|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
Books in Canada
“Beware of barons bringing broadswords to breakfast.”
Alphabet books are a wonderful way to introduce letters to small children while also providing pleasant activity time with them, especially when the book appeals to the adult as well. Martin Springett’s first authored and illustrated work is guaranteed to do just that. His artwork is well-known from the covers of many Canadian fantasy novels, in particular his iconic jackets of the early editions of Guy Gavriel Kay’s best-selling series, the Fionavar Tapestry. In evidence here is the same classical yet distinctive style, intricate detail, fanciful images, and glorious colours.
“Leap lightly over lolling leprechauns.“
Both adult and child will pore over the pictures again and again. Indeed, Springett encourages such scrutiny with a challenge to his readers to find objects in each page beginning with the featured letter. (Words are listed on both publisher’s and author’s websites.)
“Speak special spells speedily.”
The book tells the tale of Dennis the dragon, newly hatched from the egg and in search of his flame. Accompanied by the protean jester of the title, the little dragon sets out on a quest for knowledge, maturity, and the fire of life. His adventures take him through a magical, humorous, and sometimes challenging world of dwarves, elves, fairies, friendly animals, gnomes, magicians, poets, trolls, and more.
“Unyoke the unruly unicorn!”
There are two magnificent double-page spreads for the letter Q-“Queue quietly for queenly quests”-which are truly exQuisite. Petitioners from previous pages line up before a golden-gowned queen sitting in her ornate hall. All the major scenes are also enhanced with miniature tableaus; in one instance, a frog can be seen having tea with two imps on a tree trunk within the greater image of a troll stalking past a medieval castle.
The overall benign and gentle tone is ideal for bedtime and likely to encourage sweet dreams. The book itself has been praised by no less a luminary in children’s literature than Pauline Baynes, the original illustrator of the Chronicles of Narnia.
OR Melling (Books in Canada)
Alphabet books are a wonderful way to introduce letters to small children while also providing pleasant activity time with them, especially when the book appeals to the adult as well. Martin Springett’s first authored and illustrated work is guaranteed to do just that. His artwork is well-known from the covers of many Canadian fantasy novels, in particular his iconic jackets of the early editions of Guy Gavriel Kay’s best-selling series, the Fionavar Tapestry. In evidence here is the same classical yet distinctive style, intricate detail, fanciful images, and glorious colours.
“Leap lightly over lolling leprechauns.“
Both adult and child will pore over the pictures again and again. Indeed, Springett encourages such scrutiny with a challenge to his readers to find objects in each page beginning with the featured letter. (Words are listed on both publisher’s and author’s websites.)
“Speak special spells speedily.”
The book tells the tale of Dennis the dragon, newly hatched from the egg and in search of his flame. Accompanied by the protean jester of the title, the little dragon sets out on a quest for knowledge, maturity, and the fire of life. His adventures take him through a magical, humorous, and sometimes challenging world of dwarves, elves, fairies, friendly animals, gnomes, magicians, poets, trolls, and more.
“Unyoke the unruly unicorn!”
There are two magnificent double-page spreads for the letter Q-“Queue quietly for queenly quests”-which are truly exQuisite. Petitioners from previous pages line up before a golden-gowned queen sitting in her ornate hall. All the major scenes are also enhanced with miniature tableaus; in one instance, a frog can be seen having tea with two imps on a tree trunk within the greater image of a troll stalking past a medieval castle.
The overall benign and gentle tone is ideal for bedtime and likely to encourage sweet dreams. The book itself has been praised by no less a luminary in children’s literature than Pauline Baynes, the original illustrator of the Chronicles of Narnia.
OR Melling (Books in Canada)
Review
"Springett's artwork...is rich and vibrant. Children will love its deep colours and quirky details... Highly recommended." (CM Magazine 20061102)
"Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be another twist on the old alphabet book format, someone comes up with a fresh, funny, clever version like this one. A child dragon with as yet no fire to breathe out, goes on a quest for his flame following this A-Z instruction manual. He encounters all sorts of sympathetic and endearing medieval characters and creatures, each dancing across the page with its own humourous vitality. Clusters of objects beginning with each letter of the alphabert, all to do with medieval myths and stories, are hidden in lovely fairytale landscapes." (Times-Colonist 20061001)
"What a wonderful book! ... amazing illustrations and entertaining anecdotes... A great bedtime book, or one for anytime!" (Teensreadtoo )
"There is plenty here to entertain, intrigue and challenge, all handsomely and colourfully presented and with the most appealing little hero. It is a delightful medieval journey, and alphabet puzzle, and a pleasure." (Deakin Newsletter )
"Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be another twist on the old alphabet book format, someone comes up with a fresh, funny, clever version like this one. A child dragon with as yet no fire to breathe out, goes on a quest for his flame following this A-Z instruction manual. He encounters all sorts of sympathetic and endearing medieval characters and creatures, each dancing across the page with its own humourous vitality. Clusters of objects beginning with each letter of the alphabert, all to do with medieval myths and stories, are hidden in lovely fairytale landscapes." (Times-Colonist 20061001)
"What a wonderful book! ... amazing illustrations and entertaining anecdotes... A great bedtime book, or one for anytime!" (Teensreadtoo )
"There is plenty here to entertain, intrigue and challenge, all handsomely and colourfully presented and with the most appealing little hero. It is a delightful medieval journey, and alphabet puzzle, and a pleasure." (Deakin Newsletter )
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Kids @ Teens Read Too,
By TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jousting With Jesters (Hardcover)
What a wonderful book! My kids absolutely loved it, and I have to say I'm quite partial to it myself. This is the A-Z story of Dennis the Dragon, and his quest to find his flame and return to Castle Yarrow as a full-grown, fire-breathing dragon.From "Avoid aunties armed with arrows" to "As Auntie always says, 'Zoom with Zest!'," this is an alphabet-filled picture book with amazing illustrations and entertaining anecdotes. As a bonus, kids can search each page for objects that begin with the letter of that particular page's storyline. A great bedtime book, or one for anytime! Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
5.0 out of 5 stars
An ABC for your own little "Younger Dragon!",
By Dave "Fantasy Fan" (Victoria, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jousting With Jesters (Hardcover)
This is a dandy little book - it follows a young dragon from his birth through to getting his flame, his wings, and his place in life. Little Dennis pops out of the egg and then travels on a quest though a magical medieval English landscape - a trip that also takes him through the seasons and the alphabet.The metaphor of acquiring knowledge, skill and growth as he travels through the letters A to Z may not be "got" by the young reader but it's a sure a nice subtext that parents or grandparents can appreciate as they read to their own little ones. Like Peter Pan and Wind in the Willows it's got 2 levels - one for the adults, one for the kids. I found the kids really liked the colourful and detailed illustrations and loved searching for the items in each picture that begin with the letter they're on (I did too!), and of course there's always the "bad guy" to find peeping out. Makes learning fun. Clever alliterations. Who knew you had to Manage Magicians with Marmalade?
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning!,
By
This review is from: Jousting With Jesters (Hardcover)
This is a beautifully illustrated and engaging book for the young and young at heart. Children will be enchanted as they accompany Dennis the Dragon on his quest to find his flame. They will, no doubt, delight in searching for all of the alphabetical references in the illustrations on each page, all the while happily learning initial letter sounds. As an educator with over three decades of classroom experience I highly recommend this whimsical romp through the alphabet.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
