Module 2: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Alexander, L. (1964). The book of three. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Book Summary

Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper to Hen-Wen, a very special pig, is conscripted into the kind of adventure he always thought he wanted when forces in nature cause the ocular pig to run away. Charged with protecting the pig at any cost, Taran ventures into the forest, meeting magical and mystical beings, both good and bad as he attempts to find and save his pig.  He learns that real adventures aren't aren't necessarily the "stuff that dreams are made of."

Impressions and opinion of the book

The Book of Three is a delightful adventure based on Welsh folklore and myths.  Reminiscent of both King Arthur's knightly tales and the epic Lord of the Rings, Lloyd Alexander brings chivalry and valor to young adults using language they can understand.  Though aimed at a younger audience than most epic journeys, the author is not condescending. He might not have created whole new languages for his fantastical worlds and creatures in the first of his trilogy chronicling the adventures of those in Prydain , but he plays with the English language in a masterful and beautiful way. Despite the original publishing date of 1964, Alexander's cunning use of word and humor still hold up.  The characters come to life, leaving the reader to ponder if they actually existed in a far off time and place.

Luckily, even though the adventures might come to an end when the final page is turned, the reader can take solace in the knowledge that there are four more books in which to join Taran, Hen-Wen, Prince Gwydion, Eilonwy, and Fflewddur Fflam.  In addition, this novel serves as a great introduction to Welsh mythology and stories.  While often overlooked here in the States, Alexander hands North American children a wonderful gateway into the worlds of the Mabinogion.

Full-Text Review 

School Library Journal (January 1, 2015) 

Gr 4-7-While the general public may be more familiar with the second book in the series, The Black Cauldron, due to the 1985 Disney film adaptation, true fantasy lovers know The Book of Three as one of the most iconic and influential works of middle grade fiction from the 20th century. Based on Welsh mythology, the tale stars Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper on a hero's quest, joined by a comic cast of supporting characters. Filled with wit, wordplay, and an epic battle of good vs. evil, Alexander's novel helped pave the way for countless fantasy adventures. Included in this 50th anniversary edition is an introduction by Shannon Hale, an author's note, a rather helpful pronunciation guide, an interview with Lloyd Alexander, a story from The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain, and the first chapter of The Black Cauldron. The physical presentation will appeal to collectors; this edition features a deep red cloth binding accented with ornate gold and black illustrations on the cover, and deckled edges, befitting a classic. An absolute must-have for fantasy fans.

The Book of Three. (2015). School Library Journal, 61(1), 61.

Library Use

Filled with rich characters and timeless settings, The Book of Three would be a fitting introduction to fan fiction.  While the sites are somewhat outdated, there are many devoted to exploring Prydain and it's characters beyond where Lloyd Alexander left them in his final book,  The High King.  Allowing students to extend the stories would be beneficial in helping them internalize the meanings of and importance of character and plot development, not to mention truly empowering them to bring what they have read to life.

There is also a film adaptation of the first two novels in the series, The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron.  I'll admit, I always get excited when I discover that books for children and young adults have been re-imagined into movies.  I never think they are going to be better than the novel, and I would never use them in place of reading the book with students.  However, I think that after having read something, seeing the movies can often help students make concrete concepts and ideas from the novels that they might not have been able to conceive on their own.  It is important to train their visual imagery, and reading the author's version and then seeing Hollywood's interpretation opens the door for many rich conversations.  

In this particular case, the conversation might revolve around how Hollywood can really mess up a good thing.  In my humble opinion, the adaptation is just terrible.  I'm not sure there are any redeeming qualities, and I'm a Disney girl through and through.  I'm sure Walt Disney was rolling in his grave for this one, or at least wishing he could become one of the Cauldron-Born so he could at least seek revenge on the screenplay writer.  That being said, this would be a wonderful case and point to middle school or high school students to persuade them that the book is usually better than the movie (and also that it's not the smartest idea to watch the movie version instead of reading the book---especially if tests and quizzes are involved).  Filling out a graphic organizer on how they different would make this so clear with this particular case that one would not need an ocular pig to decipher the findings.