Monday, 11 November 2013

The Letter For The King

Author: Tonke Dragt
Ages: 9+


It has been quite a while, but with festive season approaching and gifts being planned, I just couldn't resist posting this review. Collecting classics and rich books with stories from other countries is one weakness I do not regret living with :o) and this one fits the bill snugly!

The author originally wrote the book in Dutch in 1962, and since then it has sold more than a million copies world-wide and has been translated into a dozen or more languages as well. It was also made into a feature film and is one of the best-loved children's' books in Europe.

The  book has just been translated in English by Laura Watkinson and we were given a wonderful opportunity to receive the book pre-release in return for a review. It is now a cherished book proudly displayed in our shelf, having been devoured immediately by DS1. Judging by the way he walked, talked, ate, slept with it, it must be a gripping story indeed!

It is worth looking up Tonke Dragt, just to see how great an author she is and how wonderful her works are.

Here is the review in his own words:

A fantastic book full of courage and bravery that Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fans would really love to read, with loads of action and suspense...

The Letter for the King is a fantastic story of bravery and friendship and courage. Tiuri, the protagonist is the son of a well known and respected Knight. On the day he was going to be knighted, there is a visitor with an urgent message. An old man arrives and requests Tiuri to take a message to the Black Knight in the adjacent kingdom. If he takes it up, Tiuri knows he would lose his knighthood, but the adventure invites him and he sets on a stolen horse with a secret letter. He soon finds out that the knight is dying, and he should be the one to deliver it to the King. Tiuri realises that this would be an exciting and brave adventure, but one full of danger and possibility of death.

The suspense and action will have you on the edge of your seats. This is a 10/10 book, already famous in Europe and is a treat for fantasy, action and adventure lovers. 

More at : LoveReading4Kids




8 comments:

  1. Gomathy, can you please suggest some book like ' horrid henry' (not theme wise)? Like 10-15 pages, may be multiple stories and all. a series would be good too.. i think N likes the fact that he can read stories about the same boy and the characters are starting to get familiar. But I do not want him reading too many HH books. just want to give him more options.

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    1. Been a while, Rosh, but at that age, M2 used to read Oxford Reading Tree's "Read at home" series featuring Biff, Chip and Kipper with their dog Floppy. A similar set is used in school reading bands as well and I remember getting a whole boxed set worth £125 for £15 from RedHouse.

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    2. This is the set, but they are always out of stock, apparently!! http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=184091

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  2. You could also try Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs, although m2 never quite took to it, as it is all about a boy having imaginary adventures with a set of dinosaur toys that come to life in his imagination... Has a big fan club, is also a TV series.

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  3. I find those biff chip books at library, n likes them.. We have read one of the Harry books. Did not realize it was a series. Will check it out

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    1. Some more series that we used to enjoy:
      Topsy and Tim series
      Alfie stories - Shirley Hughes
      Flat Stanley - Jeff Brown
      Winnie the witch - Korky Paul. Back then M2 used to think they were the funniest books ever :o)
      Also Mr Men, Peter Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh books!

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  4. Sounds like a great book to read and I am guessing the review is done by M1? Fantastic!

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    1. Yes, he signed himself as a panel member in that website, and gets his nose into books pre-release in return for reviews. Loves it!! Particularly when the books happen to be such renowned classics!!

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