One dragon's dream by Peter Pavey

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Walker Books, 2009 (c1978) ISBN 9781921150746
(All ages) Highly recommended. It is wonderful that this fabulous Picture Book of the Year has been reprinted. It is such a treat: a counting book with intricate pictures that just beg to be examined again and again. It revolves around the dreams of a dragon who sleeps in a beautifully carved bed and has a tabby cat in attendance. His bedroom is full of wonderful objects: a suit of armour holding a broom for a lance, a bird's cage with a clock in it and a rocking horse with a mouse sitting on it; plus many other amazing details. As the counting progresses, the reader must find the correct number of objects that the story refers to. For example it is a lot of fun to find the 4th elusive frog in the picture for 4, or the six stern storks for 6. The counting story and the pictures that illustrate it are complex and really stimulate the imagination.
This would be wonderful present for grandchildren, a fascinating book for primary schools and an outstanding example of a picture book for secondary schools.
Pat Pledger

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