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Arthur and the Sword
In this retelling which features stained glass illustrations, young Arthur proves himself to be the rightful heir to the throne by being the only one able to pull the sword from the steel anvil
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
About the author
Robert Sabuda
143 books161 followersRobert Sabuda is internationally acclaimed for his stunning pop-up books, including America the Beautiful and The 12 Days of Christmas. He is also the illustrator of Chanukah Lights by Michael J. Rosen. Robert Sabuda lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 20, 2018
This is a fine telling of Mallory’s Arthur legend, using Sabuda’s stained glass, especially appropriate for the crucial reveal in a church’s stained glass that the sword in the stone had appeared. There isn’t new ground here, but the telling through stained glass is a nice touch.
May 9, 2022
I like the idea of a stain glass illustrated book about the medieval Arthurian story. Arthur doesn't look like the typical English boy, he looks more like an Irish redhead; even Jesus is redheaded in the stain glass. "Fair" in old literature means beautiful, not light haired. Snow White is the fairest of them all and she has black hair. So to say that he was "a beautiful boy" is weird.
I really did not appreciate this line, "it is not so that I am your father nor Kay your brother. For you are of a far higher blood than us both." I feel that it is not very appropriate for a children's illustrated book. Do you think it's reasonable that parents have to explain to their children what "higher blood" is? Especially when we live in America where we do not have a feudal or cast system and consider everyone equal under God. I wouldn't even explain to my children the term "higher blood" if we were to study the medieval feudal system in Europe. I would have perhaps used noble blood rather than "higher blood". We adults read the original medieval tales with an understanding that they had views we no longer hold.
March 2, 2016
Title: Arthur and the Sword
Author: Robert Sabuda
Illustrator: Robert Sabuda
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Knights, Knighthood, Kings
Opening Line/sentence:
Long ago in the time of great darkness, a time without a king, there lived a fair boy called Arthur.
Brief Book Summary:
One day in church, a parish encounters a magical sword called Excalibur. The sword is stuck in an anvil that is placed on a marble pedestal in the courtyard only to be retrieved by the next king of England. As many knights come to try removing the sword all fail. Ten knights guard the sword at all times to protect the sword and witness those who give it a try. One day when the town decides to host a tournament the guards all go to town to watch the action. A little boy, fair in nature, called Arthur is supposed to help his newly knighted brother prepare for the tournament when he realizes he forgot his brother’s sword. Arthur had previously been experiencing strange whispers drawing him to the sword. He rushes back to the inn only to find it locked and starts to panic. Realizing Excalibur is unguarded, he gives it his best try only to find the sword slide easily out of the anvil. Back at the tournament, Arthur’s father alarmingly questions the boy as to where he got ahold of Excalibur and rushes both Arthur and his brother back to the church. A strange figure approaches, introduces himself as Merlin, and kindly states Arthur’s true past revealing that Arthur is to be the next king of England.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
Noted author/illustrator Sabuda recreates the glory of the legend of Excalibur with startlingly powerful stained glass illustrations. Detailed swirls of liquid color-regal blues and purples, deep greens, a fiery amber-saturate each lead-veined image. As suggested by the unprepossessing title, Sabuda personalizes the epic tale, filtering the events through his eager, naive young hero: ``Long ago in a time of great darkness, a time without a king, there lived a fair boy named Arthur.'' Tinged with drama, the narrative succeeds in conveying both the grandeur of the legend and the personal transformation of a boy-king unaware and unsure of his gift. The final, radiant image of the sword conveys the splendor of the story: ``So in the quiet of that day in the small churchyard, the young boy lofted the mighty sword, raising high the country out of darkness and bring forth a new world.'' A page of notes following the story outlines the history of Arthurian legend, crediting this version to Sir Thomas Malory.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Deborah Zink (Children's Literature)
With the stunning radiance of sunlit stained glass, the pages glow with the legend of the boy Arthur. The story is told simply with lyrical language and just enough authentic vocabulary--steed, tunic, tattered cloak--to heighten the Medieval mood around a classic English churchyard. There, a bejeweled and glorious Excalibur stands waiting for the hand that would be king to hoist it from an anvil of steel. Focused on that single confirmation of Arthur's true destiny, this reverent version of British lore unites historical trappings, resplendent tones and a tale of promise to create an inspired piece of children's literature.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The reviewers both comment on Sabuda’s unique illustrations that accompany the story. I too think that by capturing the essence of the story through stained glass-like pictures it is almost like you are looking at the tale from the church in which it is centered around. I agree with the second review’s comment that this story focuses on one of the most key single event in the life of Arthur that strarts the young king’s adventures. It provides a refreshing break from the more commonly heard Camelot scene of Arthur’s life.