People of my generation will still remember the special thrill of watching the magical Mr Benn TV series, how lovely that today’s young children can now get to know David McKee’s bowler-hatted character through these reissued picture books. Bowler hats may be rarer on our streets these days, but it’s just as exciting as it ever was to go with Mr Benn from his monochrome world, through the magical Fitting Room door in the fancy dress shop, into somewhere much more colourful. In this story, he is transformed into a knight and helps save a dragon who is losing his job as royal firelighter to a rather unscrupulous match maker. The story can be enjoyed on all sorts of levels by children and adults alike and the illustrations, of course, are sublime. Some of the spreads of Mr Benn, in full armour, leading the king and his knights out to bring home the dragon would fit right in to the Bayeux Tapestry, and are wonders of movement, humour, detail and perspective. A must-have picture book.
When Mr Benn visits the little fancy dress shop, he enters a fantastical world of adventure as if by magic... In this story, a red suit of armour catches Mr Benn's eye, and when he tries it on he finds himself transported to a land full of castles, dungeons and dragons!
'...the very name is enough to induce a warm glow of childish bliss...' Telegraph
Author
About David McKee
David McKee (1935 - 2022) was the creator of well-known characters including King Rolo, Mr Benn and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, which is now published in more than 60 languages and has its own successful global merchandise programme. David was born in Devon and went to Plymouth Art Colege, where he had a traditional training. On leaving co lege he drew regularly for Punch, Reader’s Digest, and The Times Educational Supplement. His drawings were influenced especia ly by Saul Steinberg and Andre Francois. In 2020, David won the British Book Awards Illustrator of the Year Award and BookTrust’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
