Genre: Traditional: Folktale
Age Range: Independent 1st-4th. It is longer than an average children's literature book and is adapted from a larger story from the Brothers Grimm. Because of it's length and challenging words, for first and second graders it would be useful in story time as the illustrations can assist in keeping their attention. In third and fourth grade, the more independent readers will find it challenging enough without discouraging them.
Plot: This adaptation begins with Iron John locked in a cage in a king's collection of wild beasts. One day, the king's son Walter is playing in the collection and his ball bounces into Iron John's cage. Asking for the ball back, Iron John makes a deal that he will give the ball back if Walter releases him. Once releasing him, Walter asks to come with Iron John out of fear of his father. Iron John takes him and has him guard his hidden spring making sure nothing falls in. One day a hair falls in, the next Walter sticks his finger in, and the next, his hair. Iron John and Walter must part ways and Walter finds a king and asks for work. He gets work in the garden with Elsa under the name Walter-in-the-mud. One night the king throws a masquerade ball and Walter attends with the help of Iron John, throwing flowers to Elsa. Next with the help of Iron John, he disguised himself as a knight and won the jousting tournament giving the garland to Elsa. After the tournament, robbers ambush and kill the king and take away the princesses. Iron John helps Walter save them but Walter is badly wounded. Iron John, with his curse lifted, reveals himself a king to the weeping princesses and explains the only way for the golden knight to live is the with the tears of the maiden who loves him. Once the princesses find out it is Walter, they refuse! Elsa rushes to his side and cries relentlessly. Walter takes her as his bride and rides off with Iron John to their lands far away.
Characters: Iron John, Walter, Elsa, the Princesses.
Setting: Woods/countryside
Theme: Looks can be deceiving. Walter turned out to be a strong, brave knight but was disguised as a filthy worker and the princesses wrote him off as such.
Illustrations: Done by Trina Schart Hyman. The illustrations are mixed media using charcoal and water color. Realistic drawings help describe the scenes of the story.
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