Title: Iron John

Author: Eric Kimmel

Illustrator: Trina Schart Hymen

Copyright date: 1994

Publisher: Holiday House

Summary: A rich king holds the wildman named Iron John prisoner in his collection of odd creatures. When the king's son frees him, the prince and the wildman run to the forest, where Iron John is the king. The prince is charged with the task of protecting Iron John's magical spring that can turn anything into gold. As he ages, the prince makes mistakes that lead to his hair turning gold and the destruction of the magic spring. When this happens, the prince is sent to a kingdom outside hte forest where is employed in the garden and meets a girl named Elsa. The prince works hard to secretly impress Elsa until he is wounded in a battle. Iron John reveals to the outside kingdom that he is aking and that a girl who loves the prince must shed tears in order to save him from death. Elsa does this and marries the prince.

Media for illustration: Oil paint

Perfect student: This book is perfect for students who like fairytales, princes and princesses, and adventure stories.

Common Core State Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.2 Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral. This book works well with this standard because it is a folktale. It could be used by students to study the characteristics of folktales, would be easily understood, and has clear messages that students could recount.