Pages: 32
Themes: Knights, Knighthood, Service, Duty, Honour, Conduct of life, Responsibility, Compassion, Kings, Conflict of Duty, Adventure, Listening to your Heart
Book Description:
This is the tale of a brave knight who was called to serve his King.
"Will you be slaying fire-breathing dragons and saving beautiful maidens?" asks his squire.
"If the King commands me," he replies. "I will not be an errant knight, wandering about seeking adventure."
But as he rides toward the castle, frightened travellers seek the knight's aid and protection. Though he resists, his compassionate nature will not allow him to refuse. He presses on, but his mission is delayed again and again as the knight repeatedly stops to help those in need ... he spends years struggling and hoping to reach the royal castle and fulfill his duty. Has he been faithful and loyal to the King by following his heart, or has he been an errant knight after all?
Superbly illustrated and enhanced with the memorable artwork of Doug Keith, The Errant Knight has a profound message of love, compassion and what it truly means to be of service. It is a powerful picture book for young readers (ages 6 and up), with an ending that is sure to please children (and adults!) everywhere.
(NB: An 'errant knight' is one who roves in quest of adventure, outside his duty to his King.)
(Please see the Reviews and Sample Pages below. They may take a few moments to upload.)
About the Author:
Ann Tompert, author of three dozen books, celebrates her birthday on January 11th. She was born on a small farm outside Detroit, Michigan. She decided to become a writer after reading Little Women. Tompert received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Siena Heights College and did graduate work at Wayne State University. She taught school for twenty years before attempting serious writing. Her book, Saint Patrick, was selected by Booklist as one of the top ten religious books for children in 1998. Besides publishing books, Tompert writes regular columns for Once Upon a Time and the Michigan branch of SCBWI.
Reviews:
"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, 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, who thought he had failed in his duty to his King, 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!" - Ruth Wilson (Huntress Reviews)
"A powerful picture book tale for young readers. 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." - Midwest Book Review
"An Honourable Book. A beautiful and touching book that promotes human dignity and honor, valuable lessons for children and old people, too! I love this book. It is meaningful and engaging." - AMDG (from Amazon)
"What it means to be a knight. I am both a children's librarian and an instructor for a children's program about knights and knighthood. Whenever a young person approaches me about joining the program and becoming a knight, I tell them to first read this book. It is a fine "boy book" as well, especially for those who look to the knights of the past for adventure and inspiration." - Chuck Bell (from Amazon)
'The Errant Knight teaches the message I have learned from my patients - when you live in your heart, magic happens.' - Bernie Siegel, MD, author Love, Medicine & Miracles
'The Errant Knight is a wonderful tale, filled with gallantry and grace, that will travel lightly in your child's soul.' - Hank Wesselman, PhD, author The Journey to the Sacred Garden
