Mimi and the Mountain Dragon

by Michael Morpurgo, Helen Stephens (Illustrator)

A classic Christmas story from the author of War Horse and the illustrator of How to Hide a Lion As soon as the bells stop ringing, I'm going to carry you home to your mother, back up to the Mountain Dragon's castle . . . In her castle lair, high in the mountains of Switzerland, lives a terrible dragon. In the village below lives a little girl called Mimi. When Mimi finds a baby dragon in the woodshed, she makes a brave decision that will bring joy and peace to the village forever. This heartwarming holiday adventure for the whole family is the perfect combination of magic, adventure, and Christmas cheer.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2015

About the author

Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

In this touching story, author Michael Morpurgo tells us a story of a place in Switzerland called Dorta where every Christmas Eve the folk of the town would hold a carnival and bang pots and pans, blow horns, etc to keep the Mountain Dragon at bay for the year. They would also come out on Christmas Morning and ring bells to say thank you to the dragon, this book tells you why they hold these two events.

The book is written as if these events truly happened, from the pages at the beginning that read as if Michael Morpurgo grew up in Switzerland in this town (I’ve checked and can’t find a place called Dorta). To the final pages in which Michael talks about the town and the Mayor.

Mimi and the Mountain Dragon is all about a little girl called Mimi who one Christmas Morning finds a baby dragon. Once all the villagers have gone to church she decides to head into the mountains to take the dragon home before his mum comes looking for him and destroys the village thinking that they have taken her baby.

It is a very sweet tale and reminded me a little of The Grinch, though the dragon wasn’t trying to ruin Christmas for everyone. The artwork throughout by Helen Stephens is so beautiful and brought the story to life.

This is a story that comes across as a traditional tale. It is very sweet with a happy ending and would make a wonderful bedtime read, especially for the festive season. From what I’ve read the book has also been turned into a TV animation too.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful 5 star +illustrations in a short christmassy, folk tale style story. The illustrations are wonderful, reminiscent of Noggin the Nog and A Bell for Ursli, lovely free pen and ink drawings painted with a handful of colours that work very well. The story was nice, although we have heard similar before. We were dissapointed/left wondering, Michael Morpurgo's books often have a real life inspiration mentioned in an afterword. This sounded like the story was based on a childhood experience but this wasn't commented on. We really enjoy Michael Morpurgo's books, this wasn't one of his best but the illustrations made up for that. This would be good as a read alone book for a young reader and isn't at all sad unlike the other Morpurgo books we have read which were heartbreakingly sad.

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as the bells stop ringing, I'm going to carry you home to your mother, back up to the Mountain Dragon's castle . . .

I didn't know Michael Morpurgo was Swiss. (He isn't). But our storyteller, Michael, is at home in "Dorta", a village* in Switzerland, and is telling a story of avalanches, Foehns (not mentioned by name), and the dragon supposedly behind these seasonal catastrophes.
*there's a Via Dorta in Zuoz, in the Engadine... and the bell procession sounds an awful lot like Ursli's village's bell procession in the same region - check out "A Bell for Ursli" or "Schellen Ursli" by Selena Choenz & Alois Carriget for some echte Schweizer content (I'd link to them, but am stuck using the app this week, damn and blast)
I did honestly have to look up Morpurgo's history, because the details he uses (Mutti and Papi, the carved wooden Bear statue in the square, and Arquint an Engadiner name as well) made me suspicious that he has more than a passing familiarity with the country. It could just be that he does his homework - Wikipedia tells me he was a school teacher after all. ;)
Anyway, suitably impressed with these references, we immersed ourselves in this charming Christmastime tale (not a religious story). Nothing too unique, but well-told ("Once Upon a Dragon's Tail" by Beatrice Blue is also in the same vein). At 48 wordy pages, I thought this would be too long for bedtime, but the attention was held.
I'm going to need to track down a copy, even if it contains the irritating typo "lightening(sic) and thunder". ;)
10 February 2024 is the start of the lunar Year of the Dragon. This book (and "Once Upon a Dragon's Tail", and "The Dragon's Pearl" by Julie Lawson are my picks for dragon content)

[Dreximgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after watching the TV adaptation and while there are some major differences I really enjoyed it. I like how the book explored Mimi a little more and honestly the way Morpurgo writes is always a delight. Definitely a good one to read to small children I think.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6 yo boy really enjoyed this story. We read it in 2 sittings, it isn’t really a chapter book, but longer than a picture book.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story! Read it!

[Desna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one I try to read every Christmas. A lovely folklore type story about kindness and caring for others. Do unto others.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet Christmastime story by Michael Morpurgo about a Swiss village and the local dragon who lives high on the mountain above them.

[Greg S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book with a rhythm that captures the reader, particularly those who cherish the whisper of old folk-tales.

It begs to be read aloud, and when I did so last night, each syllable and sentence was a perfectly placed in the story. The only criticism is that its word choice demands the understanding of someone possibly in high-school or college, and that many parts were missed by my 2nd grader.

[Tiffany Palomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this story of empathy. Though it was not okay for young Mimi to not listen to her parents her empathy for the small dragon was heart warming. It is brave to stand apart from the crowd and figure things out for yourself. By doing so Mimi was able to bring peace and understanding to her village reuniting a mother and child. What a great story of why it is important to teach empathy to our children.

[Brian Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an old softy and love anything Michael Morpurgo writes.
This book is written with an air of excitement mixed with a gentle sensitivity

Being televised on 25th December 2019 and I just can't wait to see it

Thank you Michael for another beautiful tale

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sympathique, mignon. Dès 6 ans. Pas mémorable cependant...

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story with color illustrations for the young readers.

[Beth Rudkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet illustrations. A lovely folk tale about a small girl with a big, brave heart. As someone with a Swiss Grandma I really enjoyed the familiarity of the Swiss themes!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story based on a tale from Switzerland. Cute story.

[✿Claire✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas present from my parents, this is a fantastic tale about a heroic girl and her village.