There's a lot going on in the castle of King Bolebor--a peace- loving gardener--and Queen Drogomira--a brilliant inventor. There's a princess learning sword fighting so that she can become a knight; a sweet dog in search of an owner; a dragon hiding in the cellar; a gold-counting treasurer; a friendly ghost; an annoying jester, a burly blacksmith--and many others.
Vibrant and intricately detailed spreads take readers through a year in the castle, showing how an innocent mishap leads to war with the neighbors; how lives in the castle change from month to month; and how each season brings its own surprises.
Gently humorous and filled with opportunities to play I Spy, this delightful picture book also provides ample opportunities to talk about all sorts of topics from history and gender stereotypes to gnomes, ghosts and chess-playing frogs.

A poor girl in medieval England gains a name, a purpose, and a future in this delightful* and beloved Newbery Medal-winning book. Now with a new cover!

* A truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature. --School Library Journal*, starred review

* A fascinating view of a far distant time. --Horn Book, starred review

* Gripping. --Kirkus, starred review

A girl known only as Brat has no family, no home, and no future until she meets Jane the Midwife and becomes her apprentice. As she helps the short-tempered Jane deliver babies, Brat--who renames herself Alyce--gains knowledge, confidence, and the courage to want something in life for the first time. Introduction by Lois Lowry.

In the mid 500s AD, Irish monks came to Gaul to help restore Christianity in the aftermath of barbarian invasions which had laid waste the Church. Fingal's master at the Abbey in Ireland, Brother Columban had been chosen to go and Fingal secretly follows him. He endures years of hardship as he travels all over Gaul searching for his beloved Columbanus. And yet as he travels and tells others of the wondrous Columbanus and his teaching of God, many are converted and come to serve God with Columbanus. Finally, Fingal realizes how he himself must serve God, and recognizes how God has used his hardship and questing to bring many into His sheepfold. One of Polland's finest stories, weaving adventure and poignancy into a tale of a quest for God's will.

A Newbery Honor Book * Booklist Editors' Choice * BookPage Best Books * Chicago Public Library Best Fiction * Horn Book Fanfare * Kirkus Reviews Best Books * Publishers Weekly Best Books * Wall Street Journal Best of the Year * An ALA Notable Book

A young outcast is swept up into a thrilling and perilous medieval treasure hunt in this award-winning literary page-turner by acclaimed bestselling author Catherine Gilbert Murdock. The Book of Boy was awarded a Newbery Honor. A treat from start to finish.--Wall Street Journal

Boy has always been relegated to the outskirts of his small village. With a hump on his back, a mysterious past, and a tendency to talk to animals, he is often mocked by others in his town--until the arrival of a shadowy pilgrim named Secondus. Impressed with Boy's climbing and jumping abilities, Secondus engages Boy as his servant, pulling him into an action-packed and suspenseful expedition across Europe to gather seven precious relics of Saint Peter.

Boy quickly realizes this journey is not an innocent one. They are stealing the relics and accumulating dangerous enemies in the process. But Boy is determined to see this pilgrimage through until the end--for what if St. Peter has the power to make him the same as the other boys?

This epic and engrossing quest story by Newbery Honor author Catherine Gilbert Murdock is for fans of Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale and Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, and for readers of all ages. Features a map and black-and-white art by Ian Schoenherr throughout.

Good and evil clash. Leinad and Cedric are determined to not only survive, but claim hope and victory In Kingdom's Dawn, Leinad and Tess, along with all the king's people, must escape slavery by the powerful Lord Fairos. Kingdom's Hope finds them free and arriving in the Chessington Valley. But when they forget the king, will Kergon and the Kessons capture them for good? After many years, Kingdom's Edge finds Cedric living a hopeless life until a stranger appears with powerful words of a new kingdom and a grand army. Finally, Kingdom's Reign marches you through the danger of earth's last days as the evil dark knight threatens to defeat the prince once and for all. Swords, knights, and battles define these captivating tales that parallel biblical events from Genesis to Revelation

He's just a young man, but that doesn't change the truth.

He was chosen...

Sixteen-year-old Leinad thought he was a common farmer's son, nothing more. He wondered why his father had trained him for years to master the sword--not exactly a tool of the trade for farmers--but one tragic event initiates a world of revelation.

Only then does he begin to understand his calling--a calling no other man in the entire kingdom of Arrethtrae can fulfill--a calling given him by the King himself.

