Book of Beasts

As young King Lionel turns the pages of his magical book, a hungry red dragon and other creatures in the illustrations come to life

Edith Nesbit (1858 -1924) began writing as a teenager and in later years supported her family with her work as a writer. She is remembered today mainly for her books for children such as Five Children and It, The Phoenix and the Carpet and The Railway Children. The Book of Beasts was first published in 1900 in a collection of stories called The Book of Dragons. Another story, Melisande, is also published as a picture book by Walker Books, illustrated by P.J. Lynch. Inga Moore has written and illustrated many picture books for children, including The Vegetable Thieves (Parents' Choice Award); Six Dinner Sid (Smarties Book Prize); Oh, Little Jack; and A Big Day for Little Jack. For Walker Books, she has also illustrated Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost and a two-volume edition of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows.