Disclosure: I received a free download of this book. Opinions shared are mine.

Now that my children are both double-digit ages, I don’t get to read many books for little children.  The Knight in Battered Armor is illustrated in a way that will appeal to younger ones, but the story is one that older kids will appreciate. 

The vocabulary in this story is quite advanced.  For example, terms such as “slick stranger” and “dramatic flair that demanded attention” might be too nuanced for the younger crowd.  Most toddlers won’t recognize the word “decimate.”  You could use this as an opportunity to teach your child how to use context clues.  I think it would be hard to determine the plot from the illustrations, though, which is how many children infer the story.

The characters are vivid and captivating, though.  Young readers will enjoy the contrast between the good guy and bad guy.  The Knight in Battered Armor follows the typical fairy tale format with an emphasis on looking past appearances.  Ironically, I read this in ebook format, and I think that took away from my reading experience.  Perhaps it would be more interesting in print.  The illustrations don’t match the descriptive storyline, which is so important when reading a picture book.