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The Loathsome Dragon
A lovely princess, a brave prince, a wicked stepmother, evil enchantments, magic rowan wood, and an immense, scaly dragon. . . . Favorite fairytale elements sparkle in The Loathsome Dragon, a traditional English tale. Majestic, romantic paintings by two-time Caldecott medalist David Wiesner display the remarkable artistry and dizzying perspectives his work is known for.
Now available once again—with several new illustrations, revised text, and a brief source note—this picture-book classic will delight David Wiesner’s many fans, and win him a generation of new ones.
Now available once again—with several new illustrations, revised text, and a brief source note—this picture-book classic will delight David Wiesner’s many fans, and win him a generation of new ones.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
2 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
David Wiesner
102 books625 followersDuring David Wiesner's formative years, the last images he saw before closing his eyes at night were the books, rockets, elephant heads, clocks, and magnifying glasses that decorated the wallpaper of his room. Perhaps it was this decor which awakened his creativity and gave it the dreamlike, imaginative quality so often found in his work.
As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey, Wiesner re-created his world daily in his imagination. His home and his neighborhood became anything from a faraway planet to a prehistoric jungle. When the everyday play stopped, he would follow his imaginary playmates into the pages of books, wandering among dinosaurs in the World Book Encyclopedia. The images before him generated a love of detail, an admiration for the creative process, and a curiosity about the hand behind the drawings.
In time, the young Wiesner began exploring the history of art, delving into the Renaissance at first — Michelangelo, Dürer, and da Vinci — then moving on to such surrealists as Magritte, de Chirico, and Dalí. As he got older, he would sit, inspired by these masters, at the oak drafting table his father had found for him and would construct new worlds on paper and create wordless comic books, such as Slop the Wonder Pig, and silent movies, like his kung fu vampire film The Saga of Butchula.
Wiesner has always been intrigued by and curious about what comes before and after the captured image. His books somehow convey the sequence of thoughts leading up to and following each picture, and that quality explain why they are frequently described as cinematic.
At the Rhode Island School of Design, Wiesner was able to commit himself to the full-time study of art and to explore further his passion for wordless storytelling. There he met two people who would figure prominently in his life: Tom Sgouros, to whom Tuesday is dedicated, and David Macaulay, to whom The Three Pigs is dedicated. These two men not only taught Wiesner the fundamentals of drawing and painting but also fostered his imaginative spirit and helped him comprehend the world around him. Sgouros's and Macaulay's artistic influences were vital to Wiesner's development into the acclaimed picture-book author he is today.
David Wiesner has illustrated more than twenty award-winning books for young readers. Two of the picture books he both wrote and illustrated became instant classics when they won the prestigious Caldecott Medal: Tuesday in 1992 and The Three Pigs in 2002. Two of his other titles, Sector 7 and Free Fall, are Caldecott Honor Books. An exhibit of Wiesner's original artwork, "Seeing the Story," toured the United States in 2000 and 2001. Among his many honors, Wiesner holds the Japan Picture Book Award for Tuesday, the Prix Sorcières (the French equivalent of the Caldecott Medal) for The Three Pigs, and a 2004 IBBY Honour Book nomination for illustration, also for The Three Pigs. Flotsam, his most recent work, was a New York Times bestseller and was recently named winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal, making Wiesner only the second person in the award’s long history to have won three times.
Wiesner lives with his wife and their son and daughter in the Philadelphia area, where he continues to create dreamlike and inventive images for books.
As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey, Wiesner re-created his world daily in his imagination. His home and his neighborhood became anything from a faraway planet to a prehistoric jungle. When the everyday play stopped, he would follow his imaginary playmates into the pages of books, wandering among dinosaurs in the World Book Encyclopedia. The images before him generated a love of detail, an admiration for the creative process, and a curiosity about the hand behind the drawings.
