National Geographic Kids Debuts New Fiction Series, ‘Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas’

A treat for proto–Percy Jackson fans. 

Kirkus Reviews,

Following the successful debut of its first-ever kids’ fact-based fiction series, "Explorer Academy," National Geographic’s new Under the Stars imprint introduces its second action-packed fiction series, "Zeus the Mighty," by Crispin Boyer.

Humorous and heartwarming, readers embark on a thrilling adventure in this entertaining new middle-grade fiction series inspired by Greek mythology and ancient Greece, beginning with the first title in the seven-book series, "Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas" (Oct. 22, 2019; IBSN: 978-1-4263-3547-1; ages 8-12; .99; Hardcover; 192 pages).

Within a pet center sitting atop Mount Olympus in Athens, Georgia, lives a menagerie of eclectic creatures each named after a powerful god or goddess. By day, Zeus — a tiny, overconfident hamster with a mighty appetite for power — and his gaggle of gods run on their exercise wheels and take catnaps. But at night these fearless furry friends bravely take on legendary mythological quests! In the series’ first thrilling adventure, Zeus the Mighty has one giant task in front of him: to find the “golden fleas” so he can solidify his position as “king of the gods.”

School Library Connection said, “This book will be a hit with fans of mythology. … Great characters, action, adventure and lots of humor will make this title a popular read in elementary libraries.” "Zeus the Mighty" is also perfect for mythology, history, adventure and animal lovers alike. A supplementary “Truth Behind the Fiction” section is packed with facts and information about ancient life and mythology, all vetted by a Greek historian.

“Our goal at National Geographic is to encourage kids to stay curious and explore the world around them,” said Rebecca Baines, editorial director of National Geographic Kids Books. “With their spunk, courage and quirk, Zeus and his relatable squad will help make learning fun as they take kids along for nearly endless comical and epic adventures.”

The new series will be supported by multimedia content, including videos, a podcast in conjunction with SiriusXM, a website, an online game and magazine content. "Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas" hits shelves Oct. 22 and will be followed by a new book every six months.

Get ready to laugh, cheer and learn with this adorable and quirky cast of characters in their unforgettable first adventure — a reimagining of the tale of the Golden Fleece.

About the Contributors

Author Crispin Boyer has written more than 20 books for National Geographic Kids, covering topics that young readers find fascinating, from bugs to boogers, ninjas to knights, sharks to cyborgs. "Zeus the Mighty" is Boyer’s debut fiction novel; it combines his abilities to entertain with lively characters and to educate with historical facts.

Andy Elkerton began his lifelong dream of becoming an illustrator after spending 15 years working as a graphic designer of video games. Since then he has created art for magazines; television shows; toy designs; and several children’s books, including a New York Times and a Barnes & Noble bestseller. He’s even been the answer to a question on “Jeopardy!” He currently lives in a small village on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands with his wife, three children, two cats and a dog.

About the Book

  • Title: "Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas"
  • Author: Crispin Boyer
  • Publisher: National Geographic
  • Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2019
  • Ages: 8-12 years
  • Price: US .99/CAN .99
  • IBSN: 978-1-4263-3547-1
  • Pages: 192
  • Format: Hardcover

About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 131 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Media:

Christie Damato, Litzky Public Relations

cdamato@litzkypr.com, 201-222-9118 ext. 27

Kelly Forsythe, National Geographic

kelly.forsythe@natge.com, 202-912-6720