Teamed with a young slave girl, Leinad is thrust into adversity and danger--for the Dark Knight and his vicious Shadow Warriors will stop at nothing to thwart the King's plan to restore the kingdom. Leinad will need more than a sharp blade and a swift hand to fulfill his mission and survive the evil plots of the King's sworn enemies

Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil--and the future of a kingdom lies in the hands of a young man.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDED

Story Behind the Book

When my six kids' eyes glossed over during a reading from the Bible, I paused to explain the significance of redemption to a sin-sick soul. I was rewarded with patronizing elephant nods and more blank stares. Shortly thereafter, I awoke in the middle of the night with a medieval story enveloping my mind. I wrote it down and later read it to my children. Their waning attention transformed into complete anticipation. I was amazed and disappointed. Why did it take a fictional story, not a Bible passage, to get that response? Then I realized--that is how Jesus taught Parables are powerful I penned the Kingdom series to help young people get excited about the supremely significant story of Jesus Christ and His mission to save mankind.

-- Chuck Black

Read the book behind Lena Dunham's acclaimed new movie! This historical fiction classic, told in the form of a diary, has drawn in generations of readers and is a Newbery Honor Book.

Catherine feels trapped. Her father is determined to marry her off to a rich man--any rich man, no matter how awful.

But by wit, trickery, and luck, Catherine manages to send several would-be husbands packing. Then a shaggy-bearded suitor from the north comes to call--by far the oldest, ugliest, most revolting suitor of them all. Unfortunately, he is also the richest.

Can a sharp-tongued, high-spirited, clever young maiden with a mind of her own actually lose the battle against an ill-mannered, piglike lord and an unimaginative, greedy toad of a father? Deus! Not if Catherine has anything to say about it!

Catherine, a spirited and inquisitive young woman, narrates in diary form the story of her fourteenth year--the year 1290.

In an appreciation in the New York Times, illustrator Vera Brosgol spoke for many fans of this beloved book: I fell hard for Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy the second I opened it. More than any other heroine I'd read, this one sounded like me. For Catherine, and for me, there is no easy solution to the cages life makes for you. Sometimes the power is in deciding to be yourself in whatever cage you're in.

Then a peasant disrupts the tranquility of Chessington, brazenly challenging the Code while claiming to be the son of the King-a Prince. When it is learned that he is actively training a force of men in defiance of the law, the stranger is arrested and executed.

But his Followers continue to defy the Code, and Sir Gavin swears to destroy this threat to Chessington-until he himself is grievously wounded in battle. As he faces his own death, Gavin is saved by someone who will transform his heart and change his life...

Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil-and one brave man stands against the Dark Knight.

Good and evil clash. Leinad and Cedric are determined to not only survive, but claim hope and victory In Kingdom's Dawn, Leinad and Tess, along with all the king's people, must escape slavery by the powerful Lord Fairos. Kingdom's Hope finds them free and arriving in the Chessington Valley . But when they forget the king, will Kergon and the Kessons capture them for good? After many years, Kingdom's Edge finds Cedric living a hopeless life until a stranger appears with powerful words of a new kingdom and a grand army. Finally, Kingdom's Reign marches you through the danger of earth's last days as the evil dark knight threatens to defeat the prince once and for all. Swords, knights, and battles define these captivating tales that parallel biblical events from Genesis to Revelation

He was doomed to a life of hopelessness and despair.

Then the stranger arrived...

For Cedric of Chessington, every day is the same: full of poverty and despair. And he knows that will never change.

Or so he thinks.

Then a stranger comes to the city. Drawn to the man's mysterious ways, Cedric discovers the stranger's humility belies great strength and wisdom. That's when an astounding truth becomes clear--the stranger is a Master of the Sword, and He is there to train Cedric.

Suddenly propelled into a desperate battle against evil, Cedric must rely on the Master's training if he is going to survive. But the ultimate battle is yet to come, for the Dark Knight is at work, implementing his plan to take over the kingdom. Will Cedric be ready to stand in the face of pure evil?

Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil; and where hope and compassion are as powerful weapons as the sword.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDED

Story Behind the Book

When my six kids' eyes glossed over during a reading from the Bible, I paused to explain the significance of redemption to a sin-sick soul. I was rewarded with patronizing elephant nods and more blank stares. Shortly thereafter, I awoke in the middle of the night with a medieval story enveloping my mind. I wrote it down and later read it to my children. Their waning attention transformed into complete anticipation. I was amazed and disappointed. Why did it take a fictional story, not a Bible passage, to get that response? Then I realized--that is how Jesus taught Parables are powerful I penned the Kingdom series to help young people get excited about the supremely significant story of Jesus Christ and His mission to save mankind.

