The Legend of King Arthur-A-Tops

Truly this contains some knights to remember.

A breezy spin on the classic tale, not at all weighed down by either its broad message or the generally anthropomorphic dinosaurs in medieval dress and armor capering across Joyner’s misty cartoon landscapes.

K-Gr 2--In typical fairytale tradition, this story begins "Once Upon a Time" in Camelot; the only difference is a hundred million years or so. It features softly colored cartooned dinosaurs dressed in the garb of the Middle Ages. As knight-o-saurs attempt to pull the dinosaur horn from a magical stone in order to receive the kingdom's crown, a cast of anthropomorphic creatures with names ending in -dactyl, -saur, -atops, or -raptor fill the cast of a tale that follows the growth of a leader and the development of his self-image. His successful show of strength prompts an outdoor feast as "Merlin-a-dactyl crowned Arthur-a-tops...the one true king." Lest the reader forget what precipitated the historical end of the dinosaurs, there's a final opportunity to predict an ending as a meteor breaks through hazy skies during a celebratory picnic. VERDICT With a rowdy cast of characters, this offering offers light humor and encouragement for those who feel imperfect or insecure. A suggested additional or supplemental purchase for younger readers.--Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

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