Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, retold by Marcia Williams, is also from the 2008 Notable Books for Children List. This book was recommended for ages ten and up. I would even have this available for high schoolers to refer to when reading Chaucer. It presented nine of Chaucer’s tales in an accessible way that kids would enjoy. It includes the Knight’s Tale, the Miller’s Tale, the Reeve’s Tale, the Wife of Bath’s Tale, the Franklin’s Tale, the Clerk’s Tale, the Summoner’s Tale, the Pardoner’s Tale, and the Nun’s Priest’s Tale. They told their stories to pass the time on their pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. The one who told the best tale would win a free dinner, but at the end they could not decide whose tale was the best. The author chose to include some of the original quotes in medieval English, which many adults would have difficulty translating for their students. But the actual text of the book is in modern prose, so it is easy to read and understand, and the text and illustrations help clarify the unfamiliar words. The format is that of a comic book, with text below wide illustrations of watercolor-and-ink cartoon art. The last page has a glossary of eleven unfamiliar words, which is not nearly sufficient.