King Midas: The Golden Touch
"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