Igraine the Brave

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Igraine dreams of becoming a famous knight. When the nefarious nephew of the baroness shows up with plans to capture the castle, its up to Igraine to be brave and save the day. Illustrations.

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Publishers Weekly (09/10/2007)
Igraine's parents are magicians who own the coveted Singing Books of Magic. Brother Albert has joined the family business, but Igraine finds magic incredibly boringshe pines for the excitement of knighthood. Then, on her 12th birthday, the vast castle next door is taken over by Osmund the Greedy, who wants the books for himself. At the same moment, Igraine's parents inadvertently turn themselves into swine, and their daughter happily volunteers for a quest to retrieve the red-headed giant's hairs they need to become human again. Funke's inventive re-imagining of the knight-in-shining-armor story benefits from its playful detailsrainbow-colored smoke wafting out of the spell room, gargoyles who breathe fire from the turrets, stone lions that roar at strangers. Equally enjoyable are the family dynamics: though brother and sister begin as typical antagonists, they work together when their home is imperiled. Igraine's parents don't understand her aversion to magic, but respect her desire to forge her own path. Along the Funke continuum, which travels from silly picture books to the dark, ambitious fantasy of "Inkheart", this falls closest to "Dragon Rider", aimed squarely at elementary school readers. The author, whose career began in illustration, provides her own line drawings, witty images of the singing books (they have faces, hands and feet), and atmospheric spreads with inset text. While children will want to see the pictures up close, an abundance of action and humor make this satisfying story work as a read-aloud too. Ages 8-12. "(Oct.)" Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal (11/01/2007)
Gr 36Igraine, the heroine of this medieval tale, wants something different from life. Her parents and her brother are magicians, and she considers their work "dreadfully boring." Instead, she longs to be a brave knight who has adventures and wins tournaments. When Osmund the Greedy and his army arrive at the gates of her ancestral castle, she gets a chance to prove herself. Her parents have given her a suit of magical armor for her 12th birthday but then a few complications arise that interfere with her grand plans. These challenges start when her parents make a magical error that turns them into unmagical pigs. Now Igraine must find a giant willing to give up his hair to save them. Along the way she must also help a sorrowful knight and rescue a gentle giant from hunters. Although her courage is challenged, Igraine is a resourceful heroine whose feisty demeanor will have readers rooting for her success. Funke's whimsical pen-and-ink illustrations are a good match for this spirited tale. The story has many twists and turns and an engaging heroine who rises to the challenge. Readers will eagerly join her on her quest, and younger children will enjoy an exciting read-aloud as this valiant knight saves the day."Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY" Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

ISBN: 0439903793 | EAN: 9780439903790
Publisher: Chicken House  | Publication Date: October, 2007

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