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... ( )

Grades K-2

When Henry Alfred Grummorson turns six years old, he knows it is time to follow in the steps of his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather King Arthur. He collects his sword and his horse and ventures out to do battle. Unfortunately, the days of "fights to the uttermost" and "tests of might and courage" seem to be a distant memory: the dragon challenges him to a smoke-ring blowing contest; the Cyclops wants to do a staring contest; and the Griffin pulls out a chess board. Henry is philosophical about the whole thing: even if he didn't get the fight he was looking for, he faced down four terrifying monsters and made some new friends in the process. The charming watercolor and ink illustrations are a perfect complement to this story of bravery and knighthood and fierce monsters and friends. A solid read-aloud choice.
( )