Night Sky Dragons

Description

Let the creators of Cloud Tea Monkeys take you back to medieval Mongolia in this captivating story gem about family, danger, banditry and kite-flying. Set at a caravanserai along the Silk Road, Night Sky Dragons is Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham's third tale in a trilogy of texts. Yazul, a young boy, spends most of his time with his grandfather in his workshop, making kites. More than anything, Yazul wants the approval of his father, the lord of the han, but this love of kite-making only ever seems to elicit disappointment: "Travel and trade are what matters," his father says. One day, the han becomes surrounded by a group of bandits. Everyone becomes trapped within the walls of the han and with the bandits waiting them out, food becomes scarce and spirits rapidly fall. However, Yazul has an idea...With the help of his grandfather he might just be able to scare the bandits away and save the han! The authors take the trade of silk and gunpowder as inspiration to tell a moving and beautifully researched story. Cloud Tea Monkeys, the first tale in this trilogy, was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Award. This dynamic depiction of Mongolia is accompanied by sumptuous and atmospheric illustrations from acclaimed picture-book artist Patrick Benson.

Author description

Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham live in Exmouth, Devon, in a house not too far from the sea. Elspeth writes in a room on the ground floor while Mal writes in the attic. Sometimes they meet in the middle to write books like this one. It is Elspeth who finds the seeds the stories grow from. Mal is the author of teenage novels Keeper, Exposure and Carnegie Medal-winning Tamar. Patrick Benson has won many awards for his work, including the Mother Goose Award, the Christopher Medal and the Kurt Maschler Award. He has worked with both Roald Dahl and Russell Hoban and his book with Martin Waddell, Owl Babies, has sold 12 million copies. He lives near Hawick, Scotland.