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Tales of the Kingdom
(Tales of the Kingdom #1)
by
Twelve stories centering on the adventures of two orphaned brothers who escape a polluted city ruled by an evil enchanter to seek their exiled king in the place where trees grow.
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Hardcover
Published
July 1st 1983
by Chariot Victor Publishing
(first published 1983)
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Start your review of Tales of the Kingdom (Tales of the Kingdom, #1)

These classic allegorical tales are ones I grew up reading, and they continue to be meaningful to me now as an adult and someone who can share them with the children around me. I have just taken my Wed. night Bible class of 1st - 3rd graders through this book and they all became fans. It is easy to draw out Biblical truths from each chapter that can be applied for young ones and grown ups alike!
The 12 chapters tell the story of Hero, a young man who escaped with his brother from the wicked Encha ...more
The 12 chapters tell the story of Hero, a young man who escaped with his brother from the wicked Encha ...more

Oct 07, 2011
Hannah
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Christian families
I just finish my sixth or seventh read of this book (most of them having been five or more years ago), this time having read it with my 6-yr-old brother, and we both felt sad while reading the last chapter because we were almost done.
While I have appreciated the stories contained in this family book more each time I have perused them, this read (slower, because of reading it aloud) has shown me a whole new depth to the book.
Though not strict allegory, the stories in here reflect our lives as be ...more
While I have appreciated the stories contained in this family book more each time I have perused them, this read (slower, because of reading it aloud) has shown me a whole new depth to the book.
Though not strict allegory, the stories in here reflect our lives as be ...more

Beautifully illustrated and well written for a children's book. Will capture any audience.
...more

I just finished reading this one to my kids, and it was especially fun because I can remember so vividly having this read to me as a child. Seeing the pictures and hearing the drum beats and remembering Hero's scar and Merci's kindness and the juggler and bread maker and Princess Amanda - i don't think there's a single read aloud (including Chronicles of Narnia) that stuck with me as strongly as this one. As an adult, I was pleased to see how rich and faithful but also well imagined the allegori
...more

This book hits home. It makes you realize that you are special in the Kings eyes. There is a story about a girl who dances too much who is led by an image in the mirror. This hit home to me because I used to be as good as the people in the excersize movies. But after breaking away from this I danced before the Lord.
It brings tears to my friends eyes who see that their lives involve in this book.
It is fictional but thats alright.
I love the pictures along the sides are frames made of the story art ...more
It brings tears to my friends eyes who see that their lives involve in this book.
It is fictional but thats alright.
I love the pictures along the sides are frames made of the story art ...more

We owned this book growing up, and I LOVED it. I identified with Amanda even more than I had with Lucy in Lewis' books. Rereading them now, there were a few things I'd maybe articulate differently than the authors, but I'm impressed all over again with that illustrator. (The text of the story seems to think Mercie has to be young to be beautiful-- but the images of Mercie as an old woman are LOVELY.) And so much resonated even more strongly. That juggler. Love.
...more

This was my favorite series when I was a kid after the Chronicles of Narnia. I love it even more as an adult. The stories move me to tears because they fill me with a longing to live in a community like Great Park. They remind me of simple truths about the character of God that I don’t hear very often. Worth rereading over and over again.

I am not particularly fond of fantasy or allegory tales but realize that they have an important place in literature and many enjoy reading the genres. In Tales of the Kingdom you have a story told allegorically; and it is a mixture of fantasy, present time, and historical characters and behaviors.
It deals with orphaned children, an orphanage, a park (a land of wonderful living), dragons, and destroying fires as well as a good king and evil enchanter. So for my mind that prefers stories more real ...more
It deals with orphaned children, an orphanage, a park (a land of wonderful living), dragons, and destroying fires as well as a good king and evil enchanter. So for my mind that prefers stories more real ...more

I stopped short of reading the last couple of stories in this book. It was recommended to me by a co-worker who really enjoyed the series when she was younger. It's a book of tales about Scarboy, later called Hero, who escapes from the Enchanted City into the woods outside, a place called Great Park ruled by the King. There he meets various friends of the King like Mercie, Princess Amanda, and the blue-clothed Rangers.
Although I liked a few of the stories, such as the one about the juggler who w ...more
Although I liked a few of the stories, such as the one about the juggler who w ...more

I absolutely love these books. I have all three and they are signed by the author. My kids have really enjoyed the stories and I have enjoyed discussing the meaning behind the stories with them. Some of the meaning will go over younger children's heads but there are enough beautiful colored pictures to keep their attention. The story lines depict so many areas of our own walk with God and it's encouraging to watch how the characters develop and change. They are set up in short story form but eac
...more

This trilogy is a delightful allegory written for children that teaches Biblical truths in wonderfully creative ways through the art of storytelling. The Mains' use of imagination is incredible and your children will not be disappointed. There are many lessons within each story - that will delight children of all ages.
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This was assigned as a part of our homeschool curriculum - with mixed reviews from other readers. It took a few chapters to get into it, but the second half of the book was Fabulous allegory. I was totally not expecting my tears at the end. We are SO LOVED by The King!

This was may favorite book as a kid... It's still one a like a lot.
...more

Sep 29, 2007
Lana Shaw
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who knows they are a Prince or Princess of a Mighty & Good King
I love this series by David and Karen Mains. The tales in this one captured my heart.

