King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Little Golden Book)
No kid should have to grow up without a healthy helping of King Arthur  and his noble knights (to better understandMonty Pythonlater in life, if  nothing else), and this stunningly illustrated, faithfully recounted collection  has few equals.Originally published in 1962, the handsome reprint includes the same  illustrations that made the original so compelling: the late Swedish artist  Gustaf Tenggren (also responsible forthe bestselling kids' book of all  time) captures these stories' bravado and high adventure with majestic,  almost theatrically composed paintings, many of which stretch dramatically over  two pages. Tenggren's credits also include the original concept art for Disney'sSnow WhiteandPinocchio, and you'll find that  same posed, classical style here. (Although be warned that, like the Arthurian  legends themselves, things can get a little messy, whether it's Lancelot's sword  splitting Meliagrance's helmet in half or the giant Taulurd getting his arm  chopped off by Sir Tor.)Tenggren's illustrations are clearly the star of the show, but the collection  also features excellent text from Emma Gelders Sterne (who was pretty noble  herself, as a civil rights and women's suffrage activist), with the help of her  daughter Barbara Lindsay. Perhaps realizing that these tales sometimes require  affection and patience to fully appreciate, they never shirk from occasionally  challenging but satisfying period language, from damsel's "wimples" to "churls  in armor." (Ages 9 to 12)--Paul Hughes