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book, overall, is a well-woven story complimented by appropriate illustrations that focus more on the tale than on the pictures. The tone of this legend allows the reader to feel as if he or she is walking beside Arthur as he realizes his true self. The whispering and the guards protecting it make Excalibur tantalizing, almost as if the reader wants to give the sword a try as well. The character development of Arthur from unknown boy to king is a swift one. Although the story does build on Arthur’s decision to try the sword, Merlin abruptly takes him away, and the reader is left wondering what kind of king Arthur will be? The ending of the story hints to the success of King Arthur, but lacks any additional knowledge of the round table or Camelot; the reader will have to find a different book to experience that part of Arthur’s life. As previously stated the stained glass appearance to the illustrations give the story a very classic feel and is very appropriate for the time period in which the story takes place. Similar to how stories are kept through tapestries throughout history, stained glass windows capture the tales as well; however, the beams of sun that shine through these windows give the stories a brighter look. The illustrations in this book capture this look well.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book could be utilized to start a lesson on medieval times. King Arthur is a huge part of that time period and this book has a lot of potential to give a quick background of the period. Also this lesson could continue the young king’s tale by exploring books on knights and the famous round table. Using this tale, a discussion on what virtues the knights lived by and how they presented themselves could also lend well to a lesson about how we treat others. And capturing the history told through stained glass, the class could create individual legends using each child as his or her own main character. The children could express their story by depicting a scene using tissue paper and construction paper, crafting a personalized stained-glass window.
Author: Robert Sabuda
Illustrator: Robert Sabuda
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Knights, Knighthood, Kings
Opening Line/sentence:
Long ago in the time of great darkness, a time without a king, there lived a fair boy called Arthur.
Brief Book Summary:
One day in church, a parish encounters a magical sword called Excalibur. The sword is stuck in an anvil that is placed on a marble pedestal in the courtyard only to be retrieved by the next king of England. As many knights come to try removing the sword all fail. Ten knights guard the sword at all times to protect the sword and witness those who give it a try. One day when the town decides to host a tournament the guards all go to town to watch the action. A little boy, fair in nature, called Arthur is supposed to help his newly knighted brother prepare for the tournament when he realizes he forgot his brother’s sword. Arthur had previously been experiencing strange whispers drawing him to the sword. He rushes back to the inn only to find it locked and starts to panic. Realizing Excalibur is unguarded, he gives it his best try only to find the sword slide easily out of the anvil. Back at the tournament, Arthur’s father alarmingly questions the boy as to where he got ahold of Excalibur and rushes both Arthur and his brother back to the church. A strange figure approaches, introduces himself as Merlin, and kindly states Arthur’s true past revealing that Arthur is to be the next king of England.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
Noted author/illustrator Sabuda recreates the glory of the legend of Excalibur with startlingly powerful stained glass illustrations. Detailed swirls of liquid color-regal blues and purples, deep greens, a fiery amber-saturate each lead-veined image. As suggested by the unprepossessing title, Sabuda personalizes the epic tale, filtering the events through his eager, naive young hero: ``Long ago in a time of great darkness, a time without a king, there lived a fair boy named Arthur.'' Tinged with drama, the narrative succeeds in conveying both the grandeur of the legend and the personal transformation of a boy-king unaware and unsure of his gift. The final, radiant image of the sword conveys the splendor of the story: ``So in the quiet of that day in the small churchyard, the young boy lofted the mighty sword, raising high the country out of darkness and bring forth a new world.'' A page of notes following the story outlines the history of Arthurian legend, crediting this version to Sir Thomas Malory.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Deborah Zink (Children's Literature)
With the stunning radiance of sunlit stained glass, the pages glow with the legend of the boy Arthur. The story is told simply with lyrical language and just enough authentic vocabulary--steed, tunic, tattered cloak--to heighten the Medieval mood around a classic English churchyard. There, a bejeweled and glorious Excalibur stands waiting for the hand that would be king to hoist it from an anvil of steel. Focused on that single confirmation of Arthur's true destiny, this reverent version of British lore unites historical trappings, resplendent tones and a tale of promise to create an inspired piece of children's literature.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
