Prince Martin Wins His Sword: A Classic Tale About a Boy Who Discovers the True Meaning of Courage, Grit, and Friendship (Full Color Art Edition) (The ... develop virtue - and turn boys into readers) Paperback – July 26, 2017

Having flipped through the book to look at the illustrations, I didn't realize at first that the story was written in rhyme because the story is formatted in prose. As I began reading to my three children, it took only a moment to realize the rhyming and meter and my initial thought was, "oh boy, how many forced rhymes am I going to have to endure?" Yet the longer I read, I was amazed at how smooth the read was. The rhymes didn't feel forced at all, and the story itself really began to shine through. It is a simple story, but it works well because it teaches specific aspects of character to kids using an easy to grasp real-life example. The illustrations were a great addition to the story as well, giving the smaller kids a way to further be immersed in the story. It is a short, 20-30 minute read out loud which is perfect for a bedtime story, and I certainly look forward to further adventures of Martin and Sir Ray!

Hale has written an original, charming chapter book that began as a way to keep in touch with his son while Hale was away from home. The book is divided into eight short chapters that are completely written in verse. Hale does not shy away from challenging vocabulary in a book that is written for the six to ten age group.Martin is a young prince who lives in a faraway kingdom. At the beginning of the tale, Martin experiences a dream in which he fights a dragon with a loyal dog at his side. One of Martin’s favorite pastimes is visiting the castle armory, where all types of swords and weapons are stored. Unfortunately, the king permits his son to possess only a wooden staff and a slingshot, until the prince is able to prove that he is loyal, brave and true. Martin is unsure of how to do so, but he is determined to set forth out of the castle to the forest beyond.Chapters two through eight covers the adventures that await Martin. He will meet a farmer who warns him of wild hogs, a deer whose fawn is trapped, and a brave dog who is willing to defend the helpless with his life. Martin must face his own fears as well as bullies. Will Martin find the courage and strength to survive and prove himself worthy?The rhymes are perfect for a read aloud. Younger children might need the help of an adult to decipher some of the vocabularies. Color illustrations in each chapter enhance the adventure. This first book in a series should appeal especially to boys who love adventures, dragons, swords, and dogs. Highly recommended for elementary and middle school age children.

My boys (3-6yrs) love these books so much. The stories are fun and engaging, with great morals about friendship, loyalty, and not giving up. I love that prince Martin's dad loves him and they have a great relationship. That's missing in a lot of stories!And the ryhme.... I love it! The book is written in paragraph form, and it's a chapter book (albeit not too long for them to lose interest), BUT THE ENTIRE THING IS IN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING RHYME! I teach English and literature, and I sure do appreciate a nice rhyme. Makes the book fun for the kids, and for Mommy!

The story is a lot of fun. The story is written in rhyme which I would be ok without. I think I would like the rhyming more if the lines of text were set up in a way that was easier to see the rhymed words coming and I could time my reading a little better. But overall an enjoyable read.

It's hard to find good books for boys that will stimulate a love for reading. I'm so thankful I took a risk on Prince Martin! It's a great book for independent reading and for reading together. The author uses fun language that keeps kids involved even with some names of knight swords that we had fun looking up what they were. Thankyou Brandon Hale for writing this for your son and sharing it with all of us! God Bless you as you write more! Jeanne Taylor

This book was fantastic. My six-year-old daughter loved every minute of it. Her only complaint was that the next installment is not out yet. She can't wait to keep following the adventures of Prince Martin and his new friend Ray. I have no doubt this first story will be re-read many times while we wait.From a parents' perspective, I loved how the virtues of loyalty and bravery were clearly explained and demonstrated. It was not heavy-handed, but it was also impossible for a child not to leave the book without a better understanding of what it looks like to live these two virtues out. I have long considered Rikki Tikki Tavi the best children's book for explaining and demonstrating bravery, but Hale gives Kipling a run for his money.Of final note: the illustrations are great. I wish there were more. Every time we came to one, we had to stop reading and closely examine the picture. Then, as we'd read on, my daughter wanted to re-examine the pictures to see if the new text had given her any more insight into the pictures. They were that good.

Easy and fun to read aloud to children, just enough adventure & excitement for very young kids, but mature enough for my 7 year old. A great read for little boys encouraging bravery! If you're a Dad reading this comment, purchase and read this to your littles!

Enjoyable read about bravery and standing up for the weak! Boys aged 6-9 enjoyed it! And reading was easy with the rhyming format!

Eine tolle Geschichte für kleine Helden/Heldinnen. Diese Geschichte ist lehrreich: Prince Martin muß lernen, sich in seinem Leben zu beweisen. 3 Bedingungen müssen erfüllt werden! Ein Abenteuer, das ihm Mut, Treue und Loyalität abverlangt. Der Prinz findet nicht nur den langersehnten Freund. Er bekommt am Ende das Schwert.....

It's a good story and suitable level for Grade 2

Great lessons, engaging story and right amunt of drama for little knights. My son is seven and he has enjoyed the book very much. My only complaint is that story was too short - more of prince Martin pease!!!

Simple story with some nice complex words. A great book about courage and choice. Sparked good conversation with my son. :)