Greeking Out by Kenny Curtis, Jillian Hughes

From the creators of National Geographic Kids’ wildly successful Greeking Out podcast, this lively tie-in book delivers a clever tongue-in-cheek retelling of 20 classic Greek myths.

This kid-friendly collection of tales from Greek mythology showcases familiar favorites from the well-loved Greeking Out podcast as well as brand-new, never-before-aired stories. Join Persephone on her journey through the mystifying depths of the Underworld. Venture onwards with Heracles as he tackles his 12 death-defying labors. And join mythological figures you may not have heard of before, including scheming gods and goddesses, honorable—and not so honorable—heroes, and magnificent monsters.

Dynamic, playful illustrations coupled with laugh-out-loud storytelling and real information about ancient Greece—delivered by the all-knowing Oracle of Wi-Fi—make this collection of fabulous fables a fresh addition to any history-lover’s library.

KENNY CURTIS has more than 30 years in children’s programming as a performer, writer, and producer. He is one of the creators of National Geographic Kids’ Greeking Out podcast series, which he hosts and cowrites alongside his daughter, Jillian Hughes. Together, Kenny and Jillian have helped develop a number of well-known kids’ content offerings for partners and platforms like Pinna, Tinkercast, Kidz Bop, and 8 Pound Gorilla Records. But Kenny may be best known as the human behind the long-running radio program The Animal Farm on SiriusXM’s original family music channel, Kids Place Live.

JILLIAN HUGHES is a professional writer with her heart in the kids and family industry. She’s a writer for National Geographic Kids’ Greeking Out podcast series and has contributed to other platforms including Pinna, Tinkercast, and iHeart. She also works as a copywriter crafting marketing collateral for numerous industries. While she enjoys working with all her clients, she is especially partial to collaborating with Kenny—who just happens to be her dad.

JAVIER ESPILA is a Spanish illustrator who has been devouring cartoons ever since he was old enough to sit upright in front of the TV. This had the unfortunate consequence of causing serious inflammation of the brain, rendering him unsuitable for any job that required him to lift anything heavier than a pencil. In recent years, his condition has deteriorated, and he is now forced to write absurd and fantastic stories to alleviate the constant pressure on his skull. He lives with his wife and two daughters, who help him by alternating cartoons with video games.

Author Residence: Catonsville, MD

JAVIER ESPILA is a Spanish illustrator who has been devouring cartoons ever since he was old enough to sit upright in front of the TV. This had the unfortunate consequence of causing serious inflammation of the brain, rendering him unsuitable for any job that required him to lift anything heavier than a pencil. In recent years, his condition has deteriorated, and he is now forced to write absurd and fantastic stories to alleviate the constant pressure on his skull. He lives with his wife and two daughters, who help him by alternating cartoons with video games.

Illustrator Residence: Málaga, Spain