Product Description

Valerio the dragon and Allegra the unicorn have always lived happily amid the majestic trees of the Ardet Forest, and in harmony with the animals that call the forest home. But one day Valerio discovers King Orlando cutting down trees to build a shelter. Only the king's young daughter, Arianna, seems sympathetic to the animals who are losing their homes. But can she save them all before it is too late?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #300297 in Books
• Published on: 1998-08-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 36 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780152018887
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
The daughter of medieval King Valerio is visited by a unicorn and dragon who plead to have the forests of the realm preserved. A lovely book about forest conservation perfect for children ages 3-7. The author and illustrator, Lynne Cherry, is deservedly winner of numerous awards for beautiful books. Recommended.

From Publishers Weekly
PW found that "lavish illustrations are the high point" of this eco-fable about a unicorn who befriends a princess and helps save an endangered forest. Ages 6-10.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-In their efforts to prevent the king from destroying the Ardet Forest, Valerio the dragon and Allegra the unicorn befriend Princess Arianna and teach her about its value. The princess, in turn, shows her father the "...peace, silence and beauty...within the darkness of the forest." He decrees that the remaining trees will be preserved, and happiness and peace reign once again. The delicate, vibrant watercolor paintings are reminiscent of classic fairy-tale picture books where knights, misty woods, and mythical creatures abound. Soft shades of green dominate each detailed illustration; vines twist around the dozens of smaller sketches of animals and plants bordering each double-page spread. This is an obvious parable that lacks the lilting tone of Cherry's The Great Kapok Tree (Harcourt, 1990) and is occasionally a bit heavy handed. On the whole, though, it is an enticing book that will please those looking for dragon and unicorn stories, as well as those on an ecological quest.?Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Interesting story, beautiful illustrations
At our library, I gather books for teachers to pick up and check out for use with their lesson plan subjects. I always pull Lynne Cherry's Kapok Tree for teachers who are teaching about rainforests. When I saw "The Dragon and the Unicorn," I knew I had to order it for the teachers and kids. I wasn't disappointed and don't think our library's patrons will be disappointed, either! The illustrations are not only rich and colorful, they're creative in their design and range. The plot moved at a good pace - not sluggish, nor too much detail, nor too much preachy "do this," "don't do that." Kids will like the gentle, but fiercely protective dragon and the wise, magical unicorn who he protects. Kids will also enjoy taking the journey with Arianna into the world in which the dragon, unicorn, and many other animals live, and where they are being threatened by Arianna's father's destruction of the forests. The resolution of the problem of the king's allowing the forest's destruction is satisfying without being too pat or easy.

The Dragon And The Unicorn
I was so delighted to find this wonderful enviromental fairy tale with beautiful illustrations of brown people. It is such a relief and joy to encounter an author and illustrator whom recognizes that there are other marvelous colours that can be used when filling in the hues of the characters. The beautiful Arianna lead our family on a mystical journey through a medievel forest in danger, and we learned that the darkness of the forest was full of peace, silence and beauty. Thank you Lynne for letting young readers know that what is dark and brown and black is also beautiful.

This is a beautiful and thoughtful book.
The illustrations in this book are magnificent.
Each page appears as an illuminated manuscript. The characters (the King and Princess) have 'off-white' complexions--which make them very appealing for some under-represented students.
The story is well written, though a bit predictable and is very meaningful in its strong environmental message.
We used it in school as a model for writing and illustrating stories with a message.