View source for The Cautionary Tale of the Childe of Hale by Rachel Lyon and Vanina Starkoff

{{infobox2
|title=The Cautionary Tale of the Childe of Hale
|sort=Cautionary Tale of the Childe of Hale
|author=Rachel Lyon and Vanina Starkoff
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A lightly-fictionalised account of the life of John Middleton and a warning that the motives of others should not always be trusted.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=32
|publisher=Maverick
|date=January 2013
|isbn=978-1848860957
|website=
|video=
|aznuk=1848860951
|aznus=1848860951
|cover=1848860951
}}

There was a giant who lived in Hale and if you care to you can visit the cottage and grave of John Middleton who reputedly topped nine feet tall and had to sleep with his feet dangling out of his cottage windows.  Rachel Lyon tells the lightly-fictionalised story of how the Childe - as he was known - was taken up by the king, commanded to move to London and given every luxury.  For a while he didn't regret leaving Hale at all - for once he was dry, slept in a comfortable bed and had clothes which fit him.  He mixed with the royal family and the court - and life seemed good, until the day when the king commanded him to fight.  This was bad enough, but even then the king's motives were not exactly as you might expect.

It's a compelling story, told in rhyme and which sticks broadly to the legend of John Middleton.  It will appeal to older pre-schoolers through to those who are developing their own reading skills.  There's a very neat twist at the end of the story, for the king commanded the Childe to fight but expected him to lose and it neatly illustrates the old adage that if something seems too good to be true then it probably is - and that simple, uncomplicated friendships should not be discarded lightly.  There's nothing preachy about this - it's simply a very good story with an underlying message should you care to take note.

The illustrations are perfectly suited to the story - showing the simplicity of life in Hale and the luxury of life at court.  I read from the paperback edition which is of good quality and will stand repeated readings - which is a good thing as I can imagine children returning to this book.

I'l like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

For another great book from Maverick we think that you might enjoy [[The Jelly That Wouldn't Wobble by Angela Mitchell and Sarah Horne]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1848860951}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=1848860951}}

{{commenthead}}
[[Category:Rachel Lyon]]
[[Category:Vanina Starkoff]]
[[Category:Emerging Readers]]