Down the Dragon's Tongue

The end-pages of this picture book story show an urban park with a mega-slide that any parent would have ambitions to try out alongside their child. The opening page presents Mr Prospero, successful 'can-do' businessman, in control in his office. Once in the playground with twins Harry and Miranda, not to mention Lollop the dog, he is predictably less in control, daunted by the prospect of careering down the slippery slide which 'shone like the bright, long tongue of a friendly giant'. Against his better judgement Mr Prospero finally makes the descent, 'his tie streaming behind him like a fruit salad that had learned to fly'. He is so excited by the adventure that he returns to the slide again and again, while the exhausted children can only gaze on in amazement. Readers familiar with Ted Hughes' 'Shaggy and Spotty' will find a similar style of tale here, full of aerial wonder and word repetition to convey risky adventure. The pictures skilfully evoke the harum-scarum actions of the whole family. This is a 'must-read' for dads!