to the winged horse's wild spirit—a richly colored illustration depicts Pegasus stomping on Mount Helicon to stop it from swelling with pride; the spring of water that flowed from the mountain where the horse's hoof struck is said to inspire poets who drink from it. The second chapter recounts the heroics of Pegasus and the young horseman Bellephon who, though the first person able to ride Pegasus and who fought bravely in his battle with the hideous monster Chimera, fell victim to his own hubris and tried to ride Pegasus toward Mount Olympus. Young equestrians will appreciate the illustration depicting Pegasus reacting to the fly Zeus sent to sting the horse, finally bucking the young warrior off his back in midair. Pegasus himself was allowed to live on Mount Olympus and upon his death Zeus honored the winged horse by placing his constellation in the sky; the constellation of the winged horse predicts the coming of fall. The third chapter examines other versions of the Pegasus myth and the other star groups that surround the constellation of Pegasus. We see how Pegasus is depicted in art and literature; young readers will recognize the flying horse in C.S. Lewis' The Magician's Nephew. The final chapter is a delightful reminder of the many popular stories of today that inspired by Pegasus, from Disney movies and a PBS series, to a ship in the television show Battlestar Galactica, to the DVD Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus. The winged horse, whose image often represents strength, purity and virtue, also provides the logo for many companies, including TriStar Pictures. Finally, we learn about the Pegasus rocket, used to launch satellites into position and the Pegasus Project, in which students explore the San Francisco Bay aboard a sailing vessel. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.