The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash, Lynn Munsinger
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Book Reviews of The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Book Review: The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Summary: 5 Stars
It is wonderful poem of bravery and adventure for children.Book Review: Just because you *say* you're brave (or not)
Summary: 4 Stars
Spoiler alert: So many apparently gullible readers have reviewed this poem, that I'm going to tell you the entire plot. If you want to be surprised, then just move on to the next review.
(1) Belinda and three other pets *say* that they're very brave. Custard the Dragon *says* that he'd rather live some place safe. Based on what they *say* about themselves, the four "brave" characters tease the one "cowardly" character.
(2) When a pirate breaks into the house, the four "brave" characters instantly turn tail and run away. Cowardly Custard, however, stands his ground during the attack and ends up eating the pirate.
(3) Once the danger is past, all the so-called brave characters come back and thank Custard.
(4) Ultimately, however -- and this is more like the real world than a fairy tale -- Belinda and the "brave" pets go back to their habit of saying that they're really brave, and Custard goes back to saying that he'd really rather live in a nice safe place.
This poem is an interesting bit of commentary on our own willful blindness to our faults, our narcissistic dependence on erroneous self-talk, and one of our stupider working definitions of bravery.
This book is an excellent opportunity for you to talk to your kids about the difference between what people *say* and how they behave. Who's really the brave character after all? Is it always safe to trust a person's self-description? Is there anything wrong with Custard preferring security to danger? If you were there, would you want to tease Custard, or to tell that self-deceived Belinda to put a sock in it? If you saw someone picking on another person on the playground just because they're different, then should you be ganging up with the Belindas of the world, or sticking up for the Custards?
If you're at all familiar with the parable of the two sons in the vineyard (see Matthew 21:31's "Which of the two did his father's will?" question), then you won't have any trouble figuring out the difference between Belinda's brave words and Custard's brave actions. This poem may be beyond the ken of a two year old, but it shouldn't have been so confusing for so many adult reviewers. Just repeat after me: "Actions speak louder than words," and "Do not believe everything you hear."
Book Review: I love the realio, truelio writing.
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this in the store and had to pick it up. Ogden Nash had a real ear for language, I tell you. The story flows along at a nice, bouncy, evocative pace, and the illustrations complement it nicely.
A few reviewers have commented that they find the non-dragon characters mean-spirited - they "tickle Custard unmerciful", "rudely call him Percival", and after the danger is past and gone (gotta love a book where a dragon eats a pirate!) they declare that THEY were really braver than Custard after all!
I see the point, though I see their teasing as more familial than mean-spirited. However, if this is a concern to you, you should definitely read the poem before buying the book - it's easy enough to find on Google.
Book Review: Ending could be better
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoy the poetry of Ogden Nash -- he has a fun style, which is well-apparent in this book. The pictures are delightful also. I felt a little let down by the author's ending because I expected the dragon to rise above his fears. However, I used the story as an opportunity to discuss with my child how she thought the story should finish. Together we wrote in a new ending line and are happy with the result. It probably turned out better with her getting involved in the story this way.Book Review: Nash is just so cool
Summary: 4 Stars
I have always loved Ogden Nash's writing. The words that he chooses paint wonderful images. The sounds are melodic and provide kids with an opportunity to develop an ear for language. I want more of Nash's writing to come back into print. His writing is truly sumptuous.