King Krakus and the Dragon

I have to disagree with the other reviewers. To me, the text seemed long and clunky. The clever trick makes no sense - would that really happen? The pictures are creative, but are iconographic, without expression.

Reading Richard Monte's newly-published collection of Polish folktales, The Dragon of Krakow and Other Polish Stories, reminded me of this beautiful picture book by Janina Domanska, which relates the legend of King Krakus, and the dragon which threatened the city of Krakow. The tale of a good king, a terrible monster, and a clever shoemaker, King Krakus and the Dragon also features the beautiful Princess Wanda, herself the subject of a well-known folk legend.

A Caldecott Honor winner in 1971 for If All The Seas Were One Sea, Domanska also illustrated the Newbery Medal Winner, The Trumpeter of Krakow. Her beautiful artwork, based on Polish folk-motifs, is a wonderful complement to the story, which should appeal to folklore enthusiasts show more young and old. show less