-- Chuck Black

Good and evil clash. Leinad and Cedric are determined to not only survive, but claim hope and victory In Kingdom's Dawn, Leinad and Tess, along with all the king's people, must escape slavery by the powerful Lord Fairos. Kingdom's Hope finds them free and arriving in the Chessington Valley . But when they forget the king, will Kergon and the Kessons capture them for good? After many years, Kingdom's Edge finds Cedric living a hopeless life until a stranger appears with powerful words of a new kingdom and a grand army. Finally, Kingdom's Reign marches you through the danger of earth's last days as the evil dark knight threatens to defeat the prince once and for all. Swords, knights, and battles define these captivating tales that parallel biblical events from Genesis to Revelation

Fierce castle lords hold the kingdom hostage.

But a champion is coming...

Fairos thought he had sentenced Leinad to death in the Banteen desert. But he was wrong. Leinad survived. Now, trained by the King himself, Leinad returns--a true Knight of the King. His skill with the sword is unmatched this side of the Great Sea; his resolve is unshakeable. He is determined to fulfill the mission given him by the King and to free the people from their bondage to Lord Fairos.

Leinad's quest takes him from the chains of slavery, near the jaws of dragons, and close to the arms of love. And when the rest of the kingdom turns away from the King and the Code, Leinad turns to his most faithful ally, Tess. With her help, Leinad struggles to conquer his own doubt. But he must do so soon, for the King's archenemy, the Dark Knight, is about to unleash his entire evil force, and only Leinad can stop them...

Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil; where the future of the kingdom is at the threshold of either victory or defeat--and one man holds the key.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDED

Story Behind the Book

When my six kids' eyes glossed over during a reading from the Bible, I paused to explain the significance of redemption to a sin-sick soul. I was rewarded with patronizing elephant nods and more blank stares. Shortly thereafter, I awoke in the middle of the night with a medieval story enveloping my mind. I wrote it down and later read it to my children. Their waning attention transformed into complete anticipation. I was amazed and disappointed. Why did it take a fictional story, not a Bible passage, to get that response? Then I realized--that is how Jesus taught Parables are powerful I penned the Kingdom series to help young people get excited about the supremely significant story of Jesus Christ and His mission to save mankind.
--Chuck Black

When Bizzy Bear arrives at the castle, he is given a helmet to try on and a sword to practice with -- and even his own horse In no time at all, Bizzy is ready for some real jousting. A lavish, medieval banquet is the perfect end to a very busy day.

Fished from the river as an infant and raised by a band of street urchins who call themselves the Crowns, eight-year-old Duck keeps her head down. It's a rollicking life, thieving and on the run--until the Crowns infiltrate an abandoned cathedral in the city of Odierne and decide to settle down. It's part of the bold new plan hatched by the Crowns' fearless leader, Gnat: one of their own will pose as an apprentice to the local baker, relieving Master Griselde of bread and coin to fill the bellies and line the pockets of all the Crowns. But no sooner is she apprenticed to the kindly Griselde than Duck's allegiances start to blur. Who is she really--a Crown or an apprentice baker? And who does she want to be? Meanwhile, high above the streets of Odierne, on the roof of the unfinished cathedral, an old and ugly gargoyle grows weary of waiting to fulfill his own destiny--to watch and protect. Told in alternating viewpoints, this exquisite novel evokes a timeless tale of love, self-discovery, and what it means to be rescued.

Maidens, monks, and millers' sons -- in these pages, readers will meet them all. There's Hugo, the lord's nephew, forced to prove his manhood by hunting a wild boar; sharp-tongued Nelly, who supports her family by selling live eels; and the peasant's daughter, Mogg, who gets a clever lesson in how to save a cow from a greedy landlord. There's also mud-slinging Barbary (and her noble victim); Jack, the compassionate half-wit; Alice, the singing shepherdess; and many more. With a deep appreciation for the period and a grand affection for both characters and audience, Laura Amy Schlitz creates twenty-two riveting portraits and linguistic gems equally suited to silent reading or performance. Illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings by Robert Byrd -- inspired by the Munich-Nuremberg manuscript, an illuminated poem from thirteenth-century Germany -- this witty, historically accurate, and utterly human collection forms an exquisite bridge to the people and places of medieval England.

Twelve short stories of the important events in Medieval history told through the eyes of young people who lived in those times:

The End and the Beginning (About 400 A.D.)

The boy, Gains, is awakened in the middle of the night when his village in Roman Britain is attacked by Northern pirates.

A Blackbird Sings (About 800 A.D)

The monastery where the peasant boy Remy is going to school receives a visit from the Emperor Charlemagne.

The People Remembered (About 870 A.D.)

