Chris Logue, age 10, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for his question:

Was Robin Hood a real person?

The tales of Robin Hood go back almost a thousand years. If there is any proof that he really lived, surely it must have been lost long ago, so nobody can say for certain whether there really was a famous outlaw of this name. Many people would like to believe that the tales are based on a real character. But most experts suspect that such a person never existed. And in any case, at this late date we are not likely to find proof either way.

The tales are just as exciting, whether they are true or not. But let's face it, Robin and his merry men were outlaws who stole for a living. He claimed to share his loot with the poor and he claimed to be true to the king. But most of his loot was stolen tax money and deer stolen from the king's forest. Maybe Robin Hood was a bit of a phony    but those old tales are very fascinating.