In time, the young Wiesner began exploring the history of art, delving into the Renaissance at first — Michelangelo, Dürer, and da Vinci — then moving on to such surrealists as Magritte, de Chirico, and Dalí. As he got older, he would sit, inspired by these masters, at the oak drafting table his father had found for him and would construct new worlds on paper and create wordless comic books, such as Slop the Wonder Pig, and silent movies, like his kung fu vampire film The Saga of Butchula.
Wiesner has always been intrigued by and curious about what comes before and after the captured image. His books somehow convey the sequence of thoughts leading up to and following each picture, and that quality explain why they are frequently described as cinematic.
At the Rhode Island School of Design, Wiesner was able to commit himself to the full-time study of art and to explore further his passion for wordless storytelling. There he met two people who would figure prominently in his life: Tom Sgouros, to whom Tuesday is dedicated, and David Macaulay, to whom The Three Pigs is dedicated. These two men not only taught Wiesner the fundamentals of drawing and painting but also fostered his imaginative spirit and helped him comprehend the world around him. Sgouros's and Macaulay's artistic influences were vital to Wiesner's development into the acclaimed picture-book author he is today.
David Wiesner has illustrated more than twenty award-winning books for young readers. Two of the picture books he both wrote and illustrated became instant classics when they won the prestigious Caldecott Medal: Tuesday in 1992 and The Three Pigs in 2002. Two of his other titles, Sector 7 and Free Fall, are Caldecott Honor Books. An exhibit of Wiesner's original artwork, "Seeing the Story," toured the United States in 2000 and 2001. Among his many honors, Wiesner holds the Japan Picture Book Award for Tuesday, the Prix Sorcières (the French equivalent of the Caldecott Medal) for The Three Pigs, and a 2004 IBBY Honour Book nomination for illustration, also for The Three Pigs. Flotsam, his most recent work, was a New York Times bestseller and was recently named winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal, making Wiesner only the second person in the award’s long history to have won three times.
Wiesner lives with his wife and their son and daughter in the Philadelphia area, where he continues to create dreamlike and inventive images for books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
October 28, 2021
This is a retold story from English fairy Tales in 1890 called the Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh.
The artwork is beautiful and different from other David Wiesner stories I've read. It's not David's best work, but the story is exciting.
A father of 2 children marries an enchantress and she gets jealous of the daughter and the son is over seas. She turns the girl into a dragon and the brother must break the spell. It's not harrowing and it is predictable, but still fun to read if you love dragons and princes.
There are some weird sibling dynamics going on that could have been taken out if the story was upgraded. Maybe it was and this was better than the original, not sure. Interesting.
The artwork is beautiful and different from other David Wiesner stories I've read. It's not David's best work, but the story is exciting.
A father of 2 children marries an enchantress and she gets jealous of the daughter and the son is over seas. She turns the girl into a dragon and the brother must break the spell. It's not harrowing and it is predictable, but still fun to read if you love dragons and princes.
There are some weird sibling dynamics going on that could have been taken out if the story was upgraded. Maybe it was and this was better than the original, not sure. Interesting.
June 17, 2021
This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf. Thanks to the marvelous people @chpublib and @ocplibraries who are keeping me supplied!
We are about to embark on a Wiesner binge. Partially inspired by just looking through favorite books of the past, but definitely given a boost in priority by Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration.
My family are helping to fill in the enormous gaps in my knowledge of art history. Often just pointing out some cool thing at random, but also explaining in detail and providing context. During our last family vacation, in the before times, we visited the Nation Gallery where I was entranced with the Joan of Arc series by Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel. So big and beautiful and detailed: the fabrics! The outlines, which keep everything looking crisp.
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
In the process of finding an image to share I learned that there's a bookJoan Of Arc. Anyway, Wiesners's art has always been a favorite, in part because it's so crisp. This isn't a general requirement for my approval, by the way, but when I looked at Wiesner's dragon again last night, suddenly it was clear why Boutet de Monvel's work resonated with me.
Library copy
We are about to embark on a Wiesner binge. Partially inspired by just looking through favorite books of the past, but definitely given a boost in priority by Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration.
