Ashley's Book Review Blog: Arthur and the King's Sword by Tony Bradman & Tony Ross

Source: http://childrensbookshop.circlesoft.net/

This is a book for early readers and tells the famous tale of how Arthur, a mere squire, becomes king. When his brother, Kay, loses his sword, Arthur scrambles to find him a new one. His search leads him to the legendary Excalibur. After discovering that he is the only one able to pull it from the stone and yield its power, Arthur is made King of Britain.

This is a famous legend told in a way that captures the attention of young children. It is narrated as a classic adventure tale and has a simple linear plot, making it easy for young readers to understand and read independently. As with many legends, this story follows the monomyth, or the hero's journey, and as expected, the hero triumphs at the end.

What makes this story even more endearing is that the hero, Arthur, is seen as the underdog throughout. Hence, children will tend to empathise with Arthur more and celebrate his eventual victory.

There are many illustrations that accompany the text in this book. Although they are in black and white, they complement the story well and help to hold the attention of young readers. Being a simple chapter book, the illustrations can help children make the transition from picture books to chapter books. They also help to make reading less intimidating for new or reluctant readers. The language used is also simple most of the time but contains some challenging words like "amazement" and "summoned". This will encourage readers to learn new words and expand their vocabulary.

This book would be recommended for children between the age of 6 and 9. Reading this simple and enchanting version of this well-loved legend is a fantastic way to introduce children to historical fiction. As this genre has material written for every age group, there is a high chance of fostering lifelong reading habits among children who enjoy this genre.

Just considering the legend of King Arthur alone, there are books written for a diverse audience.

For older children/young teens: King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green