This is a children's book. My children LOVE it and the two others in the set. It is a beautiful parable about being a warrior for Christ.
...more

Tale of the Kingdom, by David and Karen Mains and illustrated by Zhivko Zhelev, is the 30th anniversary edition of the story. It is book 1 in The Kingdom Tales Trilogy. This is a wonderful chapter book for elementary age children that follows Scarface and his brother after the death of their mother and escape from Enchanted City. They go to the forest and enter Great Park where they become members of the community, meet a lot of interesting people and learn valuable lessons.
This is a wonderful ...more
This is a wonderful ...more

Title: Tales of the Kingdom
Author David R. Mains
Awards: Golden Medalion Award
Summary:
The Tales of the Kingdom is a story told in vignettes in which a pertinent moral is disclosed to the reader. The story revolves around two brothers who escape from an Enchanted City after the death of their mother and must find the courage to find a King worth serving. A wonderfully powerful and creative story.
Review Application:
This story series would be appropriate for 3rd-grade students and up. I would sugge ...more
Author David R. Mains
Awards: Golden Medalion Award
Summary:
The Tales of the Kingdom is a story told in vignettes in which a pertinent moral is disclosed to the reader. The story revolves around two brothers who escape from an Enchanted City after the death of their mother and must find the courage to find a King worth serving. A wonderfully powerful and creative story.
Review Application:
This story series would be appropriate for 3rd-grade students and up. I would sugge ...more

I’ve always been one for medieval adventures. I’m just fascinated by tales of knights and dragons and maidens in need of rescue, or in some cases, doing the rescuing. At first, I didn’t see how the different chapters connected minus a few nods to other characters, but as I read on, the tales told in the pages of this book began to connect more and more. Caretaker, in particular, interested me, as he made me think of the scene with Gandalf and the talking trees in the second film in the Lord of t
...more

Scarboy and his brother, Little Child escape from Enchanted City after their mother has passed. They run away to seek safety in Great Park because orphans are enslaved in Enchanted City. Together with his brother, they must gather their courage to conquer their fears to locate the King their mother talked about.
The book is a series of inspiring stories for kids that teach them values such as good and evil, virtues and values, along with the importance of trusting God. To be completely fair, I am ...more
The book is a series of inspiring stories for kids that teach them values such as good and evil, virtues and values, along with the importance of trusting God. To be completely fair, I am ...more

My mom read this to us as a child. I remembered enjoying it. 35 years later I am reading it to my own kids.
It is a peculiar book... not particularly pleasant but full of Biblical allegory. My kids, age 11, 8, and 7 all understood much of the allegory despite being couched in difficult vocabulary and odd imagery. It is the story of a boy’s journey to die to his old self and trust the true King. We see characters who become lovely through the fellowship with the King. Sin is ugly and disturbing, ...more
It is a peculiar book... not particularly pleasant but full of Biblical allegory. My kids, age 11, 8, and 7 all understood much of the allegory despite being couched in difficult vocabulary and odd imagery. It is the story of a boy’s journey to die to his old self and trust the true King. We see characters who become lovely through the fellowship with the King. Sin is ugly and disturbing, ...more

SERIES REVIEW:
A really unique, lovely allegorical fantasy. Everyone who likes Narnia should read this; I don't know why it's not more popular. I could say more but I'll let the work speak for itself ;)
Recommended for readers of all ages. There is some mature-ish content, but if you purchase the My Father's World version (all three books, spiral bound), there are notes before intense chapters suggesting that parents preview them first.
Once upon a time, there was a King who walked astride his wo ...more
A really unique, lovely allegorical fantasy. Everyone who likes Narnia should read this; I don't know why it's not more popular. I could say more but I'll let the work speak for itself ;)
Recommended for readers of all ages. There is some mature-ish content, but if you purchase the My Father's World version (all three books, spiral bound), there are notes before intense chapters suggesting that parents preview them first.
Once upon a time, there was a King who walked astride his wo ...more

I decided to re-read this children's Christian allegory that I remember as a kid. The scenario is a boy escape's from the Enchanted City (ruled by the Enchanter) and finds himself in Great Park where the people of the Kingdom serve the King, who will one day restore order to the city. The boy learns a series of lessons about accepting yourself. There are also a number of side stories. Overall, this was entertaining but I don't know if I'll pursue the second and third books in the trilogy.
...more

Love, love, love this allegorical children's story. However, my husband and I are enjoying them, since my son is only 7 months. Inspiration, encouragement, and challenge lie inside as well as great reminders of who we are, who we serve, and how things are going in the world. Not expensive on Kindle...definitely recommend!!!
...more

I really did enjoy this book. Its world is immersive, but not so immersive that you can't pull yourself out of it. The story is interesting, but it's less important that you read the book from start to finish as each chapter is more of a short story, in the same world. No chapter really continues another. I would recommend this book, especially for younger children.
...more

I read this book aloud to my children (11, 9, and 4) and it was spellbinding for us all. The allegorical tales were poignant and beautiful, with the chapter entitled “Princess Amanda and the Dragon” being particularly powerful. We will be reading this again and again for years to come.
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David R. Mains has been dedicating himself for spiritual growth development programs that disturb ordinary presumptions. During the year 1967 he built an experimental church in a Teamster’s Union Hall in West Chicago. Some church-planting specialists proclaimed that it can't be done but then with a few supporters, the church has grown from only 27 until 500 for ten years.
Mains' system is advanced ...more
Mains' system is advanced ...more
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Tales of the Kingdom
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