My family are helping to fill in the enormous gaps in my knowledge of art history. Often just pointing out some cool thing at random, but also explaining in detail and providing context. During our last family vacation, in the before times, we visited the Nation Gallery where I was entranced with the Joan of Arc series by Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel. So big and beautiful and detailed: the fabrics! The outlines, which keep everything looking crisp.
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
In the process of finding an image to share I learned that there's a bookJoan Of Arc. Anyway, Wiesners's art has always been a favorite, in part because it's so crisp. This isn't a general requirement for my approval, by the way, but when I looked at Wiesner's dragon again last night, suddenly it was clear why Boutet de Monvel's work resonated with me.
Library copy
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July 14, 2008Magical Realist elements in picture books -- see http://bigblogofmarvel.blogspot.com/s... Wiesner
June 14, 2017
The Loathsome Dragon is a retelling of the traditional English tale, The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh, based on an 18th-century ballad and retold by British folklorist Joseph Jacobs.
Although beautifully written, the tale is pretty standard fare: royalty, "fair" characters, magic, an oblivious king, an evil stepmother, a helpless enchanted princess, and a brave prince (but a brother, not a lover this time).
David Wiesner's detailed watercolor illustrations are beautiful, and I appreciated a varying perspective in some of them. However, most of the images are a bit static:
Although beautifully written, the tale is pretty standard fare: royalty, "fair" characters, magic, an oblivious king, an evil stepmother, a helpless enchanted princess, and a brave prince (but a brother, not a lover this time).
David Wiesner's detailed watercolor illustrations are beautiful, and I appreciated a varying perspective in some of them. However, most of the images are a bit static:
September 4, 2016
Adapted from "The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh" in Joseph Jacobs' 1890 English Fairy Tales.
Both text and illustration are good, although I found the emotional dimension somewhat understated. My favorite was the smaller details in the images: the carved elephants on the princess' bedposts, the cat hiding in a barrel as the dragon passes, the mushrooms and garlic bulbs drying in the wizard's room.
Both text and illustration are good, although I found the emotional dimension somewhat understated. My favorite was the smaller details in the images: the carved elephants on the princess' bedposts, the cat hiding in a barrel as the dragon passes, the mushrooms and garlic bulbs drying in the wizard's room.
November 6, 2013
Loving David Wiesner! What a great author! Beautiful illustrations and a story so rich in detail! I really love this guy. So does my 5 yr old. This one had words and was at least a level 3 reading book, so my twin 3 yr olds weren't as engaged. But a wonderful fairy tale over all and a great addition to any children's library!
April 10, 2022
Mi hijo de 5 años me dice que le de la máxima puntuación. Ha estado atento durante toda la historia y le ha gustado mucho
July 1, 2013
Images at http://aneyespy.blogspot.ca/2013/05/i...
Traditional tale in traditional style answers why loathsome toads haunt Bamborough Castle "croaking in dismay" p 32. Pastel soft pictures fill both pages, greyed blue-greens heavy over warming yellowed browns. Cats curl in corners. Fabrics flow in luxurious folds, or cling curvaceously.
A jealous newlywed Queen transforms lovely step-daughter Margaret into a Loathsome Dragon. An old warlock prescribes sending for her brother. Childe Wynde, of equally fine-figure and face, can change her back with three kisses on the lips.
The peaks of emotion are "The Queen flushed with jealousy and snapped" p 6 to "stared in shock" p 30. I'll rate 5* anyway. Flash fierce tear-jerkers and sound bites that evoke intense knee-jerk responses are modern, unsuited for this peaceful bedtime book.
Oh, quit your sword, forget your fear, And give me kisses three;
For though I am a poisonous beast, No harm I'll do to thee.
Oh, quit your sword, forget your fear, And give me kisses three;
If I'm not one ere set of sun, Won never shall I be.
Traditional tale in traditional style answers why loathsome toads haunt Bamborough Castle "croaking in dismay" p 32. Pastel soft pictures fill both pages, greyed blue-greens heavy over warming yellowed browns. Cats curl in corners. Fabrics flow in luxurious folds, or cling curvaceously.
