Title Dove Isabeau Series --- Author Jane Yolen Illustrated By Dennis Nolan Publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers - 1989 First Printing Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers - 1989 Category Children Warnings None Main Characters Dove Isabeau, Prince Kemp Owain Main Elements Dragons

It is a cold and fearsome night. Who dares to gather herbs of conjury on the rocky cliffs of Craig's Cove? Pennyroyal, henbane, chevril, rue, and now the witch's skirts are filled. Woe to kindness, sweetness, light. Woe to Dove Isabeau, pure of heart. Before the rays of dawn descend, the terrible scales of a dragon will transform her beauty and her kingdom. The kiss of love, and that alone, will set her free - and turn her beloved prince to stone.

Winner of the World Fantasy Award, master storyteller Jane Yolen spins an unforgetable tale of love and magicks, brought to life in haunting, spectacular watercolours by artist Dennis Nolan.

I'm glad I went out of the way to request this book from the library, it is just beautiful. Dennis Nolan's watercolours are magical and Jane Yolen has written beautiful prose. This seems a retelling of the Loathsome Dragon, where an innocent girl is transformed into a dragon to be rescued by a man (in one version it's her brother, in this case its a suitor) with kisses three. I know this is a very short review but it's just so perfect there is little else to say other than I recommend getting a copy to enjoy yourself, even if you don't have kids. I'm wishing now this wasn't a library book because I don't want to bring it back. So many modern childre books seem to think that the book is for a child it should look like it was illustrated by one, it's a rare treasure to find something this magnificently done.