Author: PITCHER, CAROLINE
Title: The Winter Dragon
Description: Frances Lincoln. 2003. (ISBN: 9780711221000). Hardcover, 27cm. Hardback - Pub Francis Lincoln - 2003 - good condition - PreSchool-Grade 2 - During winter, Rory likes to stay inside his warm house and play. One day he makes an emerald green dragon with glittery eyes and a brilliant red crest and places him on his bed. The boy is afraid of the dark, but, miraculously, the dragon springs to life and comforts him with his ability to shine in the night. Throughout the season, the creature keeps Rory physically warm, soothes his fears by standing guard at bedtime, and tells him stories of when the "world was young." However, by springtime, the dragon longs to return to his own home, the "melting middle of the earth" (the wood stove), and tells Rory that it's time for him to go. When winter returns, memories of the dragon and the times they shared help Rory get through the "darkness." Williams's muted, impressionistic illustrations done in oil pastels are suited to this tale of dreams and dream worlds. However, the text is lightweight and underdeveloped. Wavering between being a tale about facing fears and one about a toy that comes to life, the story never comes together. - Young Rory makes a dragon, painting him emerald green with glitter eyes and a red crest. It is winter, and Rory hates the dark, cold shadows that surround him at bedtime. But lo! His dragon glows green in the night and warms his slippers and his bed. "I am the Winter Dragon," he proclaims. He even warms Rory's bath and tells him fascinating tales in a tumble of wonderful images: "bonfires and beacons," "elf-kings and treasure-hoards." When spring finally comes, the Winter Dragon explains that he longs to return to the fiery center of the earth, and so he goes. Rory is left filled with the dragon's stories, "like bright armour in the dark." This fanciful tale makes a lovely bedtime telling; its soft but richly textured illustrations, from the quiet of a hushed bedroom to a wild dragon rumpus, strike just the right notes of strength and solace. Used: Acceptable.

Keywords: 9780711221000