A jealous newlywed Queen transforms lovely step-daughter Margaret into a Loathsome Dragon. An old warlock prescribes sending for her brother. Childe Wynde, of equally fine-figure and face, can change her back with three kisses on the lips.
The peaks of emotion are "The Queen flushed with jealousy and snapped" p 6 to "stared in shock" p 30. I'll rate 5* anyway. Flash fierce tear-jerkers and sound bites that evoke intense knee-jerk responses are modern, unsuited for this peaceful bedtime book.
Oh, quit your sword, forget your fear, And give me kisses three;
For though I am a poisonous beast, No harm I'll do to thee.
Oh, quit your sword, forget your fear, And give me kisses three;
If I'm not one ere set of sun, Won never shall I be.
December 22, 2010
David Wiesner does it again with this retelling of the story of the wicked stepmother who enchants her stepdaughter out of jealousy. The illustrations are gorgeous. I particularly like the spooky wraith-like spirits the stepmother conjures up, the picture of the dragon sleeping in the four-poster bed (are those elephants carved into the bedposts significant?), the village scene where people are fleeing or hiding while the shadow of the dragon's head is visible on the side of a nearby house, and the wonderful picture of the wizard and his cats, the open books he's consulting suspended in midair. A must-have for my library!
February 22, 2019
I thought it was pretty lame that her brother would be the prince in charming armor to save his sister and he does this by kissing her three times where then she comes out of the dragon naked, a bit disturbing. And I found it to be appalling that the dragon had not abducted the princess in a castle full of gold or something of that nature but that instead the princess is the dragon. Not my type of fairy tale. Typical horrifying step mother and oblivious king father. The illustrations of the architecture is breathtaking while the drawings of the people are subpar.
October 28, 2021
Simple story, freely adapted from Jacobs' record of an older tale, didn't do much for me. Seemed to be an excuse for some wonderful art. But the art doesn't have the magic touch we're used to from Wiesner, so, I dunno, 2.5 stars, rounded up because the theme of not judging by surface beauty is still an important one we all need to learn.
October 22, 2017
Excellent!
May 12, 2021
I thought this story was pretty entertaining, and it bore slight resembles to the stories of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. An evil stepmother jealous of her beautiful stepdaughter cast a spell and turned her into a fearful dragon. Her brother was the only way to break the curse. It turned into the happy ending that everyone loves. Father, daughter, and son reunited. Evil stepmother turns into an ugly frog. The moral of the story here is not to be jealous. Do not compare yourself to others, instead, focus on what you can bring forth. Also, what you put out into the world is going to come full circle, so make sure it's goodness that is being spread- not hate. Otherwise, you reap the consequences of your fate.
October 8, 2021
A book with a fairytale feel. Starts out a bit Snow White-ish with a king marrying a sorceress and cursing the princess--except the princess gets turned into a dragon and only her brother can un-enchant her. I love a sibling story! I felt the prince's challenge to get to the castle was overcome pretty easily, so the ending felt a little abrupt. The illustrustions with all the medieval-inspired outfits are really atmospheric.
