The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur (Paperback)

~ (Author), Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3 Up-- While this tale is retold in most adaptations of Arthurian legend, it is not readily available in a single, lavishly illustrated version such as this one. The story is of Gareth of Orkney, Gawaine's brother, who hides his identity to serve a year as a kitchen boy in King Arthur's court, and his quest to the Perilous Gard in the company of Linette, who also hides her identity and reviles him throughout their journey to rescue her sister, Linesse. He falls in love at first distant sight of Linesse, who checks him out by kidnapping his dwarf, but decides he's worthy and agrees to marry him. There is a lot more to the story, of course, and Hodges gets in all the essentials that Malory included, leaving out some unexplained characters and repetitive battles. She also leaves out Gareth's comment that he doesn't listen to women, anyway. Just as well, even though it's a comment appropriate to its time, and quite telling about chivalry. Linesse's testing of a man who saved her life may be understood to be wise in a time when women were kidnapped and treated as property. The loose ends tend to be Malory's own. This does not tell in quite the straight line of Gawaine's adventure with the loathly damsel, told also by Chaucer's Wife of Bath. Hyman's richly romantic illustrations are lush watercolors, framed and broken with framed insets for closeups and framed text inside the panoramic picture. The format is horizontal, capturing the sweep of the story. While not a tale of King Arthur, it's a wonderful taste of Arthurian legend, hopefully whetting young appetites for more. --Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Dramatic...A beautifully illustrated medieval story." (Booklist )

"A grand tale in a handsome edition." (Kirkus Reviews )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823410633
• ISBN-13: 978-0823410637
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #79,716 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book. Well written and great illustrations., October 19, 1999

By	[e-mail] ([e-mail]) (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur (Hardcover)

I bought this book for a report in my British Literature class. The assignment was to find a children's book related to the medieval period. I read it and enjoyed it thoroughly. The text is easy to follow and the pictures are great. Great book for any child, boy or girl.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kitchen Knight, April 20, 2002

By	D Ferris (Wichita, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur (Hardcover)

Excellent book for use during any medieval or knight study. Fourth grade boys in particular would love this book, however, any student in elementary would enjoy the book. The illustrations are very good. Younger students may need the book read to them. Goes along with King Arthur studies and tales.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! I never thought a picture book could be my favorite!, May 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur (Hardcover)

It's a great story worthy to be called a classic. The pictures are just as wonderful as the story and complement it very niecly.