Book of Beasts [Hardcover]

E. Nesbit (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1988

As young King Lionel turns the pages of his magical book, a hungry red dragon and other creatures in the illustrations come to life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Abridged and illustrated by Inga Moore, E. Nesbit's The Book of Beasts, originally published in 1900, makes a handsome picture-book edition. A boy king, fascinated by the Palace library, unwittingly unlocks a magical world lying dormant between the covers of a book. But in the process, he also releases a fire-breathing Red Dragon. Rendered in ink, oil pastels and oil paint, Moore's stunning illustrations spill over with a humor that also pervades in the text (e.g., "Master Lionel, dear, they've come to fetch you to go and be king," reads Nurse's thought bubble on the first page).

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Originally published as part of Nesbit's A Book of Dragons in 1900, this carefully abridged version of the story retains the cadence and flavor of the original while omitting much of the extraneous detail (including mention of the boy's punishments for misbehavior). In this quaint tale, young Lionel suddenly learns that he is King, and in touring his Palace, he comes across The Book of Beasts in the library, magically releasing the realistic and fantastic creatures in the illustrations as he turns the pages. When he allows a large Red Dragon to escape and it begins to eat groups of people (and all the pussycats in the town), the boy King must find a creature that can help him to force it back into the book. Moore has created large full- and double-page illustrations for most of the story, along with a few vignettes-all of them showing caricature-style courtiers and animals rendered in ink, oil pastel, and oil paints. The wonderful Red Dragon and the Hippogriff-a lovely winged white horse-are especially charming. Some illustrations include conversation balloons. In comparison with Nesbit's own full text illustrated by Annabel Spenceley (Dial, 1988; o.p.), Moore's simplified edition is more easily read aloud, and her large, colorful illustrations hold more child appeal.

Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 30 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (September 30, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803704739
• ISBN-13: 978-0803704732
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,946,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 100 YEARS LATER AND IT STILL ENCHANTS, November 20, 2001

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Beasts (Hardcover)

This reissue of the classic tale by E. Nesbit originally published in 1900 is more than welcome, it's a joy. Abridged and illustrated by Inga Moore it will fascinate and entertain another generation of youngsters.

The Book Of Beasts revolves around Lionel, a young boy who learns that he is to be king. He is informed of this startling news by two elderly robed gentlemen wearing gold coronets "with velvet sticking up out of the middle like cream in jam tarts."

After being crowned he is delighted to find a wondrous library in the palace. Lionel is drawn to a large brown book that lay on a table; it was titled "The Book Of Beasts." When he opened it he saw a painting of a beautiful butterfly. Most amazing of all, the butterfly flew right off the page!

Even though the chancellor warned him not to look at the book, Lionel crept back to the library during the night and looked at the book once more, and he looked again the next day when, horrors, he came upon a page marked "Dragon," and the most fearsome beast was released.

Now, it has fallen to King Lionel to find another beast in the magic book, another beast strong and brave enough to defeat the dragon so that the people will be saved.

One hundred years later The Book Of Beasts still enchants.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Watch Out For That Dragon!, November 21, 2001

By 

Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Beasts (Hardcover)

This book is a lot of fun, sparkling with the wit of E.Nesbit and filled with fantastic beasts that stir up quite a bit of trouble for a little boy whose great-great-great-great-great grandfather has died and left a kingdom to him. The original, unabridged version was written in 1900 and is included in a collection of stories called "The Book of Dragons". Inge Moore's new version of the story of the Book of Beasts is a wonderful opportunity for us to enjoy these fun-filled characters and the gentle humour of this great childrens' author.
Meet the Blue Bird of Paradise, the huge Red Dragon,the Manticora, and the beautiful Hippogriff and discover young King Lionel's thoughtful solutions to the problems they create when they spring to life straight off the pages of the magical Book of Beasts.
Moore's illustrations are colorful and comic and I enjoyed them a lot. I am so pleased that this captivating E. Nesbit tale is once again available to a wide readership. Don't miss it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant favorite!, July 6, 2005

By 

busybooklover "Mary" (Southern CALIF, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Beasts (Hardcover)

My daughter (6) and I loved this story. Imaginative, beautiful illustrations. Told skillfully with charming style, wit and a refreshing sense of resoursefulness. This one is a keeper! =)