Knights and Castles
A Mini-Bibliography for Children in Middle Grades
To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!
Cassette Books
Arthur, High King of Britain by Michael Murpurgo.
RC 43414.
The epic legend of King Arthur is presented within the tale of a twentieth-century boy who is rescued from drowning and brought to a sea cave by Arthur Pendragon. Arthur tells the boy stories of his own rise to the throne, of the Knights of the Round Table, and of triumph and tragedy in the kingdom of Camelot. For grades 5-8.
The Ballad of Sir Dinadan by Gerald Morris.
RC 57431.
Though he would rather pursue his talent as a musician, eighteen-year-old Dinadan is forced to follow his older brother Tristram's path and become a knight. Set in the time of King Arthur. For grades 6-9.
The Battle for the Castle by Elizabeth Winthrop.
RC 39157.
In this sequel to The Castle in the Attic, William receives a magic token for his birthday, along with a note reminding him that his new age, twelve, is right for becoming a squire. The token is from Mrs. Phillips, and William and his friend Jason once again use it to return, through William's toy castle, to the medieval land of Sir Simon, a country menaced by a skeleton ship bearing a plague of evil. For grades 4-7.
The Boy's King Arthur: Sir Thomas Mallory's History of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Sir Thomas Mallory.
RC 50563.
Contains tales of chivalry, combat, honor, tournaments, the Holy Grail, and the death of King Arthur. Featuring Arthur, Launcelot, Tristram, Gareth, Galahad, Percival, and the other legendary members of the Round Table. For grades 5-8.
The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop.
RC 24452.
William is sad when Mrs. Phillips, the housekeeper, leaves. She entrusts him with a special gift of a miniature castle complete with drawbridge and a silver knight. William soon discovers that the castle is enchanted and contains a magical land of wizards and dragons. For grades 4-6.
The Castle of Ladies by Constance B. Hieatt.
RC 7889.
Gallant Sir Gawain vows to help the proud and haughty Lady Maudisante, who takes him for a greasy kitchen hand. For grades 5-8.
The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit.
RC 11778.
Tale of strange enchantment and of adventures which befall three children through the power of a wishing ring. For grades 4-7.
The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell.
RC 57268.
Makenna, a young hedgewitch, organizes an army of clever goblins to fight against the ruling human hierarchy, who are trying to rid the land of all magical creatures. Tobin, an idealistic knight, is sent to entrap her. For grades 6-9.
Just Call Me Stupid by Tom Birdseye.
RC 40366.
Fifth-grader Patrick Lowe's special-reading teacher seems mad at him, and mean Andy calls him stupid, just as Patrick's father did before he moved away. When new classmate Celina moves in next door, she begins reading Patrick The Sword in the Stone and plays chess with him. Patrick tells her a story he made up about a white knight, and Celina is so impressed she secretly enters it in a writing contest. For grades 3-6.
The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur by Margaret Hodges.
RC 34193.
Retells the tale of Sir Gareth, one of the most adventurous stories about King Arthur and his court. Sir Gareth is knighted by Sir Lancelot and embarks on a daring rescue of the lady in the tower—imprisoned by the fearsome Red Knight of the Red Plain. For grades 4-7.
Knight’s Castle by Edward Eager.
RC 10134.
A battered, old lead soldier takes Roger, Roger's sister, and their cousins back to the days of Ivanhoe and Robin Hood. Humorous fantasy for grades 4-7.
Knights of the Kitchen Table by Jon Scieszka.
RC 36216.
The Time Warp Trio travels through time with the help of The Book, a gift from Joe's magician uncle. Their adventures are chockfull of tongue-in-cheek humor as they journey back to the Middle Ages to hang out with Sir Lancelot and make Camelot safe from a dragon and a very smelly giant. For grades 3-6 and older readers. For other stories of the Time Warp Trio, contact the library.
Max and Me and the Time Machine by Gery Greer.
RC 21794.
Steve buys a time machine at a yard sale and takes his friend Max to the year 1250, where they land in the middle of a jousting match with an evil knight as their opponent. For grades 5-8.
Men of Iron by Howard Pyle.
RC 23880.
The age of chivalry is depicted in this story of the training of young nobles in the days of England's Henry IV. A young boy proves his manhood when he vanquishes his father's enemy. For grades 6-9.
Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight by Katerine Paterson.
RC 46333.
