From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-Using the same approach he took when creating editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (2000), Peter Pan (2000), and Pinocchio (2001, all Chronicle), Edens has selected more than 100 full-color and black-and-white illustrations from the 12th to the 20th centuries for this presentation. The 23 known artists represented include N. C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Walter Crane. The work of several unknown illustrators of everything from the Bayeux Tapestry, a medieval psalter, and an 18th-century chapbook to comic books, a card game, and shoe advertisements is also included. Accompanied by Vivian's 1906 version of the text, this collection of vintage art is an attractive reminder of the importance of the Robin Hood legend in Western culture. Seeing several artists' interpretations of the same well-known scene, such as Robin Hood and Little John's first encounter at the bridge or the tournament where Robin Hood wins the silver arrow, adds a fascinating dimension to the history of the legend. The absence of captions to identify the illustrations is disappointing. Although information on the art and dates are provided in a section of acknowledgments at the end of the book, the arrangement by artist's name (including 13 entries for "unknown illustrator") rather than by page number makes the task of locating data about a particular image cumbersome and time-consuming. Despite this small difficulty, the volume will be welcomed by children's literature enthusiasts/collectors, Robin Hood scholars, and those children with a passion for what Edens calls "an excitingly vivid legend."-Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. This large-format edition of the familiar story features illustrations from 36 sources. The text, evidently based on a 1906 edition, provides a solid narrative of the adventures of Robin Hood, from his beginning as Robin of Locksley through his days in Sherwood Forest to his death. In choosing the illustrations, Edens drew from a rich abundance of pictures in many artistic traditions, from medieval engravings and tapestries to twentieth-century comic books and classic editions. Among the best-known illustrators represented are Thomas Bewick, Walter Crane, H. J. Ford, Lucy Fitch Perkins, Howard Pyle, Andrew Wyeth, and N. C. Wyeth. Although some children may be bothered by the changes in the characters' looks and dress from one illustration to the next, those who understand that the art was chosen from different sources will find this a Robin Hood treasure trove.
Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
