• Age: 6 to 9
• Grade: p to 3
• Reading age: 4 to 8

When Dennis the dragon emerges from his egg, he cannot yet breathe fire. This is not unusual in the dragon world, but the quest Dennis undertakes to find his flame most certainly is. An alphabetical series of instructions guides the young dragon as he journeys from castle to countryside, from fairground to forest until he arrives at the blazing crater of a volcano. He meets villains, imps, gnomes and knights along the way — as well as a mischievous jester who stays close to his side from A to Z.

Martin Springett's artwork has graced the covers of many of Canada's great fantasy novels. Jousting with Jesters is the first book he has authored, as well as illustrated. On their own quests for words and wonder, readers of all ages will return again and again to the rich and vibrant world that Martin has created in Jousting with Jesters. Martin lives and works in Toronto, Ontario.

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Jousting with Jesters: An ABC for the Younger Dragon

Martin Springett, illustrator of many picture books and fantasy novel covers, returned to his childhood home in Britain for inspiration in creating Jousting with Jesters: An ABC for the Younger Dragon. Dennis, a small dragon on a quest to find his flame, embarks on a journey through the alphabet to the vermilion volcano where he lights up and, after a few more letters, returns home “with zest.” His adventures and perils are fraught with alliteration. “Avoid aunties armed with arrows. Beware of barons bringing broadswords to breakfast... Faced with a furious fairy, flee, flee, flee!” Each picture is full of detail and includes other words starting with the same letter, as well as details from other pages. (Springett dedicates the book to his friend and fellow artist Pauline Baynes, illustrator of the Narnia books as well as many of JRR Tolkien’s works.)