The Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksĪ story of fantastical beasts that focuses on themes of hard work, determination, and friendship. Listening to an elder tell a potentially embellished tale will ring true for many, and the heartwarming resolution between two old friends is the icing on the lemon scone. Frequent ink illustrations look as though they were sketched by the quirky scribes themselves. Spirited drawings bring the settings and engaging characters to life in this very readable chapter book. many readers will enjoy the understated wit. Telling stories within a story, Cate’s narrative merges traditional fantasy elements with a more modern, conversational tone. This multilayered story blends adventure and humor, medieval tropes and modern sensibility, in a satisfying read for the whole family.Ĭlever, multistranded, and off the charts in read-aloud potential. coupled with squabbling siblings, archery practice gone amiss, and ill-fated dives into the moat. Kidnapping, fighting, a ferocious dragon, loyal elves, and true love.

Wait-a dragon? Not sure they can believe Meg’s tales, the kids return again and again to hear the evolving, fantastical story of their mother’s escapades (while putting their fussiest penmanship to work) and get caught up in a quest to reunite the onetime friends. Meg claims that she was a friend of their mother’s back when the two were kids-even before the dragon lived in the castle. But then they discover Meg, a cranky scribe who lives in the castle basement, leading a quirky group of artists in producing party invitations and other missives for the nobles above. Noble children Thomas and Emily have always known their mother to be sensible, the lady of the castle-if anything, a bit boring. Raise the drawbridge for a story-within-a-story melding classic fairy-tale trappings with contemporary, tongue-in-cheek wit, abundantly illustrated in black-and-white-a perfect family read.

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