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The Adventures of Robin Hood
Following Sterling's spectacularly successful launch of its children's classic novels (240,000 books in print to date), comes a dazzling new series: Classic Starts.
The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats the world's beloved tales (and children) with the respect they deserve--all at an incomparable price.
He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, and had escapades enough to please any adventure-loving child. Now even the youngest readers can have the chance to enter Sherwood Forest with Robin's band of merry men, and meet such unforgettable characters as Friar Tuck, Little John, Allan-a-Dale, the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham, and wicked King John. Every moment of the story is filled with action and excitement.
Reading Level: Age 7 and Up.
The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats the world's beloved tales (and children) with the respect they deserve--all at an incomparable price.
He robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, and had escapades enough to please any adventure-loving child. Now even the youngest readers can have the chance to enter Sherwood Forest with Robin's band of merry men, and meet such unforgettable characters as Friar Tuck, Little John, Allan-a-Dale, the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham, and wicked King John. Every moment of the story is filled with action and excitement.
Reading Level: Age 7 and Up.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
June 16, 2024
***2024 Summer in Sherwood***
I have always found that if I want to know about something quickly, it is useful to pick up the children's version. This book was based on Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood which was published in 1883 and has the old-fashioned language to prove it. Wanting to refresh my memory of Robin Hood and his Merry Men a little more easily, I requested this one from the library.
It's all here. Robin Hood as outlaw, his acquisition of his band of Merry men, and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. We meet Little John, Alan a Dale, Will Scarlet and Friar Tuck. King Richard the Lionheart appears in the final story, devising a stratagem to meet Robin Hood and ending up recruiting him.
This is written for children, so the politics are kept pretty simple. Robin may be an outlaw, but he cares for his community. He and his men help those in distress and rob those who are obviously too rich for their own good. Much of the focus is on outwitting their opponents rather than killing them. Life in the forest is depicted as merry, filled with feasting, archery tournaments and adventures.
I recently attended a short class in medieval history including the events leading to the Magna Carta. I suddenly realized that this was the King John who featured in the Robin Hood tale. Duh! Crusades? I should have added things up, but I guess Robin was more myth to me than part of history. I have a nonfiction book on King John requested from the library and will look forward to reading it in conjunction with my Summer of Sherwood.
I have always found that if I want to know about something quickly, it is useful to pick up the children's version. This book was based on Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood which was published in 1883 and has the old-fashioned language to prove it. Wanting to refresh my memory of Robin Hood and his Merry Men a little more easily, I requested this one from the library.
It's all here. Robin Hood as outlaw, his acquisition of his band of Merry men, and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. We meet Little John, Alan a Dale, Will Scarlet and Friar Tuck. King Richard the Lionheart appears in the final story, devising a stratagem to meet Robin Hood and ending up recruiting him.
This is written for children, so the politics are kept pretty simple. Robin may be an outlaw, but he cares for his community. He and his men help those in distress and rob those who are obviously too rich for their own good. Much of the focus is on outwitting their opponents rather than killing them. Life in the forest is depicted as merry, filled with feasting, archery tournaments and adventures.
I recently attended a short class in medieval history including the events leading to the Magna Carta. I suddenly realized that this was the King John who featured in the Robin Hood tale. Duh! Crusades? I should have added things up, but I guess Robin was more myth to me than part of history. I have a nonfiction book on King John requested from the library and will look forward to reading it in conjunction with my Summer of Sherwood.
March 19, 2017
Abridged from the Howard Pyle original, I bought this for my nephew in the hopes that it will stir the same interest the legends have always had on me. So of course I had to read it!
October 24, 2021
This was a fun adventure story to read with a young reader. The story line is a little different than what I expected from the Disney Robin Hood that I grew up with. Looking forward to reading more from this series as we explore and continue to develop a love for good stories.
April 10, 2020
I've always loved classic tales like this. Adventures that I learned about from bedtime stories from when I was a little kid.
The tales of Robin Hood always bring a smile to my face. Whether it's the story of poor Sir Richard mortgaging his castle to save his son or the tale of Robin Hood reuniting with Will Scarlet, these will always be in my heart.
(The only thing I missed was Lady Marian. I mainly read this for her, and I was just a teensy bit disappointed when she didn't show up.)
I love this, and I don't think I'll ever not.
The tales of Robin Hood always bring a smile to my face. Whether it's the story of poor Sir Richard mortgaging his castle to save his son or the tale of Robin Hood reuniting with Will Scarlet, these will always be in my heart.
(The only thing I missed was Lady Marian. I mainly read this for her, and I was just a teensy bit disappointed when she didn't show up.)
I love this, and I don't think I'll ever not.
November 3, 2022
The kids loved this as a read aloud and it was fun to draw some connections to our history study of Richard the lionhearted.
November 3, 2020
I love the stories of Robin Hood, even if they are a little childish. I've had this book on my shelf for years and thought it was high time I read it.
March 27, 2022
It is an abridged version, but I've liked it. It has a tone of criticism of rich and spoiled clergy, authority figures.
The chapters are so short, have so many recurring themes and the famous Maid Marian is not mentioned here but I've liked the book in general.
"No man in all merry England shall be my master." Page 19
"Once I slew a man. I don't wish to do it again, because it is a heavy weight for a soul to bear." Page 22
"Robin grew angry at the sight of the bishop's fine silk robes and gold chains. He thought it wrong that a man of God should dress in such fancy clothes and jewelry." Page 83
The chapters are so short, have so many recurring themes and the famous Maid Marian is not mentioned here but I've liked the book in general.
"No man in all merry England shall be my master." Page 19
"Once I slew a man. I don't wish to do it again, because it is a heavy weight for a soul to bear." Page 22
"Robin grew angry at the sight of the bishop's fine silk robes and gold chains. He thought it wrong that a man of God should dress in such fancy clothes and jewelry." Page 83
May 24, 2012
I think this is a good book because it takes a long time to read which means you get to enjoy it for a long time and it has a lot of suspense. This book is sometimes funny. I knew the story of Robin Hood before reading this book, but I learned about how he became an outlaw. This is a great book. (Cash)
Hayes also read this book in September 2010 and gives it 5 stars.
Hayes also read this book in September 2010 and gives it 5 stars.
November 28, 2025
C2 2022, 2025
June 21, 2020
“The men sitting on the ground rolled are with laughter. They had never before seen their master miss his target by so much. Robin flung his bow down and declared, "That arrow had a bad feather! Give me another, and I will split a stick with it."
Everyone laughed louder than ever. “No good uncle," said Will Scarlet sweetly. "You had a fair chance. Come here. I owe you something, and I would like to pay." (Pyle, 1883)
Robin Hood was well-known as the best archer ever, but in this feast, he missed the target because of a bad feather. Therefore, even though Robin was a master of those merry men, he still had to face punishment. It showed that these fellows were merry and everyone was equal.
The primary story concisely happened like this. On the way to an archery tournament, Robin Hood accidentally shot one of the Sheriff’s men and became an outlaw in Sherwood Forest. After that, he collected many men who became an outlaw like him. They stole from the rich, gave to the poor, fought for justice. As a result, the Sheriff of Nottingham extremely despised Robin and did everything to capture Robin and his men. Did he succeed in fighting for justice?
The Adventures of Robin Hood was written by Howard Pyle. It was an adventure story and was released in the United States in 1883. Pyle was one of the most popular illustrators in America. His books were initially written for young people.
Next, I would mention a few highlights from the story. First, Robin Hood arranged the marriage of two lovers. Allan told Robin his true love story. He and his girlfriend cannot come together because her father wanted her to marry a knight. Therefore, Robin had a plan to help Allan and his love. He found the Curtal Friar and arranged a wedding marriage for them. Secondly, Robin helped Sir Richard. It was almost the winter, and Robin’s budget was running low. They tried to find new guests, however, they met Sir Richard – a sorrowful knight. Sir Richard had a big debt because he mortgaged all his land to save his son. Hence, Robin decided to help Sir Richard paid his debt thanks to another Bishop’s money. Finally, Robin killed Gisbourne who was a bad outlaw. The Sheriff sent Gisbourne, who was a bloody villain, to kill Robin. If Gisbourne had killed Robin, he would have received free pardon plus two hundred pounds. Unless he would be killed by Robin. Excepting the one who was killed by an accident in self-defense, a Guy of Gisbourne was the second person that Robin Hood killed throughout his adventures in Sherwood Forest. However, Robin did not feel guilty because he believed that Gisbourne should be punished.
There are some useful words and grammar items repeated frequently in the book. Knowing these words might help us effectively understood the tale. Firstly, the Sheriff was the officer representing the king or queen in an area so they could perform some legal duties. Then, Friar was “a member of one of several Roman Catholic religious communities of men who in the past traveled around teaching people about Christianity and lived by asking other people for food.” (Friar, n.d.) Bishop was “a senior priest in charge of the work of the Church in a city or district.” (Bishop, n.d.) The context of the story is in the past. Therefore, the author wrote the story in past tense.
The story would have been better for me if Robin had found his true love. Generally, it would be a happy ending in many tales and stories so I really expected to see that. Unfortunately, the author did not mention that so I was disappointed a little bit.
On the other hand, the story tells us about the great adventures of Robin Hood and his fellows. They were always humorous and smart. The way they got bad money from the wealthy was very strange. For example: when a fat-rich friar came across the Sherwood Forest, they would treat him a merry feast and a place to sleep. However, a friar had to pay a lot of money for that.
There is one thing we should notice before reading. The story was told in the context of ancient England so the author used old English in his writing. Therefore, it might have some old English words. However, it was retold to be suitable for children, we can easily enjoy the amazing adventures of Robin Hood.
In conclusion, this book was retold for children but I believe that everyone can read it. This is especially true when we do not want to spend much time reading the original but we still want to enjoy the story. Further, the readers, who are seeking a real adventure tale or a hero, should read this classic story.
Everyone laughed louder than ever. “No good uncle," said Will Scarlet sweetly. "You had a fair chance. Come here. I owe you something, and I would like to pay." (Pyle, 1883)
Robin Hood was well-known as the best archer ever, but in this feast, he missed the target because of a bad feather. Therefore, even though Robin was a master of those merry men, he still had to face punishment. It showed that these fellows were merry and everyone was equal.
The primary story concisely happened like this. On the way to an archery tournament, Robin Hood accidentally shot one of the Sheriff’s men and became an outlaw in Sherwood Forest. After that, he collected many men who became an outlaw like him. They stole from the rich, gave to the poor, fought for justice. As a result, the Sheriff of Nottingham extremely despised Robin and did everything to capture Robin and his men. Did he succeed in fighting for justice?
The Adventures of Robin Hood was written by Howard Pyle. It was an adventure story and was released in the United States in 1883. Pyle was one of the most popular illustrators in America. His books were initially written for young people.
Next, I would mention a few highlights from the story. First, Robin Hood arranged the marriage of two lovers. Allan told Robin his true love story. He and his girlfriend cannot come together because her father wanted her to marry a knight. Therefore, Robin had a plan to help Allan and his love. He found the Curtal Friar and arranged a wedding marriage for them. Secondly, Robin helped Sir Richard. It was almost the winter, and Robin’s budget was running low. They tried to find new guests, however, they met Sir Richard – a sorrowful knight. Sir Richard had a big debt because he mortgaged all his land to save his son. Hence, Robin decided to help Sir Richard paid his debt thanks to another Bishop’s money. Finally, Robin killed Gisbourne who was a bad outlaw. The Sheriff sent Gisbourne, who was a bloody villain, to kill Robin. If Gisbourne had killed Robin, he would have received free pardon plus two hundred pounds. Unless he would be killed by Robin. Excepting the one who was killed by an accident in self-defense, a Guy of Gisbourne was the second person that Robin Hood killed throughout his adventures in Sherwood Forest. However, Robin did not feel guilty because he believed that Gisbourne should be punished.
There are some useful words and grammar items repeated frequently in the book. Knowing these words might help us effectively understood the tale. Firstly, the Sheriff was the officer representing the king or queen in an area so they could perform some legal duties. Then, Friar was “a member of one of several Roman Catholic religious communities of men who in the past traveled around teaching people about Christianity and lived by asking other people for food.” (Friar, n.d.) Bishop was “a senior priest in charge of the work of the Church in a city or district.” (Bishop, n.d.) The context of the story is in the past. Therefore, the author wrote the story in past tense.
The story would have been better for me if Robin had found his true love. Generally, it would be a happy ending in many tales and stories so I really expected to see that. Unfortunately, the author did not mention that so I was disappointed a little bit.
On the other hand, the story tells us about the great adventures of Robin Hood and his fellows. They were always humorous and smart. The way they got bad money from the wealthy was very strange. For example: when a fat-rich friar came across the Sherwood Forest, they would treat him a merry feast and a place to sleep. However, a friar had to pay a lot of money for that.
There is one thing we should notice before reading. The story was told in the context of ancient England so the author used old English in his writing. Therefore, it might have some old English words. However, it was retold to be suitable for children, we can easily enjoy the amazing adventures of Robin Hood.
In conclusion, this book was retold for children but I believe that everyone can read it. This is especially true when we do not want to spend much time reading the original but we still want to enjoy the story. Further, the readers, who are seeking a real adventure tale or a hero, should read this classic story.
January 1, 2021
It's a very quick read and rather interesting for me, since I never managed to get well-acquainted with the original. I think that the author's aspirations with this series are also admirable, as I deeply relate to feeling unattached from classic literature that everyone says has no fault, especially as a child. I feel it captured the spirit of Robin Hood very well, even if I have no perspective on Howard Pyle's take on the story.
For those who are wondering, it's a quick and easy read. There are questions at the end for younger readers that are for engagement with the themes rather than "right or wrong", which I think should be encouraged more often. Honestly, it's a charming travel-size book I would have loved as a child.
I suppose the only complaint I have is that the interior illustrations aren't in colour, since with how good they already are it seems a disappointment. Not a major one, but if only this had more printing budget, right?
(The page texture is soft, though not too smooth. Would recommend.)
For those who are wondering, it's a quick and easy read. There are questions at the end for younger readers that are for engagement with the themes rather than "right or wrong", which I think should be encouraged more often. Honestly, it's a charming travel-size book I would have loved as a child.
I suppose the only complaint I have is that the interior illustrations aren't in colour, since with how good they already are it seems a disappointment. Not a major one, but if only this had more printing budget, right?
(The page texture is soft, though not too smooth. Would recommend.)
January 14, 2020
I read this to my ten-, nine-, and four-year-old sons at bedtime. This was an introduction to Robin and his Merry Men for all of us, so I can’t comment on the quality of the abridgement, but each chapter provided us with a didactic vignette, some of which developed the overall thrust of the story, others which were welcome diversions, but all provided hearty laughs for all ages. I was disappointed that Maid Marian never showed up, but now I’m curious to read the real story, which is always good.
The antics of Robin and his gang provided much discussion for our family. Is it right for him to steal? Is it appropriate to give away butcher’s meat (that he bought fair and square) to pretty girls who give him a kiss but to charge extra for the noblemen? What’s so bad about the Sheriff of Nottingham? Is Robin deserving of the title “outlaw”? When is it ever justifiable to kill?
The book (at least this version) didn’t provide any moral pronouncements, so it really allowed us to probe these questions. Was this true to form or did the Classic Starts version present it more objectively? I’ll be checking out the Howard Pyle version from 1883 to find out.
The antics of Robin and his gang provided much discussion for our family. Is it right for him to steal? Is it appropriate to give away butcher’s meat (that he bought fair and square) to pretty girls who give him a kiss but to charge extra for the noblemen? What’s so bad about the Sheriff of Nottingham? Is Robin deserving of the title “outlaw”? When is it ever justifiable to kill?
The book (at least this version) didn’t provide any moral pronouncements, so it really allowed us to probe these questions. Was this true to form or did the Classic Starts version present it more objectively? I’ll be checking out the Howard Pyle version from 1883 to find out.
June 14, 2021
I'm a huge Robin Hood fan and this book was okay. It was a little slow. It didn't always make a ton of sense, and it never really captured the essence of the rogue Robin Hood.
It was more of a collection of short stories that featured a guy named Robin Hood. His character traits and misdemeanor changed with every story and it didn't seem very connected. There was very little reason to love Robin Hood, and there was very little context for why I am rooting for him over the Sheriff.
It didn't really keep my kids' attention, and I'm not sure they fell in love with the character as much as I always have.
It was more of a collection of short stories that featured a guy named Robin Hood. His character traits and misdemeanor changed with every story and it didn't seem very connected. There was very little reason to love Robin Hood, and there was very little context for why I am rooting for him over the Sheriff.
It didn't really keep my kids' attention, and I'm not sure they fell in love with the character as much as I always have.
November 7, 2022
What a fun ride! We all thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked this version since the original version has much old English and is a collection of stories; this one felt more like a continuous story.
4.5 ⭐️
FYI: There is a lot of fighting and two accounts of Robin Hood killing men. There is also discussion of hangings although none take place. This version is all is written without gore and in a mild manner.
4.5 ⭐️
FYI: There is a lot of fighting and two accounts of Robin Hood killing men. There is also discussion of hangings although none take place. This version is all is written without gore and in a mild manner.
June 20, 2024
When author Leif Enger mentioned how much he loved this book as a young boy, I checked it out from the library to read to my two youngest sons. And just like Lief, they loved it.
The story follows Robin Hood, the outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor, along with his band of Merry Men. Set in Sherwood Forest, the book is filled with daring adventures, clever tricks, and the timeless battle between good and evil.
The story follows Robin Hood, the outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor, along with his band of Merry Men. Set in Sherwood Forest, the book is filled with daring adventures, clever tricks, and the timeless battle between good and evil.
May 6, 2025
This was a nice introduction to Robin Hood that I read with my kids. It was much heavier on the fighting and thievery, and lighter on the nobility and romance than I was led to believe by the animated version with animals from my childhood, but good all the same. My kids were delighted by Robin getting smacked by Richard the Lionhearted, suitably impressed by the villainy of Guy of Gisborne, and pleased by the matrimonial switcheroo in the story of Allen-a-Dale.
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November 16, 2019Meh. My 7yo declares this “really good,” but I found the writing almost offensively lackluster. It felt...formulaic, as if the original had been run through a computer program that outlawed “hard words” and all sentence structures aside from declarative and interrogative. So, not great as a read-aloud but perhaps just right for a kid.
June 18, 2020
Un classico intramontabile che non mi aspettavo certo di leggere in così poco tempo. Ho adorato il classico disney e incuriosito, ho cominciato a leggere il libro. Non pensavo lo avrei finito in così breve tempo ed è stato davvero un buon compagno di viaggio. Uno di quei libri di cui leggeresti volentieri i sequel, se ve ne fossero stati!
November 18, 2022
I enjoyed this! I think it's a great intro for kids. I also feel as though my appetite is whetted for more...not sure when I'll prioritize that, but I look forward to reading other versions of it.
We didn't love the narration of the audiobook version we used, but it was how we were able to consume it on schedule at the time.
We didn't love the narration of the audiobook version we used, but it was how we were able to consume it on schedule at the time.
February 11, 2024
It was a good retelling of Robin Hood and his adventures. It was cool to familiarize myself with a classic I have heard so much about growing up. I was gifted this in 2011, but I am glad to finally be giving it some love after 10+ years. With that said, it is meant for younger readers, so don't expect amazing prose or descriptions.
February 5, 2019
A story of young man, named Robin Hood. He was a nice guy but when he shoot one of the Sheriff's men. His life changed. He staring to steal from rich people and giving it to the poor and fight for justice. A story full of Adventure!!
February 19, 2019
The adventure of Robin Hood.
What makes him Robin Hood? An amazing boy with great skill of bow and arrow. He fought with guards and stole treasures from rich people and gave it to the poor people. The king and his evil rules making people's life miserable. Robin is ready for the war.
What makes him Robin Hood? An amazing boy with great skill of bow and arrow. He fought with guards and stole treasures from rich people and gave it to the poor people. The king and his evil rules making people's life miserable. Robin is ready for the war.
June 28, 2024
Got this book from my great grandpa and I wasn't disappointed. This book is classified as a children's book and rightfully so, but I find that this book kept me on its adventure the whole way and gave some new perspective on Robin Hood too.
October 24, 2017
Very pared down but perfect to wet the appetite of my 6 year old.
November 26, 2017
I really liked this book. This is a very good telling of Robin Hood.
April 12, 2018
I really like this book.
February 18, 2019
Robin Hood a classic nice story I really enjoyed reading it.
June 6, 2019
Easy to follow along. Introduced characters well, great for young readers.
September 16, 2020
*3,5
Very happy to have finally read this!
Very happy to have finally read this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews