Saint George and the Dragon (Paperback)

~ (Author), Nicki Palin (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-- Less literary than Spenser's adventure as retold by Hodges in Saint George and the Dragon (Little, 1984), McCaughrean tells the kind of crusader tale popularly told about the wandering champion who became the patron saint of England. Here, George of Lydda comes across Sabra, the king's daughter, staked out for a dragon that threatens their town. A new British illustrator pictures the setting with a golden atmosphere and a romantic surrealism that includes stone ruins and windowed manors, and ends with visual reference to modern wars as well. Townspeople wear frantic or grotesque expressions--and the dragon is seen as a huge lizard with pterodactyllike clawed wings as forelimbs, taloned hind legs, and a lobed and spiked dorsal mane. Once he subdues the dragon, this Red Cross knight does not settle down, but goes on to other dragons and other times--which the reteller ties in with her afterword. Hard to locate in print, this adventure makes a good addition to folk and dragon lore. --Ruth M. McConnell, San Antonio Pub . Lib .
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

The traditional tale of the patron saint of England, retold by the author. The dragon lays waste to the kingdom and finally the princess herself has to be rescued by a knight, who fights and tames the dragon, passing into legend as St George.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (March 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192723766
• ISBN-13: 978-0192723765
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #845,044 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Challenging authors to share the courage of Saint George, December 2, 2008

By	Natalia - See all my reviews

Beautiful and powerful illustrations, but grotesque faces depict the pain and savageness of the villagers. Story not adequate for religious education.

My son started pretending he was Saint George killing a dragon, so I began a search for a book that taught the full story. I purchased two books, this one and another book under the same title by Margaret Hodges. Hers embellished the story (see respective review), and this book diluted it. I am surprised that no Catholic or Orthodox companies sell any children's books about Saint George. Reference the following website for the full story of the life of the Holy Great Martyr George:
[...]
Sure, this book by McCaughrean showed that Saint George saved the princess who was about to be sacrificed to the dragon, but to what end? Please consider, there is a reason the early Church viewed this man as a saint and called him "Saint". This book, however, didn't make any mention of the how Saint George turned the thousands of hearts of the city from idolatry toward their true Saviour. This book merely mentions a "white banner crossed with blood", but it was the sign of The Cross that gave Saint George courage to kill the dragon. The only mention of any Christian word, and superficial at that, is in the Afterword on the last page of the book written in smaller letters for adults. I hope someday an author will write a new book about Saint George and find the courage, like Saint George had, to mention the name of Jesus Christ.