King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green, Lotte Reiniger (Illustrator), David Almond (Introduction)

Children's Literature

The tales of King Aurthur and his Knights of the Round Table are so powerful and enduring that they have become interwoven into our very culture. The straightforward and accessible retelling of these accounts allows these profound characters to come to life for younger readers, providing children the chance to meet such famous characters as the Green Knight, Merlin, Sir Launcelot, and Queen Guinevere. While the motivation for young readers will most likely stem from a desire to turn page after page of this exciting adventure story, these readers will have the added fortune of understanding the many King Arthur allusions in contemporary and classic literature. A must read for adventure and literature lovers alike, these tales run the gamut of human emotion, touching upon virtues of justice, dignity, grace, courtesy, and above all, courage. There is also something to be gained by the adult readers here, who will be able to reconnect to the stories and characters in a way that makes them feel new and fresh. At the conclusion of the book, a helpful guide to keeping track of the many characters, suggested activities, and discussion questions, and even some fun facts about the author and time period are provided. A great addition for the Social Studies or English classroom, this timeless work will entertain students whether they are reading it in its entirety or tale by tale. Reviewer: Ginny Sautner

Biography

David Almond is the author of Clay as well as Skellig (a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, winner of the Carnegie Medal, and winner of the Whitbread Children's Book Award) and The Fire-Eaters (winner of the Whitbread Children's Book Award).