Customer Reviews

Walt Disney's the Sword in the Stone (Disney Classic)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Picture book adaptation of the Walt Disney feature film The Sword in the Stone (1963), based on the eponymous novel by T. H. White. The film details the life of young Arthur (affectionately known as "Wart") before he pulls the Sword from the Stone to become king and the young boy's misadventures with Merlin as the wizard, aided by Archimedes the owl, attempts to educate him. The illustrations are full-color drawings based on scenes from the film. However, the text itself is completely original to this version of the story, and, thus, the dialogue lacks the charm and wit of the film. In addition, the narrative also distorts events from the film in an effort to give Wart a more harmonious life with his adopted family. Other events, such as Merlin's various lessons and the Wart's difficulties with the girl squirrel are also compressed and altered to bear little resemblance to the events from the film. One would think that an adaptation based on a Disney film and produced by Disney would remain truer to its source. This is definitely a book for fans of the film to be wary of.

This was my favorite story as a young child. The book is even better than the movie. It is easy to read and easy for a child to understand when being read to. The illustrations are excellent and provide interaction with the child as they focus on the drawings while the story unfolds. Excellent for bedtime reading, these books can be completed in one sitting for a child who cannot go to sleep, or over several nights for a child old enough to retain the storyline from one day to the next. Having these books, specifically the Classic Series, still available for children today is a wonderful library addition for any kid's room.