by Paul Biegel
Translated by Gillian Hume & Paul Biegel
Illustrated by Sally J. Collins
Published by Pushkin Press
Pushkin Children's
Cover design by Jo Walker
Originally written in 1963 this book revolves around King Mansolain who is very tired after being king for a thousand years. His heart is ticking too slowly & everyone in the kingdom is trying to find a way to help him.
Only a potion made from Golden Speedwell might help the King & it's up to the Wonder Doctor to search for the elusive plant.
The King has a hare as an attendant, so it's no surprise that the Wonder Doctor sends all the animals he meets on his trek, back to Copper Castle to tell the King a story & help him survive one more day.
The King had ruled over all the animals, dwarfs & dragons when they were still around but now just the Hare knew him.
Could stories be the solution?
Though one actual story, this book is several stories within a story. The writing style invites you in, reminding us of traditional fairy tales with their own unique twist.
The King's beard was so long it reached the ground & sometimes he even used it to clean his glasses or as a cosy blanket for a lucky animal!
The first animal to bring a story to the King was a wolf. The story was enjoyed so much that the King insisted the wolf stay & had the Hare prepare one of the big guest rooms for him.
The charming & imaginative stories from each animal lift the King's spirits & help him through to the next day but will the Wonder Doctor get back in time?
With stories from a wolf, squirrel, duck, rabbit, sheep, lion, dragon & others, this is a pleasure to read. Each story is unique & there's even a witch who has a pump in her garden that pumps time instead of water. What would you do with time from a pump?
The Wonder Doctor's journey is a difficult one. He has to overcome a lot of challenges but he is on a mission & is very determined to help the King.
Can you imagine a lion in a chair, eating cake? Even your most unusual thoughts can come true in a book like this.
This would be an excellent read-aloud book & a great way to introduce timeless classics to new generations of children.
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