Synopses & Reviews
A lively playtime adventure that becomes a warm and cozy bedtime book
perfect for every little knight-in-training. From the illustrator of the award-winning Were Going on a Bear Hunt.
Night is falling and playtime is nearly over. But brave King Jack and his faithful knights Zak and Caspar are still protecting their castle fort from fierce dragons and terrible beasts. This captivating, joyful make-believe adventure is the perfect bedtime story for brave children everywhere. Fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Dinosaur Roar will especially enjoy this imaginative tale.
An ALA Notable Book
Bank Street Book Committee Best Childrens Books of the Year
Kate Greenaway Award
Its an enchanting tribute to both full-throttle pretend play and the reassurance of a parents embrace.”Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A tale of make-believe that children will delight in hearing again and again.”School Library Journal (starred review)
Sure to be read aloud again and again, this testament to imaginative play exudes warmth.”Kirkus Reviews
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“At once contemporary and classic.” The New York Times
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“Though the characters are wholly modern, there is a timelessness to the cycle of excitement, apprehension and parental comfort that should give this lovely book a long stay on the nursery shelf.” The Wall Street Journal
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* “It’s an enchanting tribute to both full-throttle pretend play and the reassurance of a parent’s embrace.” Publishers Weekly, starred review
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* “A tale of make-believe that children will delight in hearing again and again.” School Library Journal, starred review
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“The rhyming verse, large trim size, and detailed illustrations…make this a suitable story for group sharing, while the sweet, intimate tone will make it a family favorite.” Booklist
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“From this simple premise of imaginative play, Bently and Oxenbury create a classically sweet picture book.” Horn Book
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“This one is sure to become a full-on family favorite at bedtime.” The Washington Post
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“Altogether, ‘King Jack’ is just about perfect.” The Sacramento Bee
Synopsis
An irresistible knights-and-dragons fantasy for the very young, in the tradition of Oxenbury's enduring classic We're Going on a Bear HuntJack, Zack, and baby Caspar spend all day fighting dragons in their homemade fort. But when Sir Zack and Caspar are taken inside for bed, King Jack - alone on his throne - finds himself feeling a bit less brave . . . especially when he hears a thing approaching, a thing with four legs.
A rollicking read-aloud with a charming surprise ending and Helen Oxenbury's spare, expressive illustrations, this kid-pleaser is a classic in the making.
Synopsis
Brave King Jack and his faithful knights, Sir Zack and baby Casper, spend all day fighting fierce dragons and terrible beasts in their homemade fort. But night is falling, bedtime is looming, and playtime is nearly over. When Sir Zack and Caspar are taken inside for bed, King Jack - alone on his throne - finds himself feeling a bit less brave . . . especially when he hears a
thing approaching, a
thing with four legs.
A fantasy adventure and comforting bedtime tale in one. With Helen Oxenbury's spare, expressive illustrations, this classic in the making is perfect for imaginative preschoolers everywhere, and certainly for fans of There's a Nightmare in my Closet and Where the Wild Things Are.
About the Author
Peter Bently is the author of several children’s books published in the UK. His book, The Great Dog Bottom Swap, was shortlisted for the The Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Born in 1960, Peter lives in Devon, England with his wife and their two children.
Helen Oxenbury, the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Ten Fingers, Ten Little Toes and We're Going on a Bear Hunt, is a three-time winner of both the Kate Greenway Award and Smarties Prize. She lives with her husband, the illustrator John Burningham, in North London, England.