A magic dragon refers to a mythical creature that possesses magical abilities and powers. Dragons have been a prevalent part of human mythology and folklore across various cultures for centuries. These creatures are often depicted as large, winged reptiles with scales, sharp claws, and a fiery breath. In many stories, dragons are believed to guard treasures, possess immense strength, and have the ability to fly. The concept of magic dragons has been popularized through literature, movies, and various forms of popular culture. One famous example is the classic children's song "Puff the Magic Dragon" written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow in 1959.
Dory the witch
Guest post today all the way from the UK. Meet Harriet Muncaster. Harriet is currently working on her MA in children's book illustration in Cambridge and she took some time out of her busy schedule to write up a post on her favorite children's books. It's longer than the reviews I usually post, but I figured since she took the time to write it all, it was nice to share. (Sadly, I had to edit it down, too!)
This is Dorrie. She is a witch. A little witch. Her hat is always on crooked and her stockings never match.
When I was younger, my mum would take us to the library, and it was there that I first discovered Dorrie. I remember being totally drawn into her world. I loved the spooky town of Witchville, the sparkly looking magic potions, the eerie silhouettes of witches flying across the sky and the ominous feeling of a bad witch lurking somewhere in the story.
The Dorrie books stood out because of their black and white illustrations, often offset by just one or two colours. They are so different from the brightly coloured and commercial illustrations of some children’s books today.
The two Dorrie books my library stocked were Dorrie’s Play and Dorrie and the Birthday Eggs . There was one time I was reading The Birthday Eggs for the first time in bed and my parents were having a dinner party downstairs. I turned the page and this face leered up at me:
It gave me such a shock that I remember jumping right out of bed and running downstairs to show my parents in the middle of their party! It still freaks me out a little bit today.
The stories are all set in Witchville, the town where Dorrie and her mother, the Big Witch, live with the ogreish, bossy but good-at-heart Cook and Dorrie’s black cat Gink.
Dorrie and Gink are forever getting into scrapes, like in Dorrie and the Weather Box , when they creep into the Big Witch’s secret magic room and try to make a spell to change the weather. Of course, nothing goes to plan, and Dorrie and Gink end up making it rain and thunder inside the house. Big Witch eventually comes home and sorts it all out. Well, kind of. She makes a mistake, too, and it starts snowing orange instead!
All the Dorrie books have quirky and off beat stories. After collecting almost all of them (to great dismay of my bank balance), the style of the illustrations changes as the series progresses. The first books are graphic looking; blacker with more block colours. Halfway through the series, the illustrations become more subtle; perhaps created with a soft pencil. And then toward the end, Ms. Coombs starts using full colour.
What I love most of all about the Dorrie books is the slightly creepy but comforting atmosphere. Having a penchant for slightly-spooky-but-not-too-scary things, the Dorrie stories really encompass everything I want out of a children’s book!
I am really grateful that I was lucky enough to come across the Dorrie books as a child. Now at twenty three and studying to become a children’s book illustrator myself, I can see how unique they are and how much of an inspiration they have been to me.
Amazingly, a few of the Dorrie books are being reprinted using a print-on-demand service on Amazon, and a good number are still in print in the U.S.
View the complete list of Dorrie books, here.
Tag: dorrie the witch
Halloween is today, which means the big parade hits the neighborhood tonight and we’d better make sure we get off the subway on the east side of Sixth Avenue or we’ll be stuck behind the barricade and forced to walk, costumeless, fifteen blocks to make it across to the other side. (We know this from experience.) The Halloween I knew, living outside the city, did not include parades. It was all about trick-or-treating in the dark, wooded towns where I lived. You’d go with a few friends, a pillowcase for all the candy, and glow-sticks hung around your neck so you could be found if your mom drove around looking for you. I remember dressing up as a pirate with a stuffed parrot on my shoulder, as a gypsy, as an alien from Venus… what else? One thing I have no memory of dressing up as is a witch. Which is strange, because I love witches. I wanted to be one. I decided this around age thirteen—I would be a ballerina, a witch, a novelist, and a single mother when I grew up. I took ballet classes, I read books, the boy I liked didn’t like me, and so what was left? Witch research. But big problem: becoming a witch involved having to be friends with other witches so you could form a coven. Um… Where was I to find a group of other girls who also all wanted to be witches in the middle of nowhere Upstate where barely anyone even wanted to come over to play the Ouija board with me? Also, being a witch involved a lot of recipes, and doing things by rules, and memorizing stuff, and… let’s just say I talked myself out of it and did not succeed in becoming a witch then, and I am not a witch now. My witch fascination is probably due to my most favorite series of children’s books EVER. Who else devoured the picture books about Dorrie the Little Witch by Patricia Coombs? They’re out-of-print now, except maybe for one, and I do wish they would be republished. I can’t even express how much I loved these books. Dorrie was a little witch who lived with her mom, Big Witch. I don’t remember a dad—which seemed ideal to me. She had a black cat named Gink. Dorrie was clumsy and had the messiest room and she always wore two different colored socks, just like I did then and still do. In each book she got into trouble, but her mom always forgave her at the end. Dorrie was a witch I could relate to. She was my most favorite witch ever. So who’s yours? Just a side note: My family is not allowed to make fun of me anymore for reading the “Blood Witch” book on the train! Seriously! Not funny. Now I am all grown up. I am not a single mother—falling in love foiled my plans to be single, and my biological clock must’ve dropped out somewhere back around West 3rd Street because it sure isn’t ticking. I am not a ballerina—I got as far as going en pointe and then quit so I’d have more time to go out partying when I was seventeen. I am almost a novelist, or I’m trying to be. So I guess one of my dreams is on the way to coming true. Happy Halloween. I’ll be dressing up as someone who is not dressing up today. What will you be?
