Wrede's hilarious adventure stories about Cimorene, the princess who refuses to be proper. Every one of Cimorene's adventures is included in its paperback edition--"Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, " and "Talking to Dragons"--in one handsome package that's perfect for gift giving.

    

    So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon - and finds the family and excitement she's been looking for.Cover illustrator: Peter de Sève

    This book explores the fascination that we have for the strange, powerful and mysterious creatures that roam the jungle of the imagination. Here is a storehouse of arcane and curious lore which, in alphabetical order of beast, includes myths, poetry, quotations from ancient sources and the symbolism attached to fabulous beasts - an essential part of artistic tradition.The author, pimarily an artist by profession, has traced creatures ranging from the human-headed Soul Bird and the Sphinx from Egypt, to the Crooked Beak of Heaven from North America and the Vouivre, the French Wyvern, back to the earliest representations in visual art.