Bearskin by Howard Pyle
Howard Pyle is best known as the writer of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, a book that's widely considered to be the definitive compilation of the Robin Hood ballads into a cohesive whole. Though that's his most famous work, he also wrote two anthologies of fairytales: Pepper & Salt and The Wonder Clock. This adaptation of Bearskin is from the latter collection, and Pyle's love of fairytales and legends is apparent, for it reads like a composite tale of several other familiar stories.
A king is traveling through the country when he stops to rest and dine at a mill. For fun, he orders his wise man to read the fortune of the miller's newborn baby, but to his displeasure, the king is told that the infant will one day marry his own unborn daughter. To avoid this insulting fate, the ki... Read More
More books by Howard Pyle
The Round Table — (1903-1910) Publisher: The King’s battle with the Sable Knight, his courtship of Lady Guinevere, and his establishment of the Round Table are included in this adaptation of Arthurian legend.




Other books:
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood — (1883) Publisher: The life and times of Everyone’s favorite thief. Filled with action, villains, and surprises, the legend lives on. Days of old bursting with pageantry, knights, and beautiful maidens return in a superb edition of this favorite classic story.
Pepper and Salt; or, Seasoning for Young Folk — (1885) Publisher: Pyle is best known for the children’s books, which he wrote and illustrated. It is from his famous Book of Pirates that our present-day concept of pirates has come. School children still read his Men of Iron, The Story of King Arthur and his Knights, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, and many other tales. Pyle writes in preface to these delightful tales: One must have a little pinch of seasoning in this dull, heavy life of ours; one should never look to have all the troubles, the labors, and the cares, with never a whit of innocent jollity and mirth. Yes; one must smile now and then, if for nothing else than to lift the corners of the lips in laughter that are only too often dragged down in sorrow. Contents: The Skillful Huntsman; Claus and His Wonderful Staff; How Dame Margery Twist Saw More than Was Good for Her; Clever Peter and the Two Bottles; Hans Hecklemann’s Luck; Farmer Griggs’s Boggart; The Bird in the Linden Tree; and The Apple of Contentment. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
The Wonder Clock — (1888) Publisher: Famous and influential as a preeminent illustrator, Howard Pyle was also a gifted writer beloved by millions — young and old — for his endearing and enchanting fairy tales. The Wonder Clock is a delightful, magical collection of whimsical stories: twenty-four stories for twenty-four hours. And each a timeless masterpiece. Peopled with jolly kings and queens, lovely princesses and evil witches, sly foxes and mischievous ravens, ogres and giants, dashing princes and nasty dragons, these are old fashioned fairly tales in the best and most beautiful sense that can be enjoyed by readers of any age. 
Otto of the Silver Hand — (1888) Ages 9-12. Publisher: Fantastically illustrated tale of motherless son of a valiant robber baron of medieval Germany.
Men of Iron — (1892) Ages 9-12. Publisher: The price of honor… Myles Falworth was only eight years old the day a knight in black rode into the courtyard of his father’s castle with murderous intent, triggering a chain of events that brought disgrace to the house of Falworth. In spite of his family’s disgrace, young Myles quickly wins a reputation for courage and independence while in training as a knight at the castle of the great Earl of Mackworth. Then one day, when Myles is sixteen, he discover that his blind father has been condemned for treason, and is being hunted by a powerful enemy who is close to the King. To challenge the King’s champion means certain death. Myles must fight to restore his family’s rights, but does he dare to risk battle to win back his family’s honor?
The Garden Behind the Moon — (1895) Ages 9-12. Publisher: In the fishing village where he lives, David sits alone by the shore at night, watching the path of light that stretches across the sea until it almost touches the moon. Wondering, Where does it go? Then one day he hears a voice of the Moon-Angel. Why not try the moon-path tonight? As David will discover, the glimmering moonlit path leads to a magical world behind the moon-a beautiful garden. And golden riches and a great flying horse to whisk him back to earth. But first he will have to battle a giant.
King Stork — (1973) Ages 9-12. Publisher: Filled with all the things a good tale should have — from fiery dragons and savage lions to a clever princess and a handsome hero — this storyteller’s favorite is here paired with spectacular art from Caldecott medalist Trina Schart Hyman. Full color .