Adapting the ILIAD as a Children’s Picture Book?

Hello everyone! Today I’d like to share a legend brainstorm I completed for an adaptation I am creating. This adaptation is for a children’s picture book, and it will be using the Iliad as a basis off which to create this picture book. At the end I will share my idea for the adaptation, an idea I honestly think I had a bit too much fun with.

The Iliad is from ancient Greek culture, passed down as an oral tradition. The author is Homer, but this could be either a singular person who created the story or many people over time building the story (or a combination of the two). 

This story is significant in ancient Greek culture because it shows the power of the gods, the importance of bravery and honor, and why you shouldn’t steal a powerful man’s wife. It is also helpful to us today in understanding the ancient cultures through studying things that are present or absent in the story.

I am planning to combine and alter two scenes for my picture book: When Paris fights Menelaus but then Aphrodite whisks Paris away and also when Hector offers himself as the Trojan champion and Ajax steps forward to fight him. 

The protagonists, if we take the side of the Trojans, are Aphrodite, Paris, and Hector. I am saying these three, because it is largely their goals and decisions which drive this part of the story forward. However, throughout the Iliad there are many other people who one could argue are protagonists.

Their goals in this scene are as follows: Aphrodite wants to save Paris and keep him with Helen; Paris wants to stay alive and keep Helen; Hector wants the war to be over and his brother to act a man. 

The villains would then be Menelaus and Ajax. They oppose the protagonists because they are fighting for the honor and victory of the Greeks, and the reclamation of Helen.

They are opposing Paris’s desire to live and keep Helen, and are directly opposing Hector by continuing the war. In another sense, Paris is the villain to Hector because his desires are causing the war.

The moral lesson is that it is better to die with honor than to live with cowardice. Or, put a different way, stand up for what is right even when you are fearful.

Now for the fun part: I’m still brainstorming ideas, however I’m leaning toward turning all the characters into bunnies. So the story would be an epic bunny showdown with Paris running away and Hector stepping in to save the day. This story would be teaching kids two things. First, to stand and fight rather than shrink in cowardice. Secondly, that evil can be defeated. 

I look forward to continuing work on this project and I’d like to share some pictures of my concepts once I’m done!

#23

3 Oct 2025