Children's Literature
- Susan Treadway M.Ed.
In the genre of fantasy stories, authors take us on exciting flights through an imaginary world of incredible magic, fanciful locations, likely based on ancient myths or legends. Generally, they are distinguished from science fiction by what they often lack. Scientific elements may or may not be part of such intriguing tales, and yet content from subject areas are incorporated. Dragons as central characters, for instance, have always been a common feature in fantasy. Whether they take on vibrant human qualities or remain more true to their animal nature is up to writers. Different dragon characters are highlighted in this particularly marvelous reprint edition that has the original drawings. It is a collection of eight diverse short stories that can be read at random, as read-alouds while snuggling before bedtime and for any age. In the process of enjoying delightful fun as told in the first person, several distinct aspects stand out. The setting is always an earlier period in England so that vocabulary and phrases reflect their way of speaking. Also, the author has a writing style reminiscent of more polished, classical renderings. An entire paragraph is one long sentence much of the time but is not verbose or dull. While highly descriptive and engaging, tales move along to a most satisfying conclusion and usually with a bit of sage advice. Lastly, rapt children are primary characters along with a most whimsical dragon. In every story unique insights come from the minds of young girls and boys, which adds to the whole experience. While fantasies are surely fiction, adventures of the most incredible kind are keenly real to youngsters. Even so, adults will also find that returning to faraway places is most worthwhile to meet smart kids, loving families, and harmless dragons through this reprinted collection. Reviewer: Susan Treadway, M.Ed.
Publishers Weekly
- Publisher's Weekly
And, the book from which it sprung, The Book of Dragons, which includes eight dragon stories originally published in The Strand magazine (according to an afterword), is available once more with H.R. Millar's original b&w illustrations and an otherworldly new cover by Caldecott Medal-winner Paul O. Zelinsky. ( Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Publishers Weekly
And, the book from which it sprung, The Book of Dragons, which includes eight dragon stories originally published in The Strand magazine (according to an afterword), is available once more with H.R. Millar's original b&w illustrations and an otherworldly new cover by Caldecott Medal-winner Paul O. Zelinsky. ( Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature
British author E. Nesbit (1858-1924) is probably best known in the United States for The Railway Children and Five Children and It, both seminal-and entrancing-works of children's literature. It's a pleasure, then, to have this long out of print book available again at last. The eight short stories enclosed are all about dragons and fairy tales. Nesbit takes both subjects and reinterprets them with charm and a sense of drollness nearly unknown to contemporary authors. Child kings and princesses without kingdoms-but with plenty of heart-people these stories, and the dragons only ever eat villains. Nesbit's tales are filled with a very old-fashioned sense of right and wrong, and a certain out-of-fashion sentimentality as well. They cry out to be read aloud, and what better reason is there for reading them aloud to one's children? 2001 (orig. 1900), SeaStar Books, $14.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
