Medieval tales that kids can read and tell

Gr 3-6-A great book for kids who are interested in storytelling. It has simple versions of many medieval tales arranged by country: from England, "Robin Hood"; from Switzerland, "William Tell"; from France, "Joan of Arc"; and from Scotland, Robert Bruce. (It is somewhat disconcerting that the more common appellation Robert the Bruce is not used). There are tales of Beowulf and of Saladin, and lesser-known ones such as the story of Duke Lech of Poland. Each of the selections is about a page in length, short enough to learn easily. Each chapter includes a "tips" section, a history of the story, and a pronunciation guide. The final section describes the role of the storyteller in medieval times and includes a chapter on how to look and sound like one. The author tells readers how to tailor the story to the audience, but she does not mention that it need not be memorized and repeated verbatim. One of the first rules in most storytelling classes is that the tellers should become comfortable with the material and make it their own. Apart from that, this is a helpful guide. There is a good glossary of medieval terms and comprehensive source notes.-Marlyn K. Roberts, Torrance Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Brief tales capturing dramatic scenes from the legends of King Arthur, Robin Hood, Joan of Arc, William Tell, Beowulf, and others are told in versions simple enough for children in the primary grades to learn. Ornamented with woodcut-style images, the book includes short historical notes, tips for telling, and a bibliography to help young tellers flesh out the tales. More seasoned storytellers will also enjoy this one. Bib., glos. From HORN BOOK Fall 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.