ARTHUR AND THE SWORD

In this version of the familiar tale, Sabuda (The Christmas Alphabet, 1994, etc.) captures Arthur as a child hero, a fact that readers will find especially satisfying. When his brother forgets his sword for a jousting match, Arthur ingenuously grabs the nearest weapon, freeing the sword from the stone and oblivious to the miracle he's worked until his foster father and Merlin explain his royal birth. Fiery, glowing illustrations--created from materials that resemble stained glass--suit the telling's slightly formal tone. Readers see the bright sword, the violet cloak of Merlin in disguise, and Arthur, wide-eyed, on the fringe of events that are about to cast him in the central role. Sabuda includes source notes and acknowledges the story's historical basis.