Jack and the Fire Dragon, a story of Jack, the youngest of three sons, who goes underground where he meets a shape changing dragon, is almost certainly an ancient tale. It might have survived into the mountains of Appalachia, where it is today, but it has trailing echoes of the ancient Greeks. In Jack and the Fire Dragon and other Jack Tales, we find that the timeless Jack keeps “comin’ young” again and that “no one can keep Jack down for long-not even old man Death himself.” (quoted from Gail Haley’s book, Mountain Jack Tales)
Reviews
- Linocut pictures drenched in watercolor reveal the mythic adventures of Jack, of beanstalk fame, who must fight the Fire Dragaman, and wins the love of Jenny, the Dragon King’s daughter. Related in a dialect of the Appalachian mountains, this story is garnished with folksy descriptions and the prankish good humor thatcharacterizes oral storytelling. A note on the back of the jacket explains many of the references for modern readers; the heroic elements meld with hearty illustrations, making this an unusual offering for folklore fans. Ages 5-9. Publishers Weekly
- Grade 1-3 Haley’s spirited and dramatic retelling of this Appalachian folktale reads as if it has been polished from many oral tellings. (A similar version appears in Richard Chase’s Jack Tales Houghton, 1943 as “Old Fire Dragaman.”) Jack and his two brothers go off to clear new ground for a homestead and are visited by the big old giant, Fire Dragaman, who lives deep in the earth and breathes fireballs. With courage and daring, plucky Jack descends into the giant’s lair, rescues the three pretty girls there, and battles the giant-turned-dragon. Colloquial, expressive language (“If ye kill me, I’ll come back to haint ye, Jack”) is reinforced by dazzling full-color linocut illustrations. Text and art are handsomely composed on double-page spreads that carry the dramatic tension as well as the humor of the story. Deep, inky blacks, and fiery yellows and oranges vibrate on the page; the bold pictures project well. Children will love the scary metamorphosis of giant to dragon and the mysterious trappings of the underground house. A tale sure to attract a following among both tellers and enthralled listeners. Susan H. Patron, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. School Library Journal
Gail E. Haley : Author and Illustrator 