The Odyssey for All Ages: 5 Beautifully Illustrated Ways into the Great Myth
Christopher Nolan's rendition of The Odyssey has brought Greek myth roaring back. These five beautifully illustrated editions bring the adventure to readers of every age, from tots to teens.
August 3, 2026 ● Written by Sarah Silverkey
Christopher Nolan's new epic, The Odyssey — as well as Homer's original — might be a tad mature for young viewers. But it's a tale full of drama, suspense, monsters, and mayhem, and it definitely doesn't need to wait for the teen years to be read and obsessed over. With that in mind, here are five particularly interesting editions of the book, from an interactive board book for tots, to a lushly illustrated graphic novel for older readers, to an accessible, illustrated edition of the real thing for teens. There’s no time like the present to get into ancient myths and legends, or to start thinking about why they still matter today.
Lit for Little Hands: The Odyssey
Adapted by Brooke Jorden
Illustrated by Olga Skomorokhova
For the very youngest myth-aficionados-to-be, this interactive board book sets sail on the seas of ancient Greece. Wheels, pull tabs, and flaps invite little hands to outsmart mythical monsters, brave treacherous waters, and steer Odysseus safely home to Ithaca.
Ages 3-5
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
By Ingrid and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
A classic for good reason, this lavishly illustrated treasury has been the gateway into Greek mythology for generations of readers. The D'Aulaires' warm, painterly artwork and storyteller's prose bring gods, heroes, and monsters vividly to life, laying the perfect foundation before young readers set out on Odysseus's voyage themselves.
Ages 8 and up
Usborne Complete Greek Myths
By Anna Milbourne and Henry Brook
Illustrated by Nathan Collins
A generous, action-packed compendium that gathers the great Greek myths, Odysseus's wanderings among them, into one handsome volume. Retold with pace and wit, and matched with Nathan Collins's dynamic illustrations, it's ideal for confident readers ready to move beyond picture books and lose themselves in the full sweep of gods, quests, and monsters.
Ages 10 and up
The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel
By Gareth Hinds
Gareth Hinds's graphic novel adaptation is painterly, atmospheric, and closely faithful to Homer's epic. Perfect for older readers, it captures both the monster-battling adventure and the deeper currents of longing and homecoming, proof that a great retelling can be a masterpiece in its own right.
Ages 12 and up
Homer's Odyssey
By Barry B. Powell
For readers ready to graduate to the real thing, Barry B. Powell's translation renders Homer's epic in clear, direct, muscular English verse that stays faithful to the original without ever growing stuffy. Complete with maps, notes, and illustrations to guide the way, it's an ideal first full Odyssey for teens who want the unabridged voyage.
Ages 14 and up
Sarah Silverkey
Contributing editor
Sarah is an educator, writer, and artist with over 40 years of primary and secondary school teaching experience in the United States and in Switzerland. She’s a co-founder of the Homeschool Association Switzerland, and a fervent literacy advocate, believing that all good things (or at least, very many of them) come from an early exposure to books and stories.
