The Wooden Dragon [Hardcover]

Joan Aiken (Author), Bee Willey (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

Joan Aiken tells the story of Window and her sailor brother, Handle, who live in a small house in a wooded hollow. Each autumn, Handle must sweep the huge piles of leaves away. But one day, he breaks the news that he must go away on an extra long trip and leaves Window a little wooden dragon that will help look after her. And so the little dragon sits on a corner shelf, growing dusty, and waits for the time when he can come to Window's aid

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The colors are luminous and the figures ethereal in Willey’s double–paged full–bleed images.” -- Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Joan Aiken tells the story of Window and her brother, Handle, who live in a small house in a wooded hollow. Each autumn, when the leaves fall, the little house is buried right up to its bedroom windows, so each year, Handle must sweep the leaves away. But one day, Handle breaks the news that he must go away on a long trip. Window, whose injured leg prevents her from doing the raking, is afraid that she cannot survive without him. Before he leaves, Handle gives Window a little wooden dragon, promising his sister that it will look after her. And so the little dragon sits on a shelf, waiting for the time when it can come to Window’s aid… A spellbinding storybook from a master hand. Prize–winning author Joan Aiken wrote more than 100 books for young readers and adults, including The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Night Birds on Nantucket. Aiken, who died in 2004, was awarded Britain’s distinguished MBE for her services to literature. Bee Willey is the illustrator of Bob Robber and Dancing Jane, which was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0224064800
• ISBN-13: 978-0224064804
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joan Aiken (1924-2004) was the daughter of Pulitzer prize winning poet Conrad Aiken and started writing herself from the age of five. During her lifetime she published over one hundred books for children and adults, including the acclaimed Wolves of Willoughby Chase series. In the UK she received an MBE from the Queen for her services to Children's Literature.

This year sees the publication of a brand NEW story collection - The Monkey's Wedding - with previously unpublished material that shows Aiken on top form. This collection of funny, spooky, unexpected but classic Aiken stories has received wonderful reviews and will delight her readers. See below for details.

Her work continues to be adapted for film and television; she is established as a consummate storyteller,and recognized as one of the best loved authors of the twentieth century.

"The Wonderful World of Joan Aiken" is at www.joanaiken.com