What would it have been like to live in the Middle Ages, don a suit of shining armor, and defend castle and king? Knights tells the story of this elite class of warriors, the training they endured from a very young age, the heavy weaponry they used, the intricacy of their chivalric code, the jousts and tournaments they competed in, and the castles that formed the center of their world. Children will learn about, and get to see in fascinating images, all the complicated components that made up their armor, the colorful heraldic symbols that signified their loyalties, and the evolution of castle architecture, from simple motte-and-bailey structures to formidable fortified stone buildings with moats, towers, and defensive battlements. There’s even information on leisure pursuits, such as hunting and falconry. In addition, the book describes the two significant periods of knightly warfare in the Middle Ages—the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War between England and France—as  well as the history surrounding that greatest of legendary knights, King Arthur, head of the Knights of the Round Table. Along with spectacular art and maps, the special interactive items include booklets, sliders, and fold-out pages.