“Jack, Zack, and Caspar were making a den—a mighty great fort for King Jack and his men.” Three children—two preschoolers and one barely toddling—engage in extended imaginary play in this whimsical picture book that has them turning everyday objects into the stuff of which royal adventures are made. The king and two knights fight dragons, giants, and beasts until ... “a giant came by and went home with Sir Zack ... Then another giant came and took Caspar to bed.” Left alone, King Jack finds his courage waning as the daylight fades and the sound of a dragon draws nearer: “Mommy! Dad! Help!” Peter Bently’s already sprightly narrative is enhanced by terrific illustrations. No one draws children like Helen Oxenbury, who wonderfully depicts their small, stalwart bodies in action, as well as the amusingly scary creatures of their imagination. (Ages 2–5)

Night is falling, bedtime is looming and playtime is nearly over . . . but brave King Jack is more than a match for dragons and terrible beasties. This magical make-believe adventure, illustrated by picture book star Helen Oxenbury, is the perfect bedtime tale for little boys and brave children everywhere.