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Books : Three Tales of My Father's Dragon
Rating: 
- Disappointed: a dissenting voice
I was looking forward to receiving this book, following rave reviews and awards. But both I and my twin nearly-five-year-olds have been very much disappointed, and are unlikely to finish the second book (or even start the third) in this three-volume compilation.
While the theme and content (a quest to rescue a baby dragon, subsequent adventures with dragon) was extremely appealing given this audience's passions, the poor execution of this story neutered the otherwise promising tale.
The first person narrator describing a third person protagonist (the protagonist is "my father" in each sentence) is a tortured device which annoys, and adds nothing (it's not as though this relationship ever plays a role in the story) and a red herring / non-sequitur is the informant cat.
There was little characterisation, so we didn't really get a sense of the heroic adventure that the plot called for and consequently, we failed to become engaged. And to this post-Pippi Longstocking generation there was a certain anticlimatic lack of ingenuity in the uses to which the backpack contents were put.
Most disappointing for me was the artlessness in the telling. I longed for language that would stretch or bounce or play, given all else that was missing in the book. But it wasn't there.
On the plus side, once the protagonist reaches the island, the adventure paces well with a single digestible adventurelet in each chapter. The final chapter worked well too, where the animals all band together in one last-ditch attempt to prevent the rescue.
Admittedly, they're reasonably bright kids - it could be that it would suit a younger mind. If we get through the second (and third) volumes, I'll post an update.
BTW this edition has pages that are more a paperback than a hardback quality.
Rating:
- WARNING! Black & White Illustrations
This edition does not have color illustrations. When I purchased it, I was under the impression that it did. They are printed in black and white. The paper in this edition is the sort of paper used in a low quality trade paperback: this isn't really a nice edition. I'm not very pleased.
But the story itself is worth reading in any edition! Wonderful book!
Rating:
- Fantastic Three Tales
This is a wonderful three-in-one storybook. We are reading it as a family and it is so clever and beautifully written. I would highly recommend; you will not be disappointed.
Rating: - Three Tales of my Fathers Dragon
Excellent children's book! I highly recommend it to all
people young and old. Great illustrations and wonderful
imagination!!! A classic!
Rating: - Fabulous for reading together!
My wife bought this on recommendation from another Amazon parent and we have enjoyed it very much! We curl up in bed together with our 4.5 yo son and 7+ yo daughter and read a couple of chapters each night. The children adore the story line, Elmer's cleverness and everything about this charming, delightful, classic series. Absolutely get this trilogy to share with your children and your grandchildren; it's wonderful!
- Disappointed: a dissenting voiceI was looking forward to receiving this book, following rave reviews and awards. But both I and my twin nearly-five-year-olds have been very much disappointed, and are unlikely to finish the second book (or even start the third) in this three-volume compilation.
While the theme and content (a quest to rescue a baby dragon, subsequent adventures with dragon) was extremely appealing given this audience's passions, the poor execution of this story neutered the otherwise promising tale.
The first person narrator describing a third person protagonist (the protagonist is "my father" in each sentence) is a tortured device which annoys, and adds nothing (it's not as though this relationship ever plays a role in the story) and a red herring / non-sequitur is the informant cat.
There was little characterisation, so we didn't really get a sense of the heroic adventure that the plot called for and consequently, we failed to become engaged. And to this post-Pippi Longstocking generation there was a certain anticlimatic lack of ingenuity in the uses to which the backpack contents were put.
Most disappointing for me was the artlessness in the telling. I longed for language that would stretch or bounce or play, given all else that was missing in the book. But it wasn't there.
On the plus side, once the protagonist reaches the island, the adventure paces well with a single digestible adventurelet in each chapter. The final chapter worked well too, where the animals all band together in one last-ditch attempt to prevent the rescue.
Admittedly, they're reasonably bright kids - it could be that it would suit a younger mind. If we get through the second (and third) volumes, I'll post an update.
BTW this edition has pages that are more a paperback than a hardback quality.
Rating:
- WARNING! Black & White IllustrationsThis edition does not have color illustrations. When I purchased it, I was under the impression that it did. They are printed in black and white. The paper in this edition is the sort of paper used in a low quality trade paperback: this isn't really a nice edition. I'm not very pleased.
But the story itself is worth reading in any edition! Wonderful book!
Rating:
- Fantastic Three TalesThis is a wonderful three-in-one storybook. We are reading it as a family and it is so clever and beautifully written. I would highly recommend; you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
- Three Tales of my Fathers DragonExcellent children's book! I highly recommend it to all
people young and old. Great illustrations and wonderful
imagination!!! A classic!
Rating:
- Fabulous for reading together!My wife bought this on recommendation from another Amazon parent and we have enjoyed it very much! We curl up in bed together with our 4.5 yo son and 7+ yo daughter and read a couple of chapters each night. The children adore the story line, Elmer's cleverness and everything about this charming, delightful, classic series. Absolutely get this trilogy to share with your children and your grandchildren; it's wonderful!
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