Just after the Danish invasion of Britain has been stopped by King Alfred, Cedric, a young Saxon, meets the brave king.

Hail, Normansland! (About 900 A.D.)

Astrid, in Norway, awaits the return of her father who, with other Vikings, has been attacking the northern coast of France.

The Conqueror (About 1075 A.D.)

Edith, a Saxon girl, and Alix, a Norman girl, become friends when they are both attending a convent school in Normandy in the time of William the Conqueror.

The Great Journey (1095-1099 A.D.)

Denis, a young squire, accompanies his master on the First Crusade and is rewarded for his part in the taking of Jerusalem.

Twelve Bright Trumpets (About 1150 A.D.)

At the death of her mother and father, Rohais is left alone to protect the castle until her brother returns from the Crusades.

Echo Over Runnymede (1215 A.D.)

Geoffrey, page to an earl who objects to King John's tyranny, is present at the signing of the Magna Carta.

Town Air is Free Air (13th Century A.D.)

Jacques, a young serf, runs away from the feudal manorvillage to escape the terrible anger of the baron's game warden.

Marco and the Marble Hand (14th Century A.D.)

Caught by the reawakened enthusiasm for art in Florence, Marco, an Italian peasant boy, finds something to show the artist, Master Antonio.

A Noble Magic (14th Century A.D.)

Karl, a copyist's apprentice who is tired of copying books by hand, finds at the establishment of Master Gutenberg a noble magic.

Queen of the Sea (About 1500 A.D)

Camilla, at home in Venice while her brother is on a voyage with Vasco da Gama, almost misses the great water festival.

Siblings Devin and Briana O'Toole are facing the biggest adventure of their lives. In exchange for Bree's freedom, they have agreed to make a voyage on the new Viking ship Conquest. With explorer Leif Erikson they travel from Norway to Iceland, then to Greenland and beyond, encountering the dangers of the northern waters and an unknown enemy within the ship's crew. Will the hardships be worth it in the end, or will Bree remain a slave?

Mikkel, the young captain of the Conquest, is full of ambition. More than anything, he has always wanted wealth and fame. But he will need courage to lead his men on such a perilous journey--and to regain his lost honor. He doesn't even want to think about letting Bree go free.

Only God can give Mikkel, Bree, and Devin a heart of courage for the challenges that lie ahead.

Peace and prosperity renew the land, and the Prince rules from the royal city of Chessington. While the heroic Cedric travels as ambassador, he sees that every corner of Arrethtrae reaps the benefits of prosperity brought to the land by the Prince's reign.

But not everyone will swear allegiance to the King, and it seems this paradise may be lost yet again because of the pride and greed of evil men who plot to free the Dark Knight and his minions. Cedric rides desperately to bring the news before it's too late...

Journey to Arrethtrae, where the King and His Son implement a bold plan to save their kingdom; where courage, faith, and loyalty stand tall in the face of opposition; where good will not bow to evil-where the King reigns...along with His Son

An inspiring story of Richard the Fearless (943-996) who became Duke of Normandy at the age of 8. Relates the perils of his childhood, both at home in Normandy and during his captivity at the court of France, and how at long last he came to embrace the values his father espoused. Suitable for ages 9 and up.

Noble children Thomas and Emily have always known their mother to be sensible, the lady of the castle--if anything, a bit boring. But then they discover Meg, a cranky scribe who lives in the castle basement, leading a quirky group of artists in producing party invitations and other missives for the nobles above. Meg claims that she was a friend of their mother's back when the two were kids--even before the dragon lived in the castle. Wait--a dragon? Not sure they can believe Meg's tales, the kids return again and again to hear the evolving, fantastical story of their mother's escapades (while putting their fussiest penmanship to work) and get caught up in a quest to reunite the onetime friends.

Kidnapping, fighting, a ferocious dragon, loyal elves, and true love . . . coupled with squabbling siblings, archery practice gone amiss, and ill-fated dives into the moat . . . This multilayered story blends adventure and humor, medieval tropes and modern sensibility, in a satisfying read for the whole family.

In the noble and dangerous times of medieval France, the young knight Aubrey de Montdidier, nephew of the Count of Montargis, has been strangely murdered. His friend the brave Sieur DeNarsac, captain of the count's men-at-arms, and Thierry, a young page, must now solve the tragic mystery. Yet it is a magnificent white wolfhound by the name of Dragon -- Montdidier's faithful companion -- who brings an unexpected, shocking conclusion to the puzzle of his master's untimely death.

New York Times best-selling authors Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton weave a tapestry of intrigue, power, loyalty, and friendship in this novel based on the captivating French legend of Montargis.