King Jack (hardcover edition)
Jack, Zak and Caspar are building a den,
A mighty great fort for King Jack and his men.
This tale of den-building and dragon-defying derring-do was inspired by my son Theo (alias King Jack). It is wonderfully illustrated by the highly acclaimed and award-winning Helen Oxenbury, whose many other books include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Published in the UK by Puffin, King Jack and the Dragon has been translated into ten languages. It was named as one of the 18 Notable Children’s Books of 2012 by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), part of the American Library Association. “Notable” is understood “to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways.”
From the reviews:
“A new nursery classic has just hit the shelves…a total joy to read aloud.” Daily Telegraph.
“This charming, atmospheric, multiracial tale is both exciting and comforting.” Sunday Times.
“A glorious celebration of the joy of imaginative play.” Julia Eccleshare, lovereading4kids.co.uk
“At once contemporary and classic.” New York Times.
“Sure to become a full-on family favorite at bedtime.” Washington Post.
“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.” Wall Street Journal.
“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 (US), starred review.
Also available in Catalan, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.
