What is your favorite classic picture book? Or you can tell us about a picture book you think will or should become a classic.
I have written of this once before, but one of the most magical books from my childhood was Saint George and the Dragon, retold from Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene by Margaret Hodges, and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.
Please permit me the indulgence of quoting from my old post on the subject (linked above), as that post was answering essentially the same question as this.
This is the knightly quest told in its purest form…
…the true attraction is really the art by Trina Schart Hyman…The weather is present in her images, whether wind or blue sky, clouds or boiling dragon-smoke. Her Fair Folk are wispy, like they might blow away at any moment, her Red Cross Knight (George) exudes strength and pure-heartedness, and her Princess Una is a vision of loveliness, quiet strength, and deep feeling.
…The battle of the dragon and knight is exciting and well-paced. You really feel the energy that both of them exert, and when after the first day of fighting the Red Cross Knight falls exhausted and wounded to sleep by “an ancient spring of silvery water,” and Una comes up to cover him with a cloak, in the picture you can hear the brook bubbling and the crickets singing as cool nighttime descends.
…It’s a fairy tale given the breath of life.
I’m fairly certain I saw this at the library the other day! I’ll have to try to find it again!
That book is absolutely gorgeous! The legend of St. George has always been one of my favorites. I need to revisit it.
It really is! Were you already familiar with this version?