SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I like to give great fantasy books to children as gifts. I find that children can hold great story lines in their heads. One of my favorites is Robin Hood. The version that I have is "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" as retold by Robert O. Patterson (1980 Castle Books). It's got terrific illustrations by Howard Pyle.

I'm wondering if there is a more modern version of these tales available that people like and that is appropriate for children. For some unfathomable reason this tale does not generally appear in my local bookstores.

I remember reading The Outlaws of Sherwoodas a teenager and liking it. I don't remember anything wildly inappropriate, but it has been a long time.

What a great gift idea - I think I may start copying you!

Hood Is the beginning of a series (don't know how long) wirtten by the exquisite Stephen R. Lawhead, and is aimed at the older pre-teens and younger teens.

It presents itself in a war-torn England with very believable characters, situations, and everyday living in medieval times. It does vary from the accepted myth/folk-lore, but its plausibility is endearing and profound.

I can't think of any more (at present) geared for children, apart from the Robin of Sherwood series by Richard Carpenter allied to the TV series (in the 90's???)

Tyler wrote: "I like to give great fantasy books to children as gifts. I find that children can hold great story lines in their heads. One of my favorites is Robin Hood. The version that I have is "The Merry Adv..."

Howard Pyle wrote and illustrated what many consider the classic modern era retelling of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood with the wonderful, Victorian faux Olde English that I so much enjoy.
I have a version in hardback by Paul Creswick, with the most amazing illustrations imaginable by N.C. Wyeth.
Alexander Dumas (fils) wrote a version, Robin Hood, which is in my (bulging) Want to Read shelf. Sir Walter Scott also did Robin Hood.
A Goodreads search will turn up a daunting number of others.

N.B.: I just looked and the Creswood book is available for the Kindle free (without the beautiful color illustrations, of course): http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Hood-Paul...