Celtic Border
Shadows of Sherwood
Celtic Border

ROBIN HOOD IN FICTION: CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Picture books and other literature for younger readers.


All reviews are by Margaret Carspecken
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any sources indicated below.
This list is presented with gratitude to the Springfield-Greene County Library system
for assistance and services received via their Interlibrary Loan program.
List and presentation copyright © 1996-2002 by R&M Creative Endeavors.

This list is alphabetically arranged by the author's last name.



Nick Bantock
Robin Hood
Viking, 1992
ISBN: 0670849898
Children's Pop-Up book; a small book comprised of verses, each verse accompanied by a portrait of the character it describes. The pop-ups of the faces makes the characters appear to speak.

Annie North Bedford
Robin Hood
Golden Press, 1955
A Little Golden Book, based on the Disney Film from 1953 starring Richard Todd. Illustrated with stills from the motion picture.

Michael Bishop
Robin Hood
Publisher: Derrydale Books, 1991; 44 pages
Illustrated by Gerry Embleton
ISBN: 0517065231
A picture book retelling of Robin Hood's adventures.

Jane Carruth
Robin Hood
London: Victoria House Publishing; Award Publications Limited, 1982 (Award Adventure Classics Series); 58 pages
Illustrated by Chris Higham
ISBN: 0861630696
Extensively illustrated adventures of Robin Hood, Marian, and his friends in Sherwood.

Barbara Cohen
Robin Hood and Little John
New York: Philomel Books, 1995
ISBN: 0399227326: 0698116275 (Paperstar Book, pbk.)
An illustrated children's picture book relating the famous meeting between Robin Hood and Little John.

Jane Louise Curry
Robin Hood and his Merry Men
New York: M.K. McElderry Books; 1994; 48 pages
Illustrated by John Lytle
ISBN: 0689506090
An easy-to-read retelling of some of the Robin Hood stories, including how Robin became an outlaw and the story of the Sorrowful Knight.

Jane Louise Curry
Robin Hood in the Greenwood
New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1995; 64 pages
Illustrated by John Lytle and Julie Downing
ISBN: 0689801475
A sequel to "Robin Hood and His Merry Men"; another brief telling of some more Robin Hood stories, including Robin's meeting with Marian, and the King coming to Sherwood.

Edward Dolch
Robin Hood Stories
Garrard Publishing Co.; 1957; 162 pages
Illustrated by Carmen Mowry
Easy-to-read collection for schoolchildren of the more familiar Robin Hood adventures.

Desmond Dunkerley
Robin Hood and the King's Ransom
Ladybird Books, 1978; 51 pages
Illustrated by Bernard Brett
A brief but exciting Robin Hood story with the tale of the Sorrowful Knight and Allan-a-dale woven into a plot that raises a ransom to bring King Richard back to England. Includes a few inspirations from the Henry Gilbert version, such as the "little people" characters, and the villianous Isenbart de Belame.

Margaret Early
Robin Hood
New York : Harry N. Abrams, 1996; 32 pages
ISBN: 0810944286
Lavishly illustrated children's picture book

Monica Furlong
Robin's Country
New York: Knopf: Distributed by Random House, 1995, 139 pages
ISBN: 0679890998
A mute boy flees from a cruel master into Sherwood and falls in with Robin Hood. He shares their adventures as he becomes a valued member of the band, and struggles to remember forgotten memories of who he really is, and where he came from.

John Grant
The Adventures of Robin Hood
LadyBird Books, Ltd., 1998 (paperback), 32 pages
Illustrated by Victor G. Ambrus
A nice retelling of some of Robin Hood's most popular adventures.

Nigel Gray
One and Only Robin Hood
Walker Books, Great Britain; 1990; Boston: Joy Street Books, 1987; PB; 24 pages
Illustrated by Helen Craig
ISBN: 0-316-32578-3
Humorously illustrated, Robin Hood embellishes his legend as he wreaks havoc with the old nursery rhyme about "Four and Twenty Blackbirds."

Carol Heyer
Robin Hood
Nashville, Tenn.: Ideals Children's Books, 1993; 32 pages
ISBN: 0824986342
Nicely illustrated children's picture book.

Ellen Kushner
Outlaws of Sherwood Forest
Bantam Books, 1985
Illustrated by Judith Michell
A "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, #47 in the series.

Tom Lisker
The Mystery of Robin Hood; Fact or Fantasy?
Contemporary Perspectives Inc., 1979; 48 pages
ISBN: 0895470799
Illustrated by Samuel B. Whitehead
An easy-to-read retelling of the more popular Robin Hood adventures. This adaptation includes commentary with each chapter, encouraging young readers to consider how popular storytelling themes of various eras may have helped Robin Hood evolve into the legend we know today.

