King Jack and the Dragon

Jack, little brother Casper and friend Zak spend a busy day building a castle out of a cardboard box, some sticks, some bin bags, some bricks and an old quilt. They are brave knights protecting their castle from dragon attacks until it’s time to for Zak to go home and Casper to go to bed and Jack is left on his own... when his imagination gets the better of him.

This is a beautifully-paced, reassuring picture book celebrating the power of imaginative play. The exuberance of childhood shines from the drawings and Jack’s baby brother is perfectly drawn with his dummy following his older brother and friend around. Peter Bently's wonderful rhyming text and Helen Oxenbury's charming illustrations combine to create a delightfully old-fashioned feel.