A Book of Dragons

Not all dragons gobble up princesses.

As Manning-Sanders writes in her foreword, some dragons are kindly beasts. Some are proud beings who serve the Supreme Ruler of Heaven. But there are also bad and savage dragons, who have to be either killed or outwitted.

In this collection — one of the very first in Manning-Sanders’ celebrated “A Book of…” series — fourteen fairy tales from across the world bring dragons of every kind roaring to life. The stories hail from Greece, China, Japan, North Macedonia, Ireland, Romania, Germany, and elsewhere, proving that wherever there are people, there are stories of dragons.

Manning-Sanders retells each tale with her celebrated warmth, wit, and precision — not a word wasted, yet every page alive with fire and wonder. The award-winning Robin Jacques provides stunning illustrations that capture both the terror and the majesty of dragonkind.

Stories in the collection include: Constantes and the Dragon (Greece), Chien Tang (China), Stan Bolovan, My Lord Bag of Rice (Japan), The Nine Doves (Greece), The Yellow Dragon (China), Pepito (Greece), Yanni (Macedonia), The Dragon and his Grandmother (Germany), The Thirteenth Son of the King of Erin (Romania), Baskets in a Little Cart (China), The Prince with the Golden Hand (Ukraine), The Three Dogs (Germany), and The Dragon of the Well (Greece).

Perfect for read-aloud sessions, bedtime storytelling, and young readers ages 6–12 who love dragons in all their fearsome glory. Now back in print for the first time in fifty years, A BOOK OF DRAGONS will continue to thrill and entertain children and adults alike.