Digory the Dragon Slayer [Paperback]

Angela McAllister (Author), Ian Beck (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Nothing much ever happens to Digory during his walks through the forest. He mostly plays his lute and writes beautiful songs to sing. But one day, he finds a dragon's tooth and his village assumes he's slayed a dragon! They immediately make him a knight and send him off in search of other dragons to slay. Will Digory be able to face a snarling dragon but live to be an ordinary boy again?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5–Digory is the laughingstock of Batty-by-Noodle because he prefers singing and exploring to fighting. When he returns from a stroll with a dragon's tooth stuck in his hat, the villagers assume that he killed the creature to get it. The neighborhood squire is so impressed with the boy's apparent valor that he immediately dubs him a knight and sends him off into the world to perform heroic deeds and find a princess to marry–undertakings that Digory would prefer to avoid. During his travels, he stops off at the castle of King Widget to inquire if there are any knightly tasks that need doing. While he is making himself useful around the keep, he meets Princess Enid, who shares his fondness for poetry, songs, and expeditions. When the King offers him a permanent place, Digory is elated–until he learns that he'll have to slay the local dragon first. In this affectionate send-up of heroic fantasy, Digory is a reluctant knight who gamely tries to live up to the role of dauntless hero, while Enid is a refreshingly independent princess. The amusing black-and-white drawings add to the mock-medieval fun. The lighthearted plot and the strong underlying message about courage and individuality make this a good choice for fantasy fans.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Angela McAllister has written a dozen books for Bloomsbury, including Trust Me, Mom! and Little Blue Rabbit.

Ian Beck is a prolific freelance illustrator who created the cover for Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. His books for children include versions of Peter and the Wolf and many fairy tales. He lives in England.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582349126
• ISBN-13: 978-1582349121
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,161,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Digory finds himself in trouble and out of his depth in this engaging tale, September 14, 2006

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digory the Dragon Slayer (Paperback)

Nothing much ever happens to Digory during his forest walks until one day he finds a dragon's tooth, prompting the village to think he is a dragon slayer. When he's made a knight and sent to search other dragons to slay, Digory finds himself in trouble and out of his depth in this engaging tale.