The Errant Knight

Rating:
Summary: A powerful picture book tale for young readers
Review: The Errant Knight is a profound and deftly written fantasy story by Ann Tompert of a knight loyal in his duty to his king. On the knight's journey to the castle, he encounters frightened travelers seeking aid and protection. The reluctant warrior wants to resist becoming an "errant knight" who serves others outside the king's command, yet his compassion is too strong to deny those who need him the most. Superbly illustrated and enhanced with the memorable artwork of Doug Keith, The Errant Knight is commended as being a powerful picture book tale for young readers of what it truly means to serve and protect.

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite!
Review: The first line of this extraordinary book caught my attention and sent my imagination soaring. "Once long ago, when the year was greening with spring, a brave knight was called to serve his King." Soon after that opening line it was the illustrations that reached out, grabbed me, and pulled me on into this charming story of a knight who only wanted to do the bidding of his King.

When he first received the call to serve his King, the knight immediately set out on his journey to the castle riding his fastest horse. He had a pair of golden spurs the King had sent to him and a firm resolve in his heart to be the best knight ever. If he had been able to continue his original pace and firm resolve, the knight would have been at the King?s castle in a very short time - but that was not to be. There were many people who needed help along the way, and the knight had a compassionate nature. At first he tried to ignore their pleas for help, but soon found that his kind temperament would not allow that. So, since he was concerned about being an errant knight (disobedient, undisciplined), he was conflicted between what he thought was his duty to his King and his sympathy for strangers.

The knight?s many acts of kindness took him away from his original task, and it took years for him to reach the castle. Along the way he had endured many hardships and had given away most of his possessions to the poor. Upon his arrival he fell in a tattered heap near the drawbridge, and the guards laughed at him as he showed them the golden spurs in his trembling hands.

***** The Errant Knight has a message of love and compassion and a wonderful ending that will please children everywhere. As the story closed the knight thought he had failed his duty to his King, but he soon found that in choosing to follow his heart he had served his King best. The beautiful illustrations in this book add wonderful intensity and are so vivid that they seem to stand out in relief. Many times I caught myself involuntarily reaching my hand out to touch them. This is highly recommended reading! *****

Reviewed by Ruth Wilson