King Jack and the dragon

by Peter Bently

Other authorsHelen Oxenbury (Artist.), Derek Jacobi (Narrator.)

CD audiobook, 2014

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Genres

Children's Books

Collection

Your library

Publication

London : Puffin, 2014.

Description

Jack, Zack, and Caspar build a castle fort, then spend a day fighting dragons and beasts, but at day's end giants carry away first Sir Zack, then Caspar, and King Jack is left to face night creatures alone.

Media reviews

Catholic Library World

Timeless illustrations help tell this story of little boys fighting imagined dragons and beasts. The author uses rhyme so children can understand the pattern and pace of the language in relation to the activity taking place in the narrative. King Jack’s realm consists of a cardboard fort in the

backyard, his army is his baby brother and a friend, and the king and his knights feast on sandwiches and cupcakes. As bedtime approaches, the knights return home to their parents. The sights and sounds of the night test Jack’s bravery until his parents carry him home for a bath and bedtime. The feeling of safety depicted in the story when Jack’s parents take him inside to bed is a reminder of simple, cozy things. Young children will relate to the feelings of bravery during the day and fear at night. The concept of children using their imaginations and creativity without technology is part of the charm of this book. This is a wonderful story for bedtime, a fitting final selection for a story time, or a calming end-of-school read aloud. The soft, simple illustrations will help young minds settle down. The artwork has just enough detail to be interesting without being distracting. Recommended for preschool and day care libraries and grade school libraries.

Show Less

User reviews

LibraryThing member debnance

Jack makes a castle for himself and his friends and they spend the day fighting dragons and other beasts. Then night comes and, slowly, one by one, the friends go home to bed. Jack tries to be brave and stay the night, but soon his parents come and carry him off to bed.

Beautiful illustrations and

rhyming text make for a lovely story.

“Jack, Zack, and Caspar
were making a den---
a mighty great fort for King Jack and his men….

‘Prepare to do battle, brave knights!’
cried King Jack.
‘Protect your king’s castle
from dragon attack!’”

Show Less

5 more

LibraryThing member JohannaJ

I really liked the art in this book. Plus, i'm a sucker for rhyming book. It's a story about three boys making believe. Very sweet.

LibraryThing member akmargie

Cute, rhyming story for monster/fairy tale storytime.

LibraryThing member Sullywriter

Wonderful portrait of childhood imagination and play.

LibraryThing member drhode3

The book “King jack and the dragon” is a story that revolves around three little boys who like to play pretend as knights fighting dragons. The story is told from the perspective of a little child and it has its own unique literary style to it. For example, they call the parents “giants”

when they come and take away the children for bed. Also when King Jacks parents come to get him he didn’t understand that it was his parents further showing the child like perspective of the book. It uses a poetic style to tell the story like rhyming sticks with bricks, and Jack with attack. This story has three children of different ages and of different races, and is a great book to foster creativity.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV

I love the juxtaposition of retro style art, and dragons and knights and building a fort in the yard and using your imagination, with the parents wearing ragged jeans and flip-flops and the neighbor boy who is Black. ?�A wonderful companion to Going on a Bear Hunt by Rosen and Oxenbury. ?Ã¡This

has a nice meter & rhyme, too, for joy of reading aloud.

Show Less

Fewer