Sir Morien: The Legend of a Knight of the Round Table

This mythical retelling from Black (Doll Bones) and Smith (Finger and Thumb, for adults), a double authorial picture book debut, has all the jaunty verve of a contemporary Disney animated feature. Crisp, saturated digital art by Glenn (Flying High) portrays Sir Morien as both hunky and heroic. He lives in northern Africa with his princess mother, and the two take up the questing life: “They tamed a dragon in Timbuktu. They surfed with crocodiles on the Nile and vanquished every last vegetable on the dinner table.” Journeying to England to track down his father, Morien’s search comes up short. He finds “Nada. Zip. Zilch” in the way of filial leads, defeats everyone he encounters, misses his mom, and hates the local food. But an initially hostile Welsh countryside meetup with Sir Gawain and Sir Lancelot turns salutatory: recognizing they are equals in battle, they become “a great questing team,” together rescuing both Morien’s dad and King Arthur from a castle prison. The story moves at a gallop and understands readers’ budding sense of irreverence: “NO ONE BEAT ANYONE,” says an exasperated Gawain after yet another squabbling among the pals. “IT WAS A TIE.” Sir Morien and his mother are portrayed with brown skin; the remaining knights are pale-skinned. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)