The King of the Copper Mountains

Very charming story of a 1000 year old King who is ill and will die if he does not get some leaves of the Golden Speedwell. The Wonder Doctor tells the King's faithful Hare to keep the King entertained with stories while he is gone and to help the Doctor sends animals to the King as he meets them on his quest for the Golden Speedwell. The animals come singly or in groups and tell their stories, some are sad, some are funny and some are poignant, but they all keep the King holding on to life. He opens many of the rooms he has sealed oft to sleep his new guests. Will the Wonder Doctor make it in time? Read and see. A Very sweet story, good to read aloud to children 6 through 8. ( )

King Mansolain is dying. He has reigned over his kingdom of animals and dwarfs for more than a thousand years, and now his heart is tired. His friend the hare consults the Wonder Doctor, who says the only thing that can save the king's life is a potion made from a rare plant. The Wonder Doctor doesn't know if he can find the plant in time to save the king's life. In despair, the hare asks if there is anything that can be done to prolong the king's life while they wait for the doctor to return with the magical plant.

The Wonder Doctor can think of only one thing that might help. As he travels throughout the kingdom in search of the rare Golden Speedwell, he will tell every animal he meets to come to the castle and tell the king a story. Only a new, exciting story told to the king every day might help to keep his heart beating evenly.

First published in Dutch in 1965, this is a classic children's book that somehow never received the acclaim it deserves. Each animal's story is moving, as is the frame story itself, as the animals do their best to keep their beloved king alive.

I was about ten when I first read this book, and it was one of those books I read over and over again. I loved it so much, in fact, that I nicked the school library's copy...I later lost that copy (serves me right!) and eventually I managed to pick up an expensive second-hand copy. The book has now been re-published, and I hope it finds many, many new readers. [May 2008] ( )

A beautiful book, one of my favorites as a child. The King is old & dying & must be told a story every night to keep his heart strong until the Wonder Doctor returns with a remedy.
The stories are wonderful and varied, some sad, some scary and some uplifting. The language is not too complex, (i'm reading it o my 6 year old) a book I highly recommend. ( )