GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

Gawain, youngest of King Arthur's knights, is tired of the ribbing his inexperience elicits from the others at the Round Table. A bit precipitately he accepts a challenge from the colossal and horrid Green Knight of the North Country: an exchange of axe blows to the neck, Gawain to go first, the Green Knight to follow if he survives. Needless to say, he does, and he graces Gawain a year and a day, at which time Gawain must go to the North Country to meet his fate. This wonderful Celtic tale, a celebration of passion and honesty and courage, is given a decent retelling by arts journalist Mark Shannon, targeted at a much younger audience than the complete version. David Shannon's illustrations are technically impressive—with their deep shadows and blurred lines—but are too soft and moody to fit the reduced text. The text and paintings may be slightly odd fellows, but the story shines through, never to grow old. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)