• Age: 8 to 12

A collection of potential book covers and a bit of a story for each - but YOU write the ending!

An interactive collection of lavishly illustrated book covers for twelve different storybooks and the beginning (or ending) of each story allows children's imagination to take over. With intriguing titles like "Breakfast on a Dragon's Tale," "Growing Up Alien," and "The Book of Wondering," these pictures and stories are sure to engage young readers as they encourage them to explore and share their own creativity.

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.

Martin Springett's profile page

• Winner, Storytelling World Award, Special Storytelling Resources Category

Breakfast on a Dragon’s Tail and Other Book Bites

Picture Book, Imagination & Play, Story Writing It has been said that the most important character in any story is the reader. In this offering from writer and illustrator Martin Springett, the saying could not be truer. Breakfast on a Dragon’s Tail is not so much a story but a collection of “book bites” or first pages of many tales intended to entice readers to complete the stories themselves. Each two-page spread has a full-page illustration and the first page of a story, ending with some questions for the reader to consider as they finish the tale.

The first story involves a princess determined to go for a summer ride despite warnings that a great dragon is roaming the countryside. Other “bites” include a boy with a lost mother, a girl who confronts bullies in her dreams, a winter imp who keeps coming out to play in the summer and a girl who goes inside the world of her favourite book. Springett’s accompanying illustrations are done in a variety of styles with plenty of colour and enough detail to draw the eye of readers young and old alike.

While not a traditional picture book, Breakfast on a Dragon’s Tail is a rich, multi-level classroom resource. Pre-readers might complete the stories orally or by creating their own illustrations. In the primary and junior grades, the tales could be finished as poems, comic books, picture or chapter books or even scripts for drama. As an art project students could create their own cover illustrations. The possibilities for extension activities are plentiful.

Springett encourages his readers to use their imaginations as well as offering some concrete story-writing tips in the Author’s Note. As an added bonus, completed stories can be sent to the publisher to be posted on the website.