How do we captivate our children with the classics? In actuality, I think this sub-Medieval category begs for little marketing; all of my children seem ready to be enthralled with an Arthurian legend. While I was readying a post on our favorite Medieval book choices mid-year, we suddenly segued off to Camelot and found ourselves entrapped between the era of Roman occupation and the emergence of English literature. Their interest necessitated a shift in our Medieval studies to make room for all-things-Arthur, and I’m grateful our literary journey brought these new titles to our mantlepiece.
The Introduction: Merlin & the Making of a King
By Margaret Hodges
This beautiful little volume shares three stories from the Arthurian legends: “The Sword in the Stone,” “Excalibur,” and “The Lady of the Lake.” The text is enhanced by the gorgeous illustrations of Trina Schart Hyman and features illuminated borders to imitate the famous medieval manuscripts. The stories are just the perfect length for a read-aloud.
2. For the Young Reader: Sword in the Tree
By Clyde Roberta Bulla
This is a wonderful, short story about a boy seeking to defend his family’s honor and save his father from treachery in the time of King Arthur. It is a great match for those readers who have moved beyond the “I Can Read” books but aren’t ready for full-length children’s novels.
3. For all the pictures: The Kitchen Knight
By Margaret Hodges
Trina Hyman teams up with Hodges again in this amazing picture book, which relates the adventures of young Sir Gareth, a knight who serves as the kitchen boy in Camelot until he sets off to prove himself by serving the stony Lady Linette. The romance and character growth within this tale make it surpass even the writing duo’s Saint George and the Dragon.
4. For the intermediate student: King Arthur (Graphic Novel)
For all those kids who love graphic novels, this Usborne version of King Arthur’s story will find excitement and excellent illustrations. The book does focus significantly on the tension between Lancelot, Arthur, & Guinevere, but it also relays the most important events of Arthur’s reign.
5. For all the girls: Young Guinevere
By Robert D. San Souci
This fun picture book relates how Guinevere saves her father’s castle when they are besieged by Rion, Arthur’s contender. She bravely travels through a dangerous forest and battles an enchanted beast to reach the young King Arthur and beg his aid. The illustrations are lush and bright, and provide an imaginative glimpse into Guinevere’s life before Camelot.
6. For the grammar reader: Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight & Mice of the Round Table
By Katherine Paterson / Julie Leung
Parzival is a young knight who embarks on a quest to find the Holy Grail. This novel is short, the perfect book to bridge the gap between young elementary students and the harder middle school & high school texts. Meanwhile, if your intermediate student want a fun, easy-to-read spoof of the Arthurian tales, have them check out the Mice of the Round Table series.
7. For the advanced reader: King Arthur & His Knights
By Howard Pyle
Pyle’s style, as always, is enchanting – the perfect mix of archaic and contemporary to make this book feel like a true classic while still being accessible to middle school and high school students. This edition is also beautiful! It is leatherbound with embossed cover illustrations; inside, several illustrations supplement the stories and story markers help readers find their place and keep in mind the general movement of plot.
8. For the student: King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table
By Roger Lancelyn Green
While Pyle’s version is my favorite, this one also checks all the boxes: classic text, faithful rendition of the story, and accessibility for students! This book also has a great Memoria Press workbook accompaniment to enhance your student’s study and highlight important events and themes, as well as note new vocabulary and offer enrichment activities. Because of these school aids, I would recommend this text if you are searching to round out your child’s literature course.
8. For the little boys: King Jack & the Dragon
By Peter Bentley & Helen Oxenbury
This is not specific to King Arthur, but I love it for its imaginative take on knighthood and chivalry! Within this story, a boy and his friends build their own castle fort in the backyard and pretend to defend it against those invaders calling them in for bed.
9. For the high schooler, #1: Sir Gawain & the Green Knight
Translated & Edited by J. R. R. Tolkien
This is a wonderful epic. Students will enjoy the battles, romance and hunts, while being exposed to important elements of medieval literature: extensive symbolism, the types of quests testing, the code of chivalry, and a critique of character. This is an original Anglo-Saxon poem; the translation by Tolkien is excellent. Regardless of what edition you use, notes will be helpful as understanding the medieval symbols is crucial to deciphering the themes through the tale.
10. For the middle schooler: Black Horses for the King
By Anne McCaffrey
This book depicts a young Arthur trying to breed his own horses and build his army of knights. One boy, Galwyn, assists him as a translator as they race to prepare against Saxon invasion.
11. For the high schooler, #2: Idylls of the King
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Here is the poem that made me fall in love with the Arthurian legend! The poetry is lyrical yet still easy, and its grandeur helps build the mythology surrounding Arthur. Be sure to find a beautiful edition, as this is a classic to keep!
12. For the young adult: The Sword in the Stone
By T. H. White
While less serious and sweeping than Tennyson’s poetry, this novel is also based upon Malory’s work. Its humor and light additions to the traditional tale have kept many teens and adults entertained; it also inspired the Disney cartoon Sword in the Stone. The later additions to White’s serious have a starker, realist tone but this first volume keeps a more positive tone as the plot moves the boy Art (or Wart) along to the pivotal moment when he pulls the sword from the stone and reveals his kingly identity.
13. For the scholar: The Fall of Arthur
By J. R. R. Tolkien
Tolkien never completed this poem, but lovers of his fantasy and academic work will love reading this start to an epic poem focused on Arthur’s fall and death. Commentary and notes are also provided by his son Christopher in this edition.
14. For the listener: King Arthur & His Knights
Told by Jim Weiss
Weiss is an excellent storyteller, so this audio serves as an excellent supplement to any medieval study, or child’s rest-time. It is also a wonderful book alternative for those students who are slower or delayed readers.
15. For the adult: Le Morte d’Arthur
By Thomas Malory
Here is the original text which compiles the legend of King Arthur and provides the foundation for all the preceding books! It can serve as a great challenge for a motivated high school student or any adult wishing to go to the primary texts.
16. For the movie-lovers: The Sword in the Stone & Monty Python & the Holy Grail
I had to include these. For fun. I did indeed show my older ones an edited version of Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail. While you might want to skip the scene with the vestal virgins and preview it before showing it to your kids, it could serve as a perfect way to lighten up your reading! Sword in the Stone, of course, is a safer alternative for younger children.
