The Reversible Giant
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Cover Story
The illustration on our cover is taken from King Change-a-lot, written and illustrated by Babette Cole and published by Hamish Hamilton (0 241 12491 3, £6.95). We are grateful to Hamish Hamilton for help in using this illustration.
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Send to friendThe Reversible Giant
Illustrated by Chris Smedley
When a writer as resourceful as Leeson gets to work on a traditional tale, we know eights to elevens are in for a treat. In his unfolding of how Robin, the poor kitchen boy, calms the dragon to win the hand of the princess, there's vigour, fun and a good ear for the demotic. The slaying of the dragon is all done with mirrors; the princess is too haughty for our hero who prefers the blacksmith's daughter anyway. Leeson's writing is fast-moving, televisual. The whole is a reading lesson in how forms can be played with and revelled in. Superb.
