As the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of King Arthur, six-year-old Henry Alfred Grummorson was looking for adventure, and to prove his worth as a knight. Challenging a dragon, cyclops and griffin in turn, he is dismayed when each of these opponents wish to conduct non-violent and non-lethal combat, from blowing smoke rings to staring contests to chess matches. When he finally seeks Leviathan, the greatest creature of all, this opponent too is ready for a game, but our little hero has decided he has other priorities...

Author/illustrator Kenneth Kraegel, who has produced eight picture books at this point, made his debut in 2012 with King Arthur's Very Great Grandson, and what an auspicious beginning it was! Pairing an entertaining questing-knight story that is both humorous and ultimately heartwarming with appealing watercolor and ink artwork, it would make the perfect bedtime story for little kids who dream of adventure, love tales of knights and derring-do, and also have a sense of humor. I appreciated the theme of friendship at the end, and the idea (implicit in the story) that it isn't necessary to have an adversarial relationship with the world, in order to seek adventure. Recommended to imaginative little kids who long to meet magical creatures and have some adventures of their own. ( )

we love this funny book about a 6 year old boy who wants an epic battle but continually finds creatures who want to play games. ( )

Henry wants adventure, but sometimes friendship is the best strategy.

This review also published at The Children's Book and Media Review

Henry Alfred Grummorson was the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of King Arthur and he wants to live up to that heritage. On the day that he turns six-year-old, he woke up early and went with his trust donkey, Knuckles, to find an adventure. He goes to fight a dragon, but the dragon wants to have a smoke ring competition instead of fighting, so Henry goes to try the Cyclops. The Cyclops just wants to have a staring contest. The Griffin simply wants to play chess, and the leviathan also just wants to play a game. He decides that because he has come face-to-face with four monsters, he can be pleased with himself and he can also have four new friends.

This amusing book is a good way to introduce children to mythological creatures they might not have heard of before. The art is sometimes very detailed and sometimes looks like a child has drawn it, but it helps the monsters seem friendlier and less scary. The book teaches about how it is better to make friends than it is to fight, while also providing a few giggles at Henry’s attempts to find a challenge he thinks is suitable for him. ( )

"I want swordplay! A struggle! A battle to the uttermost, and if you will not have ado with me, tell me who will!"

So says brave and diminutive Henry, who sets off for adventure astride his trusty donkey, Knuckles. He encounters a Dragon, a Cyclops, a Griffin, and a Leviathan. They are no match for him at swordplay, but at chess? Perhaps. Simple pen and watercolor illustrations are a bright and cheery mix of naive and cartoon styles of painting; pairing perfectly with this story of five utterly guileless characters destined to become friends. Enchanting!

More at http://shelf-employed.blogspot.com/2012/08/picture-book-roundup-august-edition.h... ( )