The reviewers both comment on Sabuda’s unique illustrations that accompany the story. I too think that by capturing the essence of the story through stained glass-like pictures it is almost like you are looking at the tale from the church in which it is centered around. I agree with the second review’s comment that this story focuses on one of the most key single event in the life of Arthur that strarts the young king’s adventures. It provides a refreshing break from the more commonly heard Camelot scene of Arthur’s life.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book, overall, is a well-woven story complimented by appropriate illustrations that focus more on the tale than on the pictures. The tone of this legend allows the reader to feel as if he or she is walking beside Arthur as he realizes his true self. The whispering and the guards protecting it make Excalibur tantalizing, almost as if the reader wants to give the sword a try as well. The character development of Arthur from unknown boy to king is a swift one. Although the story does build on Arthur’s decision to try the sword, Merlin abruptly takes him away, and the reader is left wondering what kind of king Arthur will be? The ending of the story hints to the success of King Arthur, but lacks any additional knowledge of the round table or Camelot; the reader will have to find a different book to experience that part of Arthur’s life. As previously stated the stained glass appearance to the illustrations give the story a very classic feel and is very appropriate for the time period in which the story takes place. Similar to how stories are kept through tapestries throughout history, stained glass windows capture the tales as well; however, the beams of sun that shine through these windows give the stories a brighter look. The illustrations in this book capture this look well.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book could be utilized to start a lesson on medieval times. King Arthur is a huge part of that time period and this book has a lot of potential to give a quick background of the period. Also this lesson could continue the young king’s tale by exploring books on knights and the famous round table. Using this tale, a discussion on what virtues the knights lived by and how they presented themselves could also lend well to a lesson about how we treat others. And capturing the history told through stained glass, the class could create individual legends using each child as his or her own main character. The children could express their story by depicting a scene using tissue paper and construction paper, crafting a personalized stained-glass window.
March 25, 2025
Writing: 3/5
Art: 2/5
Family friendly values: strong family relationships, worthiness
Overview: This is a re-telling of the famous Arthurian legend, but I still found the language to be a bit too elevated for my 3.5 year old. This book would be more suitable for kids who are a little older. I also found the illustrations, while fitting for the time period the book is set in, to be a bit too general. I feel a legend this big needed the art to help illustrate what was going on, but the blocky stained glass (apparently, it's plexiglass) created pictures that were too general.
Art: 2/5
Family friendly values: strong family relationships, worthiness
Overview: This is a re-telling of the famous Arthurian legend, but I still found the language to be a bit too elevated for my 3.5 year old. This book would be more suitable for kids who are a little older. I also found the illustrations, while fitting for the time period the book is set in, to be a bit too general. I feel a legend this big needed the art to help illustrate what was going on, but the blocky stained glass (apparently, it's plexiglass) created pictures that were too general.
December 31, 2020
The artwork is beautiful and colorful. I interpreted this retelling as one that tells us that we may not know the true potential of a human being but we shouldn't count them out just because they don't fit the mold of what we think a hero should look like. Arthur may have been born of royal blood but what we need to focus on is his character. It's the heart of the person that matters.
May 12, 2023
Nothing new to see story-wise, but the stained glass imagery is interesting.
September 3, 2012
The book Arthur and the Sword is a really great folktale. The reading is slightly advanced for a younger child but if it was read to them it would be perfect. Also, bigger vocabulary in a book helps children become curious and ask for definitions. The illustrations in the book were unique. Every illustration was made to look like stained glass which I really enjoyed and I think children would too. Great book overall.
December 14, 2014
Not the best retelling I've ever encountered of Mallory's version of the Sword in the Stone story -- it felt a little flat -- but fine enough and with very attractive illustrations in the style of stained glass.
June 25, 2008
the images (all stained glass) are gorgeous. I'm not a fan of telling kids that there are people who are above others and should be "worshiped" because of their noble birth...
July 1, 2008
One of Robert Sabuda's gorgeously rendered "flat art" books. He never seems to use the same technique twice, so check out others like The Blizzard's Robe, Tutakhamen's Gift, and Saint Valentine.
October 21, 2012
I got this book for free with my pop-up Christmas cards I ordered for the upcoming season. Oh yeah!
May 12, 2014
A faithful retelling of the Arthur legend with illustrations in a stained glass motif.
June 17, 2016
The legend of Arthur, king of kings, and his conquering of Excalibur is presented in beautiful words and bold pictures.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews