SOURCE: "Howard Pyle's 'The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood': The Quintessential Children's Story," in Touchstones: Reflections on the Best in Children's Literature, Volume Two: Fairy Tales, Fables, Myths, Legends, and Poetry, ChLA, 1987, pp. 213-20.

In the following essay, Ranta explains why The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is considered by many critics to be one of the greatest children's books ever published

If Bennett A. Brockman correctly defines children's literature as "imaginative literature marketed to children and designed for their amusement as well as their edification," then The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood stands at the apex of children's literature; indeed, the author-illustrator Robert Lawson once called it "the most perfect of children's books." It embodies all of the significant ingredients of a successful story, regardless of a reader's age. The language befitting the characters of twelfth century England, the pastoral setting, and the lyrical tone all elicit...