01 - The Daughters of Memory

This Stepping Stone edition of 'The Wizard of Oz' is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic story, tailored for first chapter book readers. The book includes art from the original 'Wizard of Oz' and follows the journey of Dorothy as she is carried by a cyclone from a Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz, where she meets the Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion.

The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events. The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris. The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war. The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.

In 'The Phaedrus,' Plato presents a dialogue between Socrates and Phaedrus that delves into several key themes. The discussion begins with Phaedrus reading a speech by Lysias that argues a non-lover is preferable to a lover. Socrates critiques this speech and then delivers two of his own speeches on love, one of which is a palinode that praises the divine nature of love. The dialogue also explores the art of rhetoric, critiquing the Sophists for using rhetoric to manipulate rather than seek truth. A central allegory, the charioteer myth, describes the soul as a charioteer driving two horses, symbolizing the struggle between reason and desire. The dialogue emphasizes the transformative power of true love, guiding the soul towards divine wisdom and truth, and underscores the importance of the soul's immortality and its self-motion.

The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.