Customer Reviews

Young Lancelot (A picture yearling book)

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

 

 

Author Robert D. San Souci has used many excellent sources and deftly compressed them into this brief but colorful introduction to Arthurian legend, in particular the legends surrounding the bravest knight of the Round Table, Lancelot. The scope of this book takes place prior to Lancelot's relationship with King Arthur and the Round Table. It focuses on his youth and several of the mystical and magical experiences he encounters as he grows and develops in his knightly skills. The full-page illustrations are absolutely grand and will serve well to ignite youthful interest in these great sagas. Do not assume that because this is a picture book that it is for very young children. The vocabulary is geared more toward 5th, 6th and 7th graders. Don't miss a companion title, Young Guinevere. It's excellent as well.

This is an accessible entry into Arthurian tales, though a child reading it (rather than being read to) may need help with the vocabulary. The story is a simple one, but has substance. Lancelot has the fighting skills to be the greatest knight in the world, but he can't reach that level unless he has compassion too. It's not until he runs into a battle that he (seemingly) can't win that he begins to sympathize with the sorrows of others. Though the book stands on its own, I'd recommend following it with one or more of its companion books, The Young Arthur, The Young Merlin, and The Young Guinevere. The well-done illustrations are sometimes richly and sometimes subtly colored, and include intriguing details based on Celtic art. Kids will be rewarded for looking at the pictures carefully, as they notice the barely visible herons engraved on a shield, the jewel-like decoration on a scabbard, etc. I disagree with the Kirkus reviewer's charge that some scenes are melodramatic. Indeed, I would rather see more expressiveness - it's mostly the bad guys who smile in this book! Yet it is fitting that Lancelot is serious throughout. I feel many young readers will respond well to the intensity of the young knight who gazes out at us, as well as to his foster-mother's joy at the change he has gone through by the end. (If this book strikes a chord with the child of your choice, by all means check out The Kitchen Knight, by Margaret Hodges, Trina Schart-Hyman (illustrator). That story also emphasizes the importance of knightly humility and compassion, and the illustrations, while in a very different style, are exquisitely done. Trina Schart-Hyman has also illustrated a version of Saint George and the Dragon, which may be too bloody for the under-6 crowd, but gets rave reviews from many kids and parents. See the reviews here on Amazon.)

Lancelot du Lac is one of the great characters of Arthurian legend. For children, his story is best broken up into smaller more easily understood sections. In "Young Lancelot", Robert San Souci wisely limits the scope of his story from Lancelot's birth up until the point that the Lady of Lake introduces him to King Arthurs court and reveals to Lancelot his true name. The story focuses on how the arrogant young Lancelot learns compassion. All and all, this is very well written book with a nice illustrations. Having finished this book, I am going to purchase Robert San Souci's three other Arthurian books.

Love the medieval legends especially the Arthurian ones. Looking forward to using this series in my classroom.