- Hardcover: 54 pages
- Publisher: Walker Books Ltd; New edition edition (5 April 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0744586380
- ISBN-13: 978-0744586381
- Product Dimensions: 29.2 x 24 x 1.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,291,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
This story reads aloud very well for 6 to 9 years olds, but appeals to older children for reading to themselves. The double significance escapes the younger ones, who enjoy the story for itself. A chapter from Dream Days, now for the first time available in a volume by itself. It suggests Ferdinand in the story of the dragon that did not want to fight. (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Everyone knows St George has to do battle with the dragon, but what can the boy do when the dragon simply won't fight St George? This is a timeless children's classic from Kenneth Grahame.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Kenneth Grahame was a wonderful writer. His prose style was technically accomplished, the cadences of his sentences beautifully judged: he was a man with an ear for a finely tuned phrase. More than that: he had a distinctive, subtle, very English sense of humour, and he never treated his readers as though they were mentally defective, simply because they were children. This book, in it's original form, is a tiny masterpiece. The cormudgeonly dragon is a sort of grumpy old man avant la lettre. I loved him. Sadly though this edition of the book hasn't just been illustrated by Inga Moore, it's also been 'carefully abridged' by her: that is to say 'denatured' and 'rendered anodyne and sickly'. All the charming gentle humour, all the beautiful writing is gone. In it's fullest form the book only runs to 80 something pages. Why abridge it? And if you're going to abridge it and interfere with it why put Grahame's name on the cover? It seems like a deliberate attempt to to wreck his reputation and deny him to future generations of readers. Please either leave these books alone or publish them as they were. They can't be improved upon.
Format:Hardcover
I did not read the unabridged version. The beautiful illustrations and gentle humour made buy this book after having borrowed it from the library.I bought it because it is a beautiful book and my then 4-5yr old daughter and I both loved it.Books for children which are clever and gentle and beautiful to look at are quite rare.We also have The Book of Beasts by E.Nesbit illustrated by Inga Moore.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Wag the Dog.
5 Feb 2004
Format:Paperback
This delightful story tells the tale of a boy who meets a kindly dragon on the edge of town. The boy and the dragon become friends and start spending a lot of time together. Then the people of the town find out about the dragon and send for St. George. The boy meets with St. George and takes him to meet the dragon. All three soon become friends and find themselves in a quandry. George doesn't want to kill the dragon and the dragon has no desire to kill George. A plan is hatched and at the end of the story everyone lives happily.
It's really great reading this to younger children. It's got a great message about not prejudging others. It also shows how people can sometimes get everything they want, without anyone having to get hurt by it. That doesn't happen often, but it's nice to be reminded now and again that it can.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A Brilliantly Written Satirical Fantasy
28 Jun 2010
Format:Paperback
The Reluctant Dragon is a mild-mannered specimen of his breed who, unlike the "active and earnest" fellows who used to charge around battling knights, has survived long enough to develop his passion for poetry. He is befriended by an intelligent young shepherd boy, who is placed in an awkward position when the villagers discover the dragon's presence. Although the dragon has harmed no one, the villagers are so aroused that they call on Saint George to battle this "pestilential scourge." When Saint George arrives the dragon flatly refuses to fight, and the boy is left to find a solution to the impasse.
This is a brilliantly written satirical fantasy, lambasting the traditional knight-and-dragon stories and providing a wonderful protagonist that boys of all ages (and many girls) will want to identify with. The fantastical pleasure of friendship with a dragon is enhanced by encounters with the famous knight, a theatrical battle, and plenty of intelligent wit to amuse both children and adults. The language is advanced, suitable for reading aloud or for confident self-readers. Some of the humor will be above young readers' heads, but there is enough action to make it interesting for younger ages.
The original classic version is charmingly illustrated in pen-and-ink by Ernest Shepard (who also illustrated the Winnie-the-Pooh books), but for younger readers a more colorful version may be more appealing. There is a visually pleasing paraphrase by Inga Moore, which unfortunately preserves almost none of Grahame's marvelous prose. The unabridged edition by Michael Hague has lavish illustrations on almost every page, and it is my favorite version.
This is a brilliantly written satirical fantasy, lambasting the traditional knight-and-dragon stories and providing a wonderful protagonist that boys of all ages (and many girls) will want to identify with. The fantastical pleasure of friendship with a dragon is enhanced by encounters with the famous knight, a theatrical battle, and plenty of intelligent wit to amuse both children and adults. The language is advanced, suitable for reading aloud or for confident self-readers. Some of the humor will be above young readers' heads, but there is enough action to make it interesting for younger ages.
The original classic version is charmingly illustrated in pen-and-ink by Ernest Shepard (who also illustrated the Winnie-the-Pooh books), but for younger readers a more colorful version may be more appealing. There is a visually pleasing paraphrase by Inga Moore, which unfortunately preserves almost none of Grahame's marvelous prose. The unabridged edition by Michael Hague has lavish illustrations on almost every page, and it is my favorite version.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
A Treasure!
11 May 2002
Format:Paperback
Author of historical fiction.
This book is a treasure for your library. It brings endless pleasure, and is the kind of story that spans all ages.
It is the tale of a boy and his dragon who lives up on the Downs. In spite of the bad reputation dragons have, the boy and he become quick friends. Saint George shows up to do battle with the reluctant lizard, and the boy arranges a mock battle, unbeknown to the villagers that pleases everyone.
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