This is a magical, rhyming bedtime picture book starring brave King Jack, a band of faithful knights and a big green dragon. Raaahhh! It is illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, the award-winning artist of "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" and "Alice in Wonderland". Jack, Zak and Caspar were making a den, a mighty great fort for King Jack and his men...Night is falling, bedtime is looming and playtime is nearly over ...but brave King Jack is more than a match for dragons and terrible beasties. This magical make-believe adventure, illustrated by picture book star Helen Oxenbury, is the perfect bedtime tale for little boys and brave children everywhere. Normal 0 0 1 65 373 Puffin 3 1 458 11.1287 0 0 0 Generations of children have been charmed by Helen Oxenbury's award-winning illustrations. Helen has won the Kate Greenaway medal and the Nestle Smarties prize. Her numerous books include "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen and "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carrol. Peter Bently started writing for children soon after becoming a parent and now lives in Devon with his wife, Lucy and their children Theo (alias King Jack) and Tara.
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Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
“At once contemporary and classic.”
(The New York Times )“Though the characters are wholly modern, there is a timelessness to the cycle of excitement, apprehension and parental comfort that should give this lovely book a long stay on the nursery shelf.”
(The Wall Street Journal )* “It’s an enchanting tribute to both full-throttle pretend play and the reassurance of a parent’s embrace.”
(Publishers Weekly, starred review )* “A tale of make-believe that children will delight in hearing again and again.”
(School Library Journal, starred review )“The rhyming verse, large trim size, and detailed illustrations…make this a suitable story for group sharing, while the sweet, intimate tone will make it a family favorite.”
(Booklist )“From this simple premise of imaginative play, Bently and Oxenbury create a classically sweet picture book.”
(Horn Book )“This one is sure to become a full-on family favorite at bedtime.”
(The Washington Post )“Altogether, ‘King Jack’ is just about perfect.”
(The Sacramento Bee )
About the Author
Peter Bently lives in Devon, England, with his wife and their two children.
Helen Oxenbury, the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes and We're Going on a Bear Hunt, lives with her husband, the illustrator John Burningham, in North London, England.
Helen Oxenbury, the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes and We're Going on a Bear Hunt, lives with her husband, the illustrator John Burningham, in North London, England.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"King Jack and the Dragon" is pure delight from beginning to end. Upon reading it, adults will reminisce on times gone by and youngsters will begin building castles in their own mind's eye.
Peter Bently's text has a rhythmical lilt that carries readers from one page to the next. And Helen Oxenbury's charming illustrations, which range from sparse to magical, will be examined time and time again. When the two elements come together it's perfection, playing to the words in some places and illustrations in others.
There's a classic feel to "King Jack and the Dragon" similar to that of Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are." It's the type of book you want to share with your children and they'll want to share with their own.
Peter Bently's text has a rhythmical lilt that carries readers from one page to the next. And Helen Oxenbury's charming illustrations, which range from sparse to magical, will be examined time and time again. When the two elements come together it's perfection, playing to the words in some places and illustrations in others.
There's a classic feel to "King Jack and the Dragon" similar to that of Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are." It's the type of book you want to share with your children and they'll want to share with their own.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
At first, I was skeptical. I didn't think this book would work well in story time. The illustrations are beautifully drawn, but they are fine line, and some are black and white. I wondered if kids would have the patience for this story of imagination. After reading it to many preschool groups this week, I have my answer. This book was such a great success I plan on purchasing another copy for my permanent story time collection.
The illustrations which begin in black and white, erupt off the page into muted but colorful tones as the imaginations of our three little boys fire up in all their dragon and beastie chasing glory. The story then turns to a tale of suspense as our intrepid King Jack finds himself in the dark all by himself. Once again, the illustrations are perfect as they beautifully convey a dark summer night and a small boy trying to be brave but finally deciding that being King isn't all it's cracked up to be.
The writing is wonderful and possesses a read aloud flow that is so smooth it is easy for the story reader to maximize every triumphant and scary moment. When combined with these illustrations you cannot help but think of Max from Where The Wild Things Are. The story has a timeless feel that is guaranteed to leave your audience rapt. I wouldn't be surprised if this book inspires quite a bit of future fort building and dragon fighting. An enthusiastic read-aloud recommend.
The illustrations which begin in black and white, erupt off the page into muted but colorful tones as the imaginations of our three little boys fire up in all their dragon and beastie chasing glory. The story then turns to a tale of suspense as our intrepid King Jack finds himself in the dark all by himself. Once again, the illustrations are perfect as they beautifully convey a dark summer night and a small boy trying to be brave but finally deciding that being King isn't all it's cracked up to be.
The writing is wonderful and possesses a read aloud flow that is so smooth it is easy for the story reader to maximize every triumphant and scary moment. When combined with these illustrations you cannot help but think of Max from Where The Wild Things Are. The story has a timeless feel that is guaranteed to leave your audience rapt. I wouldn't be surprised if this book inspires quite a bit of future fort building and dragon fighting. An enthusiastic read-aloud recommend.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By bd
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a beautifully written book that I have loved to read to my son. Short text on each page makes it an ideal book for encouraging children to read it with you or pick out words to say when you are reading it out loud to them. Perfect length for a bed time story. The illustrations are beautiful as well. Highly recommended for any child, especially those whose name is Jack!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't Slay This Dragon
I love his books and was looking forward to this one so I was a little bit disappointed. I'll read it to the kids in my classes and I know they will enjoy it. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Marion A. Knott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this book!
Gave this book as a gift to an out-of-town nephew based on its many "notable book" selections. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Karen A McCoy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
I have learned that there really aren't a lot of great kids' books out there. We read ALL the time, and more times than not I think the book is lame or poorly written. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars
A bedtime favorite
My 2-year-old loves this book at bedtime (and naptime). I really like reading this book to him and even after several weeks it doesn't seem to get old. Read more
Published 5 months ago by S. Schwarz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very cute make-believe book
Combining adventure with bed-time -- what's not to like? Helen Oxenbury's immediately recognizable illustrationscombine with fun read-aloud rhymes. Read more
Published 8 months ago by M. Heiss
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet book, could be better...
King Jack and the Dragon is a sweet book appropriate for one-on-one reading and storytime for a small group. Read more
Published 8 months ago by T. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful story and illustrations!!
I got this book from the library for my 4 yr old. Of course, the title caught my eye because my son's name is Jack.
This is a wonderful story of a child's imagination. Read more
This is a wonderful story of a child's imagination. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D. Wilk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book for the 3-6 year old crowd
I purchased this book for my 3 year-old grandson who has developed a fascination with dragons through his older brother's interest in all things knights. Read more
Published 15 months ago by R Beverley Baxter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Son Loves It
We got this book from the library and now I'm buying it. My two year old son keeps asking for it by name.
Published 15 months ago by Katie Koehler
4.0 out of 5 stars
`Prepare to do battle, brave knights!'
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. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Debnance at Readerbuzz
