Reviews: (by author)

Wiesner, David. The Loathsome Dragon. Retold by David Wiesner and Kim Kahng. New York : Clarion Books, 2005. ISBN 0-618-54359-7

When a new Weisner book comes out, I buy it immediately. Weisner has two Caldecott medals, for Tuesday and The Three Pigs, and two Caldecott honors, for Freefall and Sector 7. Equally good, in my opinion, are Hurricane ; June 29, 1999 ; and Night of the Gargoyles, with text by Eva Bunting. His new book proves just as well done as his previous works, with a good story and great illustrations.
Wiesner and Kahng, husband and wife, retell an old English fairy tale, "The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh," written by folklorist Joseph Jacobs. Their revision includes many of the characteristics found in our favorite fairy tales: a struggle between good and evil, a series of spells, a noble prince, a wise wizard, an enchanted dragon and an evil enchantress. So the conflict begins: the evil queen must eliminate the lovely, good Princess Margaret. One night, the princess goes to sleep a princess but wakes up a loathsome dragon.
Thus enchanted, she leaves the palace to live alone atop Spindle Stone Mountain, there to remain trapped until her brother can free her. When messages finally reach the Prince, he and his thirty-member crew vow to save her. That done, Richard and Margaret then free their enchanted father and condemn the queen to become a loathsome toad forever-- the satisfying justice of fairy tales.
Wiesner's illustrations focus on the enormous, loathsome dragon. Its scales are a myriad of soft shades of green; her soft blue eyes reveal the Princess' sadness and longing. Equally strong illustrations show the evil enchantress casting her spells; her arms reach out dramatically while frightening ghostly figures surround her. This book belongs with your favorite picture books and your favorite fairy tales-a winner.

Toni Rowden, January 2006

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