Beowulf is a children’s retelling of the Old English heroic legend, adapted by Rob Lloyd Jones for the Usborne Young Reading series and illustrated by Victor Tavares. The story takes young readers to ancient Denmark, where the monster Grendel terrorizes King Hrothgar’s hall until the warrior Beowulf arrives from overseas to face the danger. Written in accessible chapters for children ready for longer stories, the book combines myth, adventure, battles with monsters and a clear heroic structure, while keeping the language manageable for independent reading. As a classic tale retold for young readers, it introduces themes of courage, loyalty, reputation and the risks of seeking glory, leaving space to think about what makes someone a hero when fear and violence shape the world around them.
Author: Rob Lloyd Jones
Publisher: Usborne Publishing
Publication year: 2009
Number of pages: 64
Original language: English
Target age: 7+