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I laugh a little whenever I think about the fact that I read my kids a children's book about the Magna Carta. It's a little surprising to me that there even is a children's book about the Magna Carta. The fact that it's actually pretty enjoyable to read is a real bonus.

Hodges's asides within the text are a little distracting. It's possible, though, that it was only distracting because I wasn't yet accustomed to Hodges's style, or perhaps he'd not yet hit his stride in those early pages. For example, early in the book is a description of an illustration meant to portray the brutality of feudal life in the years just following the Battle of Hastings. Hodges is making up a story that could be behind the picture when he breaks into the flow of the text with, "And the gallows? Well, there are outlaws, there are poachers, there are always trouble-makers of one sort or another. The bodies which hang on the gallows will set an example to them. Who knows what has been happening in this case? Who cares? Only perhaps the peasant women in the foreground, and the little boy."

Beyond its being distracting, I think that this particular aside is a little too subtle for most elementary-aged readers. I felt a need to pause and have a little discussion with my daughter about what it is the author was saying and how he was saying it before we continued on.

Overall, I really liked that Hodges pointed out the way that history comes to us through all of the subjective opinions of the individuals who have passed it down. Without ever forgiving King John, Hodges notes that "some people think he was not so black as he is often painted, no worse in fact than most of his barons, and that as a rule in a difficult situation and a bad time he showed himself both energetic and resourceful." I appreciate this nuance being pointed out to young readers (it's a good lesson for older readers, too, for that matter).

After reading this book (and others about this era of British history), I can see why children through the ages have been so interested in the stories of Robin Hood, King Richard, and King John. I also for the first time really understood how the Magna Carta related to the United States Constitution. I learned about this connection in history class, but Hodges's book helped me see it as more than just a fact I memorized. ( )