The Dragon with Red Eyes facts for kids
| Author | Astrid Lindgren |
|---|---|
| Original title | Draken med de röda ögonen |
| Illustrator | Ilon Wikland |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | Swedish |
| Publisher | Rabén & Sjögren |
|
Publication date
|
1985 |
|
Published in English
|
1986 |
The Dragon with Red Eyes (original title: Draken med de röda ögonen) is a children's book written by Astrid Lindgren.
Plot
A brother and sister go into the pigsty to look at the little piglets that were born during the night. In the barn they do not only see the piglets, but also a small green dragon with red eyes. Since the dragon always bites his pig mother while drinking, she eventually gives him nothing. Therefore, the siblings raise the dragon. In autumn, the little dragon says goodbye to the siblings and flies into the middle of the sunset. He sings happily with a clear, bright voice.
Background
In December 1953, Astrid Lindgren received a letter from two thirteen-year-old boys. They asked if she could write a little story about a dragon for their magazine Maskrerade draken (English: The masked dragon). Astrid Lindgren wrote The Dragon with Red Eyes and sent the story to the two boys.
In 1985 the story was published as a picture book by Raben & Sjogren with illustrations by Ilon Wikland. Furthermore a set of three stamps with Ilon Wikland's illustration of the dragon were released in Sweden. The English edition was published in 1986.
In 2013 Germany a theatre play of the book was created. The theatre play was 40 minutes long and directed by Margrit Gysin.
