Drac and the Gremlin

by Alan Baillie, Jane Tanner (Illustrator)

Playing in the backyard, a young girl, pretending to be Drac, the Warrior Queen of Tirnol Two, unites with a young boy, pretending to be the Gremlin, to save the White Wizard's planet from the Terrible Tongued Dragon.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, now this I like. The children are so beautiful and also so real they melt my heart, and the story is told effectively, as if it's real... only the pictures reveal it's imaginary. I want to wrap this whole family in my arms and tell them how glad I am that people like this are in the world. I will definitely look for more by author and illustrator.

[Jack Kirby and the X-man · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story examines the world of children's play.

The words explain the fantasy world the children are inhabiting - subduing the Gremlin of the Groaning Grotto (her little brother) with her ultra-laser beam (a wrapping-paper covered paper-towel roll), before attempting a rescue of the White Wizard (a butterfly) from General Min and her Hissing Horde (the cat Minnie and her kittens) (I won't give away the ending...) The illustrations show what's physically occuring in the backyard.

After nearly 5 years of water restrictions running through the sprinkler in the backyard reminds me of my childhood - and a time when backyards had green lawns not the brown and crispy reminants X-man gets to crawl around in now. Ahhh... the good old (or is that olde?) days... I won't even mention the ban on toilet rolls in children's craft activites because of 'hygiene' reasons...

[Sienna Keroulis]

Assignment cuteness

[Kendra Ellett · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this book! The words depict an action packed, fantasy world where the main goal is to fight the Gremlin of the Groaning Grotto. However, the pictures show that this is really just a little girl and her brother being extremely imaginative in their backyard. The same story line was just told differently with words and pictures.

No morals of this story immediately jump to my mind, but I did really appreciate the emphasis the story put on the value of imagination. In this world of fast paced technology, I believe many children are missing out on really letting their imaginations go wild when playing outside. I think this story addresses a simple point that anything can happen in your mind when you're the one creating the story. The children were really just playing with sticks and a cat, but they were magically transformed into a new world where they were on a perilous mission.

I thought this book was really creative.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous. A wonderful play of words and pictures.

[Debbie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this picture book more than the story itself. It was a family favourite when our children were growing up and it was lovely to read it again today. Jane Tanner captures the fantasy play in quite a realistic way with her illustrations. It is a great book to help show young readers some ideas of using their imagination and also a good tool for asking questions. There are also some challenging words in the text, like treacherous attack, which will help extend a child's vocabulary and give the adult sharing the story an opportunity to interact with the young listener. Some language seems a little old fashioned, like "Great Queen Drac, come to my aid before all is lost! ..."

My absolute favourite illustration is of the Terrible Tongued Dragon. He is just gorgeous. He reminds me of our dog, Mitzi. The illustrations showcase a typical Australian rainforest backyard garden, complete with corrugated iron propped up against the tree for a cubby house.

Just wonderful.

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would go on my "Children's Books which Adults rate highly, but Kids dislike" list, but, surprisingly, it was "really good".

The text is great and imaginative and exciting. The artwork is absolutely stunning. The deliberate disconnect between the imagery (friendly-looking sheepdog seeks cuddle vs. 'the Terrible Tongued Dragon is upon them!') got laughs.

The highlight for me was the Australian flora and fauna. The botany dork in me is like, "TREE FERN! Want!!!", and I really wanted to know what that vine that somewhat resembles Bougainvillea was (maybe just a variety of the same). And I've not seen a lorikeet before, except the cartoon version on Bluey. :)

Just be prepared that it ends with the White Wizard granting Drac the Warrior Queen and the Gremlin of the Groaning Grotto the Twin Crimson Cones of Tirno Two.. so strawberry ice cream on standby. ;)

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the librarian at Nailsworth Primary School (Mrs Glooftis) reading this book to my Year 2 class. I was intrigued by the solemn, mysterious language and the beautiful realistic painted pictures, and I must have borrowed it a few times because it really stuck in my memory. When I did children’s lit at uni they used this book as an example of the technique where the words tell a different story to the pictures - clever! I never noticed.

[Adrianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my all-time favourite pictures books for reading with my children. And they loved it too, even when they grew too old to admit to liking 'baby' books. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and the contrast between pictures and text is what makes for such a brilliant story. Clearly illustrates the power - and value - of imagination.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an unrecognized classic! Between the monstera leaves and the makeshift corrugated metal shack of their backyard hideout, Drac and her brother while away the day in their world of make-believe peril. So satisfying to just watch them play and be moved by the power of their imagination.

[Ellie Abrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of children playing and using their imagination. This is juxtaposed by the images in the book clearly displaying the realities of their play time.

[Kurt Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Great imagination, and a great way to introduce everyday, average things into the playful mind of a child. Well Done!

[Giacinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hit! Gorgeous illustrations.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favourite book from when I was little! The pictures are gorgeous and the story is simple yet breathtaking and simultaneously captures childhood imagination.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a little girl and her brother playing pretend in their backyard. Simple story, but the illustrations were wonderfully vibrant and full of energy.

[Pam Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved this book. It is beautifully illustrated! I wish that today's children had the opportunity for such great imaginative play. I think that technology robs them of that opportunity. For that reason, I especially appreciate Drac and the Gremlin!!!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL22521...

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 1001 CBYMRBYGU. A girl and boy spend their day with the mildest of props and the wildest of imaginations in a fun world, fighting dragons, racing on jetbikes, flying on spacecraft. Wonderful!