In this lighthearted update on Arthurian legend, young Morien has a series of humorous adventures as he searches for his father, Sir Aglovale. With his princess mother in North Africa, brown-skinned Morien tames a dragon in Timbuktu, surfs with crocodiles on the Nile, and even vanquishes vegetables at dinner! Curious about his father, Morien travels to England to find him. While the cartoon-style digital illustrations depict a historical setting, the language is more modern. The knights he meets are somewhat silly, ready to fight over anything. Morien easily wins each challenge, but he is homesick and misses his mother. He is about to give up when he meets Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain. Joining their quest to locate King Arthur brings success to Morien, who eventually finds his father and becomes a knight himself. It is in the friendship, and friendly banter, of Lancelot and Gawain that Morien finds his lasting place and happy ending. Pair with other modern quest tales such as 2018's Knights Club, by Shuky, or 2019's Max and the Midknights, by Lincoln Peirce.

Brave Prince Morien sets out to find the father he's never met.Prince Morien lives in Northern Africa with his mother, a princess who accompanies him on adventures: taming dragons, surfing on the backs of crocodiles, and vanquishing dinnertime vegetables. Although he enjoys his life with his mother, he longs to meet his father, Sir Aglovale, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table, who left long ago on a quest and never returned. So Prince Morien travels to England in search of his father. Sadly, no one has news of Sir Aglovale, and the other knights he encounters are interested only in fighting-until he meets Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain. After a rough start, the three soon become good friends and an unstoppable team who eventually put things right. An authors' note explains that this book is an adaptation of a 13th-century Arthurian tale. Digitally created illustrations employ a muted palette that effectively brings to life this medieval-set story. The use of panels and speech bubbles gives the work a graphic novel–like feel that will appeal to children. Prince Morien and his mother are brown-skinned, reflecting their Moorish heritage, while Lancelot and Gawain present white. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A winsome adaptation of a lesser-known Arthurian legend. (Picture book. 5-8)

This mythical retelling from Black (Doll Bones) and Smith (Finger and Thumb, for adults), a double authorial picture book debut, has all the jaunty verve of a contemporary Disney animated feature. Crisp, saturated digital art by Glenn (Flying High) portrays Sir Morien as both hunky and heroic. He lives in northern Africa with his princess mother, and the two take up the questing life: “They tamed a dragon in Timbuktu. They surfed with crocodiles on the Nile and vanquished every last vegetable on the dinner table.” Journeying to England to track down his father, Morien’s search comes up short. He finds “Nada. Zip. Zilch” in the way of filial leads, defeats everyone he encounters, misses his mom, and hates the local food. But an initially hostile Welsh countryside meetup with Sir Gawain and Sir Lancelot turns salutatory: recognizing they are equals in battle, they become “a great questing team,” together rescuing both Morien’s dad and King Arthur from a castle prison. The story moves at a gallop and understands readers’ budding sense of irreverence: “NO ONE BEAT ANYONE,” says an exasperated Gawain after yet another squabbling among the pals. “IT WAS A TIE.” Sir Morien and his mother are portrayed with brown skin; the remaining knights are pale-skinned. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)