Parzival's mother tried to raise him without knowledge of King Arthur's court, but one day Parzival meets three knights in the woods. After that, he is determined to become a knight, even though he lacks the right preparation. A retelling of the Arthurian legend based on a thirteenth-century poem by Wolfram von Eschenbach. For grades 5-8.
The Secret of the Underground Room by John Bellairs.
RC 45518.
Father Higgins has moved to a new parish that is haunted by a ghost. When Father Higgins disappears, his good friends Professor Childermass and thirteen-year-old Johnny Dixon follow his trail to England. They find evil knights from ancient times are still exerting their influence, and they must be stopped. For grades 5-8.
Sir Dana: A Knight as Told by His Trusty Armor by Dana Fradon.
RC 30949.
Miss Quincy takes her class to visit the medieval room of the museum. "Imagine what this armor could tell us if it could talk," Miss Quincy muses. A museum guard speaks up and shares the secret of how to get the six-hundred-year-old suit of armor to speak. It then answers the students' questions about knights and the civilization in which they lived. For grades 4-7.
Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady by Selina Hastings.
RC 26382.
Retelling of an Arthurian legend. King Arthur's life is saved by a hideous hag, but in exchange he must give one of his knights to be her husband. For grades 4-7.
Tales of King Arthur by James Riordan.
RC 32172.
A retelling of twelve of the best-known legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Includes "The Coming of King Arthur," "Sir Lancelot of the Lake," "The Quest for the Holy Grail," and "The Death of King Arthur." For grades 4-7 and older readers.
Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Anne Pierce.
RC 54464.
Brown Hannah dwells "at the verge of the Tanglewood," where she converses with animals, prepares draughts for a wizard from the flowers growing in her hair, and heals cottars (peasants) for the asking. Intrigue begins when a young knight asks about a treasure hidden in the heart of the Wood. For grades 6-9.
The World of King Arthur and His Court: People, Places, Legend and Lore by Kevin Crossley-Holland.
RC 50307.
Collection of articles about the mythology of King Arthur, including an account of Geoffrey of Monmouth, who first created the legend. Describes the real lives of knights and their duties, and discusses the Crusades, the Round Table, and heraldry. Also includes tales about Camelot, Sir Lancelot, and Excalibur. For grades 5-8.
Braille Books
Goblins in the Castle by Bruce Coville.
BR 11273.
William has lived in Toad-in-a-Cage Castle since the cold December night he was found on the doorstep. He lives with the Baron; Karl, who tends the Baron's large library; and Hulda, the housekeeper. But there must be someone else in the castle, because William hears strange moans drifting down the hallways. For grades 4-7.
The Knights of the Golden Table by E.M. Almedingen.
BR 1764.
Twelve classic Russian stories from the 10th century tell of Prince Vladimir and his knights who defeat the witch Baba Yaga, outwit many other supernatural enemies, and win a bride for their prince. For grades 5-8.
Max and Me and the Time Machine by Gery Greer.
BR 5796.
Steve buys a time machine at a yard sale and takes his friend Max to the year 1250, where they land in the middle of a jousting match with an evil knight as their opponent. For grades 5-8.
Steel Magic by Andre Morton.
BR 775.
While exploring an abandoned building, three children pass through a doorway and find themselves in the long-ago land of Avalon. An armor-clad knight begs their help in recovering three magic talismans. For grades 5-8.
Large Print Books
The Battle for the Castle by Elizabeth Winthrop.
LP 857.
In this sequel to The Castle in the Attic, William receives a magic token for his birthday, along with a note reminding him that his new age, twelve, is right for becoming a squire. The token is from Mrs. Phillips, and William and his friend Jason once again use it to return, through William's toy castle, to the medieval land of Sir Simon, a country menaced by a skeleton ship bearing a plague of evil. For grades 4-7.
The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop.
LP 50467.
William is sad when Mrs. Phillips, the housekeeper, leaves. She entrusts him with a special gift of a miniature castle complete with drawbridge and a silver knight. William soon discovers that the castle is enchanted and contains a magical land of wizards and dragons. For grades 4-6.
Goblins in the Castle by Bruce Coville.
LP 924.
William has lived in Toad-in-a-Cage Castle since the cold December night he was found on the doorstep. He lives with the Baron; Karl, who tends the Baron's large library; and Hulda, the housekeeper. But there must be someone else in the castle, because William hears strange moans drifting down the hallways. For grades 4-7.