Tales of King Arthur: Excalibur (Books of Wonder)

From Publishers Weekly An often bewitching but occasionally insipid visualization of an ancient tale, the third in Talbott's series of Arthurian legends (after King Arthur and the Round Table) traces young King Arthur's maturation as he battles King Pellinore and receives the sword Excalibur. The story is recounted prosaically, even awkwardly: "I need a quest!" complains Arthur. "A knight has more fun than a king." However, the pictures, composed in a traditional and romantic style, gracefully portray the hero's transition from a pretty, wistful youth to a reverent, confident king. Panoramic spreads of Arthur with his army convey a time-honored spirit of honor and adventure. The distinctly bloody fight scenes and a Barbie-esque Lady of the Lake are less than compelling, but Talbott is at his vivid best with animals: rearing horses, eager dogs and a miraculous Questing Beast. The intriguingly misty landscapes lend the classic story an air of mystery. All ages. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 3-6?Filling in more of the story begun in his King Arthur and the Round Table (1995) and The Sword in the Stone (1991, both Morrow), Talbott describes Arthur's maturation from an impulsive, glory-seeking boy to a young king, ready to serve others. The pictures are as colorful as the tale, yet both illustrations and words leave something to be desired. Sharp-eyed readers may spot inaccuracies, inconsistencies, or awkwardness in the watercolors (the Saxons' ships and helmets are Viking-style; horseless Pellinore steals Arthur's roan, but "next morning" is riding a black steed; Arthur is in a fancy crown with Pendragon insignia on shield, saddle, horseblanket, etc., but Pellinore asks forgiveness because he didn't recognize his king when they fought; the figures are poorly proportioned, etc.) The language is awkwardly suspended between the casual ("A knight has more fun than a king," Arthur whines early on), and the pontifical ("As for death, I welcome it, if it is my time," he intones a few pages later). Instead of this bland offering, slightly older readers should look for Robin Lister's The Legend of King Arthur (Doubleday, 1990), while younger ones will have more fun with Marcia Williams's King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Candlewick, 1996).?Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RICopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.