The Reluctant Dragon
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Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration is from Frank Cottrell Boyce’s Cosmic. Frank Cottrell Boyce is interviewed by George Hunt. Thanks to Macmillan Children’s Books for their help with this May cover.
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The Reluctant Dragon
Illustrated by E H Shepard
The reluctant dragon first became known to readers 70 years ago, and is now being given a second airing. Whimsical and amusing, the book raises plenty of questions to be discussed with children – does one do what tradition dictates just for the sake of it, or not? How can you defuse awkward situations without giving in to easy yet unsatisfying solutions? More topics await discussion in a story where a boy discovers a dragon who is friendly and utterly disinterested in fighting or misbehaviour... not to mention the appearance of St George and some not so friendly villagers. Shepard’s illustrations have lost none of their charm, and this book certainly deserves its reprinting. An excellent story to read aloud to 5-8 year-olds while 8-10 year-old readers will enjoy reading it for themselves.
