The Tale of Custard the Dragon [Paperback]

Ogden Nash (Author), Lynn Munsinger (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

In this humorous poem, Custard the cowardly dragon saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Do you remember brave Belinda and her "realio, trulio, little pet dragon"? This Ogden Nash classic has been a favorite of children for more than 60 years and until recently was unavailable in a picture-book version. Artist Lynn Munsinger has rejuvenated the poem with her chuckle-inducing illustrations of no-nonsense Belinda and the cowardly green and purple dragon Custard. Belinda was a brave role model for young girls back when females weren't encouraged to stand up for themselves, and Custard's hidden reserve of strength has no doubt inspired children for several generations. Hooked on Custard? The next adventure unfolds in Custard the Dragon and the Wicked Knight, which followed this popular picture book. (Ages 3 to 8) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Custard cowers in fearAuntil a nasty pirate shows up and inspires his dragonly instincts. In PW's words, famed Nash's "wordplayful 1936 rhyme gets a fresh start with timeless illustrations by Munsinger." Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316590312
• ISBN-13: 978-0316590310
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.1 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Poetry > Humorous
  • #45 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Humorous
  • #66 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Dragons

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites & a wonderful read-aloud!, December 10, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tale of Custard the Dragon (Paperback)

This is absolutely one of the best books out there! I am a teacher and I enjoy reading this book immensely. The story is fun and whimsical to read. While one reviewer was "upset" by how the other characters were not very empathetic to Custard's fears and even teased him, I look at this aspect of the book as an opportunity to discuss it with my students and my 3 children. It's a great springboard into a discussion on kindness and perspective. Whatever you do, don't pass this one up because of that review. I was amazed this book had less than 5 stars. Parents will love reading this to their children. Also, a great discussion on the true meaning of bravery can ensue as a result of this book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just because you *say* you're brave (or not), October 2, 2007

By 

amazon3131 "amazon3131" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Tale of Custard the Dragon (Paperback)

Spoiler alert: So many apparently gullible readers have reviewed this poem, that I'm going to tell you the entire plot. If you want to be surprised, then just move on to the next review.

(1) Belinda and three other pets *say* that they're very brave. Custard the Dragon *says* that he'd rather live some place safe. Based on what they *say* about themselves, the four "brave" characters tease the one "cowardly" character.

(2) When a pirate breaks into the house, the four "brave" characters instantly turn tail and run away. Cowardly Custard, however, stands his ground during the attack and ends up eating the pirate.

(3) Once the danger is past, all the so-called brave characters come back and thank Custard.

(4) Ultimately, however -- and this is more like the real world than a fairy tale -- Belinda and the "brave" pets go back to their habit of saying that they're really brave, and Custard goes back to saying that he'd really rather live in a nice safe place.

This poem is an interesting bit of commentary on our own willful blindness to our faults, our narcissistic dependence on erroneous self-talk, and one of our stupider working definitions of bravery.

This book is an excellent opportunity for you to talk to your kids about the difference between what people *say* and how they behave. Who's really the brave character after all? Is it always safe to trust a person's self-description? Is there anything wrong with Custard preferring security to danger? If you were there, would you want to tease Custard, or to tell that self-deceived Belinda to put a sock in it? If you saw someone picking on another person on the playground just because they're different, then should you be ganging up with the Belindas of the world, or sticking up for the Custards?

If you're at all familiar with the parable of the two sons in the vineyard (see Matthew 21:31's "Which of the two did his father's will?" question), then you won't have any trouble figuring out the difference between Belinda's brave words and Custard's brave actions. This poem may be beyond the ken of a two year old, but it shouldn't have been so confusing for so many adult reviewers. Just repeat after me: "Actions speak louder than words," and "Do not believe everything you hear."

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nash is just so cool, June 6, 2003

By 

Joan C. Frank (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Tale of Custard the Dragon (Paperback)

I have always loved Ogden Nash's writing. The words that he chooses paint wonderful images. The sounds are melodic and provide kids with an opportunity to develop an ear for language. I want more of Nash's writing to come back into print. His writing is truly sumptuous.