Arthur's Tractor: A Fairy Tale with Mechanical Parts

From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 3-Oblivious Farmer Arthur worries about the state of his tractor, while all around him another drama plays out: a princess is saved from a dragon by a knight in shining armor. All the while, each bang and crash of the ensuing scuffle causes Arthur to think something is wrong with his trusty tractor. In the end, something does go wrong, and everyone pitches in to help with the repairs-even the dragon. Of course, Arthur gets the girl and the knight gets his dragon. Colorful cartoons alone tell the background story of the princess's dilemma, beautifully capturing her expressions of fear, then frustration, while the text relates Arthur's tractor troubles, until the very end when the two come together. Funny details abound, particularly the interactions between a frog wearing a crown and a squirrel on each spread, the princess calling for help from a phone booth, and the antics of the goofy green dragon. This clever tale will appeal to children who love a tale with a twist.