Sir Ryan's Quest [Hardcover]

Jason Deeble (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Mountains, jungles, caves and monsters--but a knight must be brave. Even a very young knight in his pajamas.

Ryan sets out on a quest--from cupboard to closet to garage--then back to the kitchen where his mother prepares a royal banquet in his honor. Ryan's imagination comes to life by the hand of first time creator Jason Deeble. Stairs become mountains, closets jungles, and imaginary monsters and friends will be found in this sweetly illustrated journey.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A typical household provides the perfect landscape for adventure-as seen through the eyes of a boy's imagination in this picture book debut. The king of pots-who rules the kingdom in the kitchen cupboards-sends a brave and armored Sir Ryan on a far-reaching quest beginning with the "jungle" of a bedroom closet, the garage "castle" filled with oily machines, and finally, the "cave" beneath the kingdom, home to a "moldy monster" (a collection of old boxes). Ryan gathers courage-and knightly accessories like a cape and shield-along the way. Young readers may grow weary of Ryan's elevated and somewhat cumbersome knight-speak, and may be puzzled that Ryan never seems to find what he seeks (the quest ends with a hug and some soup from Mom). However, the preschool set will surely relate to the boy's passion for active, imaginary play. Deeble's colored-pencil illustrations keep readers clued in to reality and fantasy alike and have a rough childlike quality that suits the subject matter. Ages 4-8.
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From Booklist

In a kitchen cupboard, pajama-clad Ryan meets the “king of pots,” who knights Ryan and sends him on a quest. Wearing a protective, cooking-pot helmet, Sir Ryan climbs stair mountains and explores a closet jungle and a garage castle before finally confronting the basement cave’s moldy monster. Retrieving his wooden sword, he returns triumphantly to the kitchen, where his supportive, smiling mom provides a “royal banquet” and hugs the brave knight. The colorful, softly textured, detailed illustrations cleverly depict how everyday objects and settings—together with a child’s imagination and creativity—can inspire playtime adventures. A hanging shirt and tie transforms into a “mysterious man; a tool cabinet and rake become a castle guard. The descriptive narrative incorporates knightly references and amusingly elevated language: “Look upon my enchanted cape and know that I have faced great danger to visit your castle today.” An artful blend of the fantastical and familiar, this charming debut closes with an affectionate, reassuring ending, in which the little knight discovers that his quest’s true rewards are the comforts of home. Grades K-3. --Shelle Rosenfeld

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; 1 edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596433302
• ISBN-13: 978-1596433304
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,131,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for every mother of a son, March 12, 2010

By 

Linda W. "Logophile" (Sunny California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sir Ryan's Quest (Hardcover)

I picked up this book at the library and now plan to buy it. It's a wonderful story of a little boy's incredible imagination. It's the kind of story that inspires creativity and the enjoyment of the simple lifestyle uncluttered by electronics and scheduled playdates. It's sure to become a favorite of all who read it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was as I remebered my son's childhood., November 17, 2011

By 

shelley moran "Mimi J" (gales ferry, connecticut United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sir Ryan's Quest (Hardcover)

This beautiful story took me back to the days when my son was little. His imagination took me to many, "places,' through his play. I was so fortunate to be included in his adventures without even leaving our home.
This book was so wonderfully written and illustrated. It made me laugh, cry, and treasure the memories of those days gone by.
The author and illustrator has a special talent of capturing how a child sees the world and explores it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, September 5, 2011

By 

Mom of Philip - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sir Ryan's Quest (Hardcover)

We found this book just yesterday, and have read it just about 8 times already! Our son loves it! He said, "look mom, this kid does just what I do...he pretends!" There aren't enough books about kids who use their imaginations to pretend play. Our son does this all the time, so I'm glad there is finally a book that shows him there are other kids out there just like him. I'm hoping there are many more books to come from Jason Deeble.