Tell Me a Dragon by Jackie Morris- an exquisite visual feast

Pembrokeshire illustrator and author Jackie Morris’ latest book, Tell Me a Dragon, is an exquisite visual feast exploring the dragons, both big and small, that lurk in our imaginations.

Morris’ dragons are fantastical, mythological beasts inhabiting the realms of fairytale, moonlight and even big city life.

Each beast is described in liltingly lyrical language and illustrated in Jackie Morris’ inimitable style. The illustrations are beautifully detailed and, as ever, the more you look, the more you can see.

Beyond the dragons lie intricate landscapes, ranging from frozen Siberian wastes to Middle Eastern deserts, modern cityscapes and medieval villages.

Dragons range in size from a tiny beast curled around its owner’s ear, singing songs and stories from far away, to a dragon as big as a village.

They inhabit the depths of the ocean, dancing with dolphins, the flickering flames of candlelight and the snuggly patchwork quilt of a child’s dreamtime bed.

Tell Me a Dragon is an ideal way of tapping into the imaginations of children and adults alike.

The illustrations are a great springboard to descriptive discussions, while the final invitation to ‘tell me about your dragon’ could spark a whole host of art, literacy and storytelling projects for both parents and teachers.

Tell Me a Dragon is a beautiful bedtime story book, a great classroom aid and a feast for both adults and children.

Rating: ***** Becky hotchin