The Book of Dragons

Eight madcap tales of unpredictable dragons — including one made of ice, another that takes refuge in the General Post Office, and a fire-breathing monster that flies out of an enchanted book and eats an entire soccer team!TheBook of Beasts (Excerpt)

He happened to be building a Palace when the newscame, and he left all the bricks kicking about the floor for Nurse toclear up—but then the news was rather remarkable news. You see,there was a knock at the front door and voices talking downstairs,and Lionel thought it was the man come to see about the gas, whichhad not been allowed to be lighted since the day when Lionel made aswing by tying his skipping rope to the gas bracket.

And then, quite suddenly, Nurse came in and said,"Master Lionel, dear, they've come to fetch you to go and beKing."

Then she made haste to change his smock and towash his face and hands and brush his hair, and all the time she wasdoing it Lionel kept wriggling and fidgeting and saying, "Oh,don't, Nurse," and, "I'm sure my ears are quite clean,"or, "Never mind my hair, it's all right," and, "That'lldo."

"You're going on as if you was going to be aneel instead of a King," said Nurse.

The minute Nurse let go for a moment Lionel boltedoff without waiting for his clean handkerchief, and in the drawingroom there were two very grave-looking gentlemen in red robes withfur, and gold coronets with velvet sticking up out of the middle likethe cream in the very expensive jam tarts.

They bowed low to Lionel, and the gravest onesaid: "Sire, your great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, theKing of this country, is dead, and now you have got to come and beKing."

"Yes, please, sir," said Lionel, "whendoes it begin?"

"You will be crowned this afternoon,"said the grave gentleman who was not quite so grave-looking as theother.

"Would you like me to bring Nurse, or whattime would you like me to be fetched, and hadn't I better put on myvelvet suit with the lace collar?" said Lionel, who had oftenbeen out to tea.

"Your Nurse will be removed to the Palacelater. No, never mind about changing your suit; the Royal robes willcover all that up."...

About Edith Nesbitt:

Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland; 15 August 1858 – 4 May 1924) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit.

Nesbit published approximately 40 books for children, including novels, collections of stories and picture books. Collaborating with others, she published almost as many more.