Retells the first part of "The Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney"--one of the most exciting and entertaining of the stories about King Arthur and his knights--which first appeared in Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur. The noble Gareth vanquishes the dreaded Knight of the Red Plain and wins the hand of a fair maiden in this classic for children.
The creators of the Caldecott Medal book, Saint George and the Dragon, tell the Arthurian tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney's first adventure.

The Knights of the Round Table were in their glory. When an unknown stranger visits the castle and asks Kin Arthur's favor, he is allowed to serve in the kitchen for his meat and bread.

Little does anyone suspect that he is of noble blood and will soon be knighted by the famous Sir Lancelot. Lush illustrations bring the reader into the book, as Sir Gareth meets adventures and battles to free a princess from the fearsome Red Knight of the Plain.

Based on an excerpt from Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur and in consultation with both the famous Caxton and Winchester texts, this enduring story of gallant knights in armor, epic battles, and quests fulfilled has broad appeal for young adventurers.