The Tale of Custard the Dragon facts for kids
The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a fun poem for children. It was written by a famous poet named Ogden Nash. The poem was first published in 1936. Later, in 1995, it became a picture book with cool drawings by Lynn M. Munsinger.
Many people think this is one of Ogden Nash's most popular poems for children. It even inspired another poem in 1959. That poem later turned into the well-known song, "Puff, the Magic Dragon"!
Contents
Discovering Custard the Dragon
Meet Belinda and Her Pets
The poem starts by introducing a girl named Belinda. She lives in a little white house. Belinda has several pets that live with her.
Her pets include:
- Ink, a little black kitten
- Blink, a tiny gray mouse
- Mustard, a brave yellow dog
- Custard, a big dragon
The Brave Ones and the Coward
All of Belinda's pets, except Custard, love to brag. They often talk about how brave they are. Ink, Blink, and Mustard think they are super fearless.
But Custard the dragon is different. Even though he looks scary, he is quite gentle. Custard often cries for a "nice safe cage." He even likes to be tickled! Because of this, the other pets think Custard is a coward. They often make fun of him.
A Surprise Visitor
One day, something unexpected happens! A pirate suddenly breaks into Belinda's house. He has pistols in his hands, which is very scary.
Everyone in the house gets very frightened. Ink, Blink, Mustard, and even Belinda herself, run away in a panic. They try to hide from the pirate.
Custard's True Bravery
But what about Custard, the dragon everyone thought was a coward? He does not run away! Instead, Custard bravely faces the pirate. He chases after the pirate and eats him up!
This shows everyone that Custard was the bravest of them all. He saved everyone from the pirate. After this, everyone feels thankful to Custard.
Back to Normal
Once the danger is gone, things go back to how they were. The other pets start bragging about their bravery again. They act as if they were brave all along.
And Custard? He still asks for his "nice safe cage." He remains humble, even after proving his true courage.
