Arthur: Time Soldiers Book #4 [Hardcover]

Kathleen Duey (Author), Robert Gould (Photographer)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Time Soldiers

Determined to solve the mysteries of the time portal, the Time Soldiers meet Merlin, the magician of the ages, struggle to escape an evil knight, battle a raging dragon, and watch the young Arthur Pendragon fulfill his royal destiny.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5–This book is part of a series designed to draw video-saturated youngsters into reading through cinematic artwork. The action begins abruptly, as a group of time-traveling kids prepare for their next adventure. Throughout the story, they are observed by mysterious men in black suits whose presence is never clearly explained. After passing through a portal, the children journey to the past, where they meet the young Arthur, have numerous adventures with him, and watch as he pulls the sword from the stone. Readers unfamiliar with the series will be confused, as the premise is never clearly established. The writing is crisp, but merely adequate to convey the action and there is absolutely no characterization. The full-color photographic images are supposed to carry the plot, but many of them, such as the first appearance of Merlin, end up looking overwrought and ridiculous. There is a cut-and-paste feel to the art. Also, the "acting" of the cast is more silly than anything else. This book partially succeeds in giving the feeling of a movie on the printed page, but readers wanting to know the story of King Arthur would do better elsewhere.–Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
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About the Author

Kathleen Duey is the author of the American Diaries series, The Unicorn’s Secret series, and the Hoofbeats series. Eugene Epstein is a graphic designer, art teacher, and the art director of all Big Guy Books titles. Robert Gould is the creator and photographer of The Time Soldiers® adventure book series, the Spider-Man™ and X-Men™ Ultimate Picture Book Series, and the BiG STUFF series. They all live in San Diego.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Big Guy Books (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929945051
• ISBN-13: 978-1929945054
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,478,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.

Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,

I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me

(writer's name)



Dear Ms. Duey,

I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.

LOVE , (writer's name)


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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:

I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!


I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.

If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.

I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!

Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com

YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net

The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.

You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly fantastic picturebook about a group of children, November 5, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arthur: Time Soldiers Book #4 (Hardcover)

Book four in the "Time Soldiers" series originally created by Robert Gould, Arthur is a truly fantastic picturebook about a group of children called upon to serve the greater good through different amazing eras. Previous storybooks transported them to ages of dinosaurs and pirates; Arthur brings them to the time of Arthur's destiny, and they most dodge villains and even face a greedy, fearsome dragon to keep the wondrous events of history and mythology in balance. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Time Soldiers series in general and Arthur in particular is its absolutely stunning visuals - illustrated with full-color photographs, some mundane, some capturing magical beings all with a passion that leaps off the very page and impresses the simple story into one's heart. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, June 25, 2010

By 

D. Sanders (Lubbock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arthur (Time Soldiers) (Library Binding)

The book arrived on-time and my son really likes this series. He is 6 years old and this is a step up from reading books like Handy Manny and Toy Story.

2.0 out of 5 stars Eh..., November 11, 2009

By 

Jane Austen Fan (West TN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Arthur: Time Soldiers Book #4 (Hardcover)

I bought this book based on the great reviews I read. I don't know...but my children did not care for it and I did not like it either. It was really cheesy and weird, with real images super-imposed onto fake backgrounds. I don't get it?? We got rid of this book pretty quickly after receiving it.