The Book of Dragons [Paperback]

Michael Hague (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2005 | Age Level: 8 and up

Michael Hauge lends vivid and lavish illustrations to the ultimate collection of classic dragon lore, from Perseus and Andromeda, to St. George and the Dragon. Available for the first time in paperback!

o Michael Hague, famous for his illustration of classic tales such as The Hobbit and Wind in the Willows, does what he does best with this vibrant, imaginative depiction of the dragon world.

o This comprehensive collection contains re–tellings of Perseus and Andromeda, Sigurd and Fafnir, St. George and the Dragon, as well as writings by C. S. Lewis, Kenneth Grahame, J.R.R. Tolkien, and E. Nesbit.

o This paperback has all of the beauty of the hardcover interior at a much more cost–friendly price point.

o Publishers Weekly called The Book of Dragons "A deliciously old–fashioned storybook, delivering just the sort of fantasy Hague is best known for."

Ages 8+

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Take one first-rate collection of fire-breathing, scale-flashing, wing-flapping, tail-lashing dragon yarns. Lace it with elegant black-and-white line drawings and a generous dollop of unabashedly romantic color plates awash with vibrant hues. The result? A deliciously old-fashioned storybook, delivering just the sort of fantasy Hague is best known for. He pulls out all the stops for this one, using watercolors to present a diverse assortment of winged beasts. There are green dragons, red dragons, multi-headed dragons, even dragons that hint of the Orient with their long beards and manes. The stories-from such luminaries as Kenneth Grahame, J.R.R. Tolkien, E. Nesbit, Elizabeth Coatsworth and C.S. Lewis-are equally splendid. All ages.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6?Seventeen short selections that will appeal to lovers of dragons, fantasy, and folktales. A broad range of writing styles and plot twists are pulled together to provide readers with something fresh in each tale. Excerpts from classic novels such as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, C.S. Lewis's Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and short stories such as Kenneth Grahame's "The Reluctant Dragon" are included. In addition, there are folktales from China, Italy, and Germany. Most of the heroes are men, but occasionally children are the only ones who can outsmart the dragon. In "Li Chi Slays the Serpent," it is a young girl who conquers the beast. Hague's beautiful full-page watercolors reflect the different moods of the stories and the temperaments of the dragons depicted. A pen-and-ink drawing of a dragon announces each new selection; delicately detailed line drawings appear throughout. The combination of well-selected stories and excerpts and dramatic artwork make The Book of Dragons a fine addition to library collections.?Dawn Ibey, Vancouver Public Library, Canada
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060759682
• ISBN-13: 978-0060759681
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #828,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lovely book of dragon tales, October 3, 2004

By 

Lisa M. Bednar "ehlana37" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

My daughter (6 yo) and I are reading this book together, and both she and I love it. The book has stories and exerpts selected by Michael Hague, and has been illustrated by him too. The illustrations are simply amazing.

The content of the book is also quite good. The stories are exerpts from a variety of authors, from J.R.R. Tolkien's _The Hobbit_, to C.S. Lewis. Some are dragon fairy tales that stand on their own. Some stories have a humorous bent. Both adults and children will love these stories and illustrations.

The reading level is around 9 - 12 years of age, though a younger child will enjoy reading with an adult and looking at the beautiful illustrations. This would be a wonderful addition to any children's home library.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful collection of stories with great illustrations.., June 11, 2000

By 

Laura Haggarty (Northern KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

This book is perfect for any young person, or person young at heart, who loves dragons. It features many of the marvelous illustrations by that master of fantasy, Michael Hague, accompanying 17 classic tales of dragons and their prey.

The tales range in place setting from China to England, Scandinavia to Narnia. The dragons themselves range from fearsome to foolish, rage-filled to reluctant, and everything in-between. If you or your child love dragons and their stories, don't hesitate to buy this book!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars pretty interesting, September 26, 2004

By 

person (California) - See all my reviews

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

I first read this book when i was in fifth grade.I think it would also be good for kids who are under 13. It's a pretty good easy read book.

It had ok stories about people who fought dragons and stuff like that. Most of the stories where pretty interesting and that I've never seen before, but the real thing that I liked about the book was the illistrations. The are really eye catching.