Literature / Dorrie the Little Witch
The Dorrie books are a series of children's books by Patricia Coombs, from 1962 to 1992. They are about the adventures, and misadventures, of a young witch and her cat, Gink, as they face evil witches, wizards, and magic gone awry.
Most adventures take place in the town of Witchville, often involving Dorrie's mother, The Big Witch, who sometimes has to come save the day, especially if it's a mess Dorrie made herself. Other times, Dorrie saves the day herself.
Not to be confused with The Little Witch, a book by Otfried Preußler.
One famous example is the classic children's song "Puff the Magic Dragon" written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow in 1959. This song portrays a friendly dragon named Puff who lives in the land of Honalee and engages in adventures with a young boy named Jackie Paper. Magic dragons also play a significant role in fantasy literature and role-playing games.
Provides Examples Of
- All Witches Have Cats: Gink is Dorrie's cat.
- Art Evolution: Spanning three decades, there is a clear difference in the style over time, although the general form is the same. This is covered near the end of this article .
- Cute Witch: Dorrie.
- Disappeared Dad: Dorrie's father is never so much as mentioned.
- Fashionable Asymmetry: Dorrie's socks are a subtle example.
- Flying Broomstick: Flying on them, or using them to levitate things.
- Gold Makes Everything Shiny: Dorrie gets a gold cauldron as a reward for stopping the Blue Witch.
- Good Witch Versus Bad Witch: Several of the plots involve Dorrie or her mother against evil witches.
- Wicked Witch: Although most witches in the book are good, some of the villains have been this trope.
- Witch Classic: All the witches, but Dorrie's mother in particular fits this rather than another witch trope.
- Wizard Classic: Dorrie's family knows a few, and some have been antagonists.
In J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the character Smaug from "The Hobbit" is a fearsome dragon who guards the Lonely Mountain and its vast treasure. In the "Dragonriders of Pern" series by Anne McCaffrey, dragons form a telepathic bond with their riders and help protect the planet from a threat called Thread. In addition to their physical attributes, magic dragons are often associated with magical abilities such as breathing fire or casting spells. These enchanting creatures are sometimes portrayed as wise and knowledgeable beings with the ability to grant wishes or provide guidance. Dragons are often seen as symbols of power, wisdom, and protection. The fascination with magic dragons continues to captivate people's imaginations, as these mythical creatures embody the mysterious and fantastical elements of the human psyche. Whether they are portrayed as fearsome beasts or as friendly companions, magic dragons are a source of wonder and fascination for people of all ages..
Reviews for "Awakening the Dragon Within: Empowering Self-Discovery with Magic Dragon Interay"
1. John - 1 star - This book was a huge disappointment. The plot was confusing and the characters were poorly developed. I found it difficult to connect with any of them or care about what happened to them. The writing style was also very choppy and it felt like the author was trying too hard to create a magical atmosphere but failed miserably. Overall, I would not recommend reading "Magic Dragon Interay" as it was a waste of time and money.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magic Dragon Interay" but it fell short of my expectations. The story lacked originality and felt like a cliché fantasy tale. The dialogue was cheesy and the pacing was off, making it hard to stay engaged. The world-building was weak and inconsistencies in the magic system only added to my frustration. There are much better fantasy books out there that offer a more compelling and immersive reading experience.
3. Mark - 2.5 stars - "Magic Dragon Interay" had an interesting concept, but the execution left much to be desired. The writing was mediocre, with awkward descriptions and clichéd metaphors. The characters felt flat and lacked depth, making it difficult to become invested in their journeys. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises. I had hoped for a captivating and magical experience, but unfortunately, this book fell short of that. Only read if you're desperate for a quick fantasy fix and have no other options.