Joanne Parker Mattern, Editor
The Adventures of Robin Hood (Wishbone Classics, No 6)
1996
Illustrated by Kathryn Jingling
The story of Robin Hood as told by PBS's canine narrator, Wishbone.

John Patience
The Sherwood Kids
Peter Haddock, Ltd.; (No copyright date given); 17 pages
Illustrated by John Patience
This series of children's picture books depict Robin Hood, his merry followers, and Marian as school-age heroes, and Prince John as a whiny spoiled brat. The gang has great fun and adventure helping the friendly villiagers and outsmarting the prince and his bullies like the Sheriff of Nottingham. Clever storytelling with colorful illustrations!

  • Robin and the Talking Goat
    Robin goes to the rescue when his joke on Prince John and the Sheriff causes an kindly woman's goat to be arrested.
  • A Foxy Plan
    Robin surrenders to Prince John and the Sheriff to save the miller's mill. With the help of Robin's new friend, a fox, Marian conjurs up a plan to rescue Robin and turn the tables on Prince John.
  • Robin Hood is Not Invited
    Prince John orders the villiagers to supply goodies so he can have a birthday party -- and keeps the treats all for himself. Robin intervenes to foil the prince's selfish plans.
  • Toys and Taxes
    Marian informs Robin of Prince John's new tax so he can buy even more toys. When she is arrested for her efforts, Robin goes to the rescue.

    Eugene Pawczuk
    Robin Hood (Fairy Tales Ser.)
    Durkin Hayes Pub Ltd., 1992
    ISBN: 0886252660
    Children's picture book retelling.

    Orville Prescott
    Robin Hood, The Outlaw of Sherwood Forest
    Random House, 1959; 53 pages
    Illustrated by Charles Beck
    A brief and brisk retelling of some of the ballads.

    Jocelyn Stevenson
    Robin Hood: A High-Spirited Tale of Adventure Starring Jim Henson's Muppets
    NY. Muppet Press/Random House. 1980.
    Jim Henson's Muppets deliver their version of the legend.

    Catherine Storr
    Robin Hood
    Milwaukee : Raintree Childrens Books ; London : Belitha Press, 1984. 32 pages
    ISBN: 0817221093
    Illustrated by Chris Collingwood
    Realistic illustrations accompany the exciting tale of Robin Hood and his adventures.

    D. K. Swan
    Robin Hood
    Longman Group UK Limited, 1989; 57 pages
    ISBN: 0582522870
    Illustrated by Chris Ryley
    A simplified easy-to-read retelling covering the highlights of the Robin Hood legend. Includes questions in the back of the book to aid in classroom reading comprehension.

    Eleanor Graham Vance
    Adventures of Robin Hood
    London, Publicity Products, 1953; 62 pages
    Prepared under the supervision of Josette Frank, New York, Random House, 1953
    Illustrated by Jay Hyde Barnum
    Storybook retelling, with lots of color illustrations.

    Van Gool
    Robin Hood
    Brompton Books, Inc.; New York: Smithmark, 1994; 60 pages (Van Gool Adventure Series)
    Illustrated by Van Gool
    ISBN: 0831716487
    Children's picture book, retelling the exciting adventures of Robin Hood and his friends as they battle injustice in the absence of King Richard. Colorful illustrations give this book the feel that it comes from an animated film.

    Michael West, Editor
    Robin Hood
    Longman Group Ltd., 1972; 1989; 63 pages (PB)
    ISBN: 0 582 534127
    Illustrated by Mark Peppe'
    An easy-to-read retelling, intended for school use with questions for reading comprehension.

    Marcia Williams
    The Adventures of Robin Hood
    Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press: Walker Books, 1995; 32 pages
    ISBN: 1564025357
    The stories of Robin Hood illustrated in loose, amusing comic-book fashion for young readers.

    Kit Wray
    Robin Hood: A Hidden Picture Story
    Published by Bell Books, 1992; 30 pages
    ISBN 1563970201
    Illustrated by Kit Wray
    A telling of Robin Hood; B&W storybook with illustrations having hidden items for young readers to search for.


    Looking for Walt Disney's foxy animated Robin Hood?
    He has his own section! Click here to see.


    If you are interested in purchasing any of these books, check out these sites:

    If your budget does not allow for purchases, it is highly recommended that you contact your local public library and take advantage of their Interlibrary Loan program. Using this (usually free) service, you can obtain nearly any book to be found in libraries across the country, and most of the books can be obtained without fees.




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