ALA Booklist (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

If there's one thing that young boys probably can't get enough of, it's knights. Kraegel introduces wee Henry, the many-times-great-grandson of King Arthur, who sets out for a rousing adventure on his sixth birthday. Clad in armor and wielding a mighty sword, he approaches a dragon ("Behold, vile worm! I . . . do hereby challenge you to a fight to the uttermost!"), but the great lizard turns out to be a softie and suggests the boy try his luck against another monster. To Henry's frustration, Cyclops would rather have a staring contest, Griffin wants to play chess, and Leviathan just wants to splash around in the water. In the end, though Henry never does get a chance to vanquish a terrible beastie, he does gain four fine new pals. Kraegel contrasts his simply drawn kid hero with a visual feast of wide, meticulously patterned landscapes. And thwarted expectations aside, the boy's bombastic proclamations should inspire youngsters to great heights of stately derring-do against their own imaginary foes (and friends).

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Henry longs to ride into battle like an old-fashioned knight, but his potential opponents (dragon, griffin, etc.) are only interested in friendly competition. So, while Henry never fights, he does make new friends. The simple resolution is balanced by the humor of Henry's predicament and his incongruous chivalric language. With its intricate patterns in fine black lines, the meticulous artwork invites scrutiny.

Kirkus Reviews

On his sixth birthday, Henry Alfred Grummorson, the great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson of Arthur, King of Britain, goes in search of adventure. First, he challenges a fire-breathing Dragon that simply blows smoke rings. He announces his presence to the giant Cyclops who, instead of fighting, engages him in a staring contest. "NO! NO!" cries Henry. "I want a struggle of arms, a test of might and courage!" Travelling far in search of a worthy adversary, his search leads him past the winged Griffin (who offers a game of chess) to the sea monster Leviathan. Has he finally found something worthy of a fight? With all the courage and flourish of Arthurian legend, Henry's formal voice bellows each call to duel, all in capital letters and in a distinguished font from ye olden days. Kraegel teases this tiny knight with monsters that prefer play over fray. Despite the determined lack of conflict, Henry still manages to find a treasure he didn't know he was seeking. The illustrations succeed in matching the rugged scenery with the adventurous text while giving clues to the surprising ending. This is a good choice for reading aloud and for discussing such topics as friendship, aggression and the bravery it takes to change your mind. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

With King Arthur-s DNA swirling in his wiry little body, it-s only natural that six-year-old Henry Alfred Grummorson would want to go on a monster-battling quest. The thing is, every monster he

School Library Journal (Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

PreS-Gr 2 Henry Alfred Grummorson traces his lineage back to King Arthur himself, so it seems perfectly natural to him that, on his sixth birthday, he mounts his trusty donkey, Knuckles, and goes out looking for a perilous beast to slay. Nothing goes according to plan, though: the Dragon merely blows smoke rings, the only battle the Cyclops is interested in is a staring contest, and the Griffin wants to play checkers, for heaven's sake. Though he doesn't find the epic battles he imagined, Henry finds that friendship is something worth questing for. The text skips along like Henry's donkey, bringing this irrepressible young boy to life. Kraegel's winsome illustrations, full of expressive details and a timeless palette, recall the work of John Burningham. Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD