Saint George and the dragon A golden legend

Hyman's meticulously researched illustrations bring Hodges' retelling of Edmund Spenser's sixteenth-century poem to full realization. The glowing paintings and borders recall the religious art of Spenser's time while details in the pictures evoke the earliest origins of the St. George legend.

This adaptation of The Faerie Queen features illustrations that ``glitter with color and mesmerizing details,'' said PW. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Those partial to highly finished story-telling illustration, in the Howard-Pyle vein, will find much to admire in Hyman's renderings of Saint George, and even unenthusiasts will find some of the work technically impressive. As usual, Hodges' telling is fluent and dramatic, with just a suggestion of archaicism. ""The dreadful dragon lay stretched on the sunny side of a great hill, like a great hill himself, and when he saw the knight's armor glistening in the sunlight, he came eagerly to do battle."" The dragon, unfortunately, is less imposing--almost, when first met, foolish-looking--in Hyman's literal depictions. But look at those thrashing coils of tail! See the dragon slain, and still--the nostrils breathing their last smoke, the slackjawed head halfway to being a skull. Notice also, at that moment, how the knight draws back his sword, inclines his head. The very last illustrations, of the ensuing festivities, are travel-poster tableaux, and there's considerable artistic posturing in the opening, pre-dragon scenes. But in that particular, more cinematic image of the dragon's fall, Hyman gets away from picture-making and various old modes of picture-making (represented also by the borders), and seizes the moment. Otherwise: a strong narrative, with stagy decor and pictures. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.