Stories of Don Quixote: Written Anew for Children -- James Baldwin

<p>In this classic book, Don Quixote, (who became utterly captivated by the enthralling tales of chivalry he devours), embarks on an audacious quest to become a knight himself. Accompanied by his loyal squire (the endearing Sancho Panza), the errant knight's adventures unfurl in a tapestry of wondrous and unexpected ways. While Quixote's boundless imagination often leads him astray (he tilts at windmills, imagining them to be giants), Sancho emerges with a growing cunning and certain sagacity. Together (as sane madman and wise fool), they roam the world-and together, they have continued to inhabit the dreams and imaginations of readers for nearly four centuries.</p><p>It's easy to focus on the adventures (or misadventures) of Don and Sancho in this book. To the surface reader, the classic simply describes (in a very exciting way) the unnecessary chaos and suffering caused by a would-be knight driven mad by over-reading the works of chivalry. More than that, however, Don Quixote gave birth to a new art form-a secular novel depicting disenchantment with the modern world. Wrapped into the text (as stories with potentially hidden meanings) is the tale of heroic daughter of a Moor who steals her father's riches and flees to Christendom. There is also a foolish Christian who steals her father's riches to run off with a soldier. And there is more, much more.</p><p>In addition to being one of the most translated and frequently read books of all time, Don Quixote delves into themes r