February 17, 2024
The King and Queen of Bamborough Castle had a son named Childe Wynd and a beautiful daughter named Margaret. Soon after Childe Wynd leaves his mother dies. One day, while hunting, he meets a beautiful enchantress and falls madly in love. Margaret welcomes her father's new wife with the keys to the castle. The Queen is filled with jealousy when a young knight quietly comments on Princess Margaret's beauty. That night she lets herself into the castle's dungeon and weaves a spell. The next morning Margaret's attendants finds a loathsome dragon in the princess's bed. The dragon, who is Margaret, slithers from the bed and wends its way to Spindlestone Heugh. A powerful warlock is consulted. He tells them that the dragon is indeed Princess Margaret and the spell can only be broken by Prince Childe Wynd. When the prince receives word of his sister's plight he and his 33 men build a sturdy ship and sail for Bamborough Castle. The Queen tries to sink the ship with her spells but fails. Unable to land at his homeport the prince finds safe harbor and goes by land. Childe Wynd finds the loathsome dragon perched on Spindlestone Heugh. He is about to pierce its side with his sword when his sister's voice tells him to kiss her three times to break the spell. This he does and releases his sister. When they return to the castle Childe Wynd touches the queen with a rowan branch and turns her into a loathsome toad.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
June 30, 2018
When the King is beguiled into marrying an enchantress, it doesn't bode well for Princess Margaret. Her new stepmother is very jealous of the King's love, and curses Princess Margaret to become the Loathsome Dragon. A dragon she will forever remain unless someone can notify her brother Prince Richard, who has gone adventuring abroad, to come and bestow three kisses on the dragon within a year of her transformation.
I've never heard this fairytale before though it bears similarities to Snow White and Eustice's plight in The Chronicles of Narnia and folktales that explain natural occurrences (the ending talks about why frogs around Bamborough Castle act the way they do). It says it is based on a little known English fairytale. I like that it is a brother rescuing a sister which is hardly ever seen in fairytales. As always, Wiesner's illustrations are fantastic and it is fun to know that he wrote a book with his wife. I'd include this in fairytale units and see if kids can use prior knowledge about other fairytales to predict how this one will turn out.
Notes on content: There's some evil spirits sent out by the enchantress and her dark magic could be scary for some kids.
I've never heard this fairytale before though it bears similarities to Snow White and Eustice's plight in The Chronicles of Narnia and folktales that explain natural occurrences (the ending talks about why frogs around Bamborough Castle act the way they do). It says it is based on a little known English fairytale. I like that it is a brother rescuing a sister which is hardly ever seen in fairytales. As always, Wiesner's illustrations are fantastic and it is fun to know that he wrote a book with his wife. I'd include this in fairytale units and see if kids can use prior knowledge about other fairytales to predict how this one will turn out.
Notes on content: There's some evil spirits sent out by the enchantress and her dark magic could be scary for some kids.
February 17, 2010
Reading Level: Grades 2-5
David Weisner retells this lesser known traditional English tale about a widowed king who lives with his daughter, princess Margaret. His son, prince Richard has set off to see the world. One day the king meets an enchantress and and is instanly bewitched and they are married. The new queen is jealous of the king's pride and love for his daughter and uses an evil spell to turn her into a "loathsome dragon." Only far away prince Richard can break the spell and save her or she will remain a dragon forever. The illustrations are amazingly beautiful - jeweled tones against a soft palette of dreamy blues and greens. The characters personalities are captured perfectly in their expressions. A great retelling that is a must for any classroom unit on fantasy or tales.
David Weisner retells this lesser known traditional English tale about a widowed king who lives with his daughter, princess Margaret. His son, prince Richard has set off to see the world. One day the king meets an enchantress and and is instanly bewitched and they are married. The new queen is jealous of the king's pride and love for his daughter and uses an evil spell to turn her into a "loathsome dragon." Only far away prince Richard can break the spell and save her or she will remain a dragon forever. The illustrations are amazingly beautiful - jeweled tones against a soft palette of dreamy blues and greens. The characters personalities are captured perfectly in their expressions. A great retelling that is a must for any classroom unit on fantasy or tales.
March 27, 2018
I had never heard of the legend/fairy tale before even though I consider my self well read in that genre. It was interesting to compare it to other fairy tales that deal with brother's and sisters. On continental Europe the tales usually have the sister saving the brother/s (The Seven Swans being the most well know example). A lot of this story, as in other fairytales, was pushed forward by luck and that always makes me roll my eyes however this was a sweet story.
Also enjoyed the story about how the book came about. One illustration leading to an entire book.
Also enjoyed the story about how the book came about. One illustration leading to an entire book.
October 29, 2021
This is a gorgeously illustrated book. The story is a retelling of an English fairy tale.
