MERLIN AND THE MAKING OF THE KING

The creators of the Caldecott Medal–winning Saint George and the Dragon gracefully present three Arthurian legends, adapted from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur . Presented in an elegantly designed volume that recalls illuminated manuscripts, the retellings benefit from Hyman's India ink–and-acrylic compositions, framed by elegant gold-leaf borders (which also encompass the text), and floral decorations that vary with each story. (A concluding artist's note credits their inspiration as the 16th-century Italian Farnese Hours and the 14th-century English Luttrell Psalter.) Hodges crystallizes the main events into fluid prose. In the first and strongest of the three chronicles ("The Sword in the Stone"), she tells of how young Arthur fulfills Merlin's prophecy ("Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England") and how he comes to possess Excalibur. In the subsequent tales ("Excalibur" and "The Lady of the Lake"), the author introduces characters fast and furiously, but Hyman's full-page and panel illustrations help to clarify the events. A coy portrait of Guinevere, for instance, substantiates Merlin's claim that "this lady will bring you grief" and facing blood-red panels lay out the battle scene as Mordred and Arthur race toward each other from across the gutter, "a hundred thousand knights lying dead around [them]." The holly vines that frame this last episode make subtle reference to the tale's Christian roots. A compelling introduction to the Arthurian legend. All ages. (Sept.)