A king lived happily with his queen, but not long after their son, the prince, left to travel the world, the queen died. The king and his daughter lived alone for a long time until the king met an enchantress with whom he fell deeply in love. The new queen was jealous of the beautiful princess and put a curse on her so that she became the Loathsome Dragon.
There was a difficult way to break the spell, and the queen did what she could to keep away help.
Great ending to this story.
A king lived happily with his queen, but not long after their son, the prince, left to travel the world, the queen died. The king and his daughter lived alone for a long time until the king met an enchantress with whom he fell deeply in love. The new queen was jealous of the beautiful princess and put a curse on her so that she became the Loathsome Dragon.
There was a difficult way to break the spell, and the queen did what she could to keep away help.
Great ending to this story.
November 19, 2019
Wiesner is always a strong illustrator, and here he's taking his text from an actual Medieval legend of a princess turned into a dragon, so that's quite enchanting as well. This isn't his best book, though. It felt a little flat in a way I couldn't quite describe, but I still enjoyed it. It reminded me a lot of Margaret Hodges "Saint George and the Dragon," which it would pair well with.
July 3, 2017
Wiesner's illuatrations on this book, as well as the words he uses to tell (retell) the tale are wonderful! I did like that the siblings fought for each other...like how I'm always telling my kids we're on the same team, and we need to stick up for each other! Good book!
December 3, 2017
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade: 3rd-6th
A story about looking on the inside, the hidious dragon was a fair maden, and the beautiful enchantress was an ugly toad. it is a fun classical story.
Grade: 3rd-6th
A story about looking on the inside, the hidious dragon was a fair maden, and the beautiful enchantress was an ugly toad. it is a fun classical story.
May 12, 2018
Four starts on the strength of Weisner's illustrations
July 18, 2018
This is a beautifully-illustrated retelling of a classic fairy tale. It has everything you could want in a fairy tale, including a toad.
August 13, 2018
Clear writing, excellent illustrations.
November 18, 2018
I would love to see this made into an animated movie. The prince's armor design was rad!
May 2, 2019
I would love to see this made into an animated movie. The prince's armor design was rad! It's so wonderful to see stories about siblings loving and helping each other.
~Shay
~Shay
June 21, 2019
I love this author, but this story didn’t excite me.
May 4, 2021
I thought it fell a little flat. The art is sophisticated but the story is overly simple, so it just doesn't feel right.
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May 11, 2021The Loathsome Dragon
David Wiesner
Traditional Literature
Book Level: 5.2
This is your traditional fairy tale story with all of the classical elements. The handsome prince with the misunderstood monster and the beautiful princess. This is a great read for young readers who are just getting into classical literature. This an easy read with fun twists and turns that will keep the reader engaged the whole time. The plot is very well written and doesn’t give away too much for young readers. They will stay engaged in the reading the whole time and want to finish the read in one sitting. The illustrations are also amazing and help bring life to the story, even though it would be great by itself.
The presentation of this story is top notch, readers are able to stay engaged the whole time and see what the writer and artist are trying to bring to life. The story goes along very well with the illustrations and flows very well. The sentence fluency is also very good in this story. Nothing feels clunky when reading and the reader is engaged the whole time. A great introduction to classical literature.
David Wiesner
Traditional Literature
Book Level: 5.2
This is your traditional fairy tale story with all of the classical elements. The handsome prince with the misunderstood monster and the beautiful princess. This is a great read for young readers who are just getting into classical literature. This an easy read with fun twists and turns that will keep the reader engaged the whole time. The plot is very well written and doesn’t give away too much for young readers. They will stay engaged in the reading the whole time and want to finish the read in one sitting. The illustrations are also amazing and help bring life to the story, even though it would be great by itself.
The presentation of this story is top notch, readers are able to stay engaged the whole time and see what the writer and artist are trying to bring to life. The story goes along very well with the illustrations and flows very well. The sentence fluency is also very good in this story. Nothing feels clunky when reading and the reader is engaged the whole time. A great introduction to classical literature.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews