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Valentine for a Dragon
A demon thinks of a special gift to win the love of a lady dragon on Valentine's Day.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1984
38 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books515 followersShirley Rousseau Murphy is the author of over 40 books, including 24 novels for adults, the Dragonbards Trilogy and more for young adults, and many books for children. She is best known for her Joe Grey cat mystery series, consisting of 21 novels, the last of which was published when she was over 90. Now retired, she enjoys hearing from readers who write to her at her website www.srmurphy.com, where the reading order of the books in that series can be found.
Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 28, 2017
Neither Murphy ('s children's books) nor Chorao are as well-known as they should be. This book brings their talents together wonderfully - a sweet & lightly humorous joy to read for fans of original fairy tales, the kind that slightly older children enjoy from Natalie Babbitt. Just read the beginning:
"Once in a time of wonders a demon loved a dragon, but the dragon did not love him in return. She didn't know he existed.
"She was a fine dragon, immense and silvery. She lived in the mountain beyond the village.
"The demon was a shy, plain little fellow, who lived in a cottage at the edge of the village and tried not to offend anyone."
Aren't you hooked?
"Once in a time of wonders a demon loved a dragon, but the dragon did not love him in return. She didn't know he existed.
"She was a fine dragon, immense and silvery. She lived in the mountain beyond the village.
"The demon was a shy, plain little fellow, who lived in a cottage at the edge of the village and tried not to offend anyone."
Aren't you hooked?
February 4, 2018
A refreshing Valentine story.
A demon and a dragon that live near a small town are shunned by the town's people. The little demon feels lonely and sad because he had no friends and also because he's in love with the dragon but doesn't know how to tell her. When the neighbors see he him they make a point to say put loud that they don't want a demon at their Valentine day party.
The demon decides to take a Valentine card to the dragon to express his love, but she accidentally burns it with her breath before she sees it. The same thing happens when he brings flowers. The dragon is also sad because she's alpine on Valentine's day and now she's confused why a demon is bringing her ashes. The demon decides to use the dragons breath to his advantage. He prepares the recipe for his famous fudge and brings it to her but instead of cooking it her breathe melts it.
The demon runs away crying but he gets another interesting idea and makes a magical present for the dragon.
Meanwhile everyone else is enjoying their party until it starts raining and is ruined. The dragon comes down and uses her breath to dry up the rain and chase away the rain clouds. The demon comes forward and gives the dragon the present and when she blows on it, it releases beautiful colors.
The dragon and the demon get together and from then on the townspeople always invite them to their parties.
A demon and a dragon that live near a small town are shunned by the town's people. The little demon feels lonely and sad because he had no friends and also because he's in love with the dragon but doesn't know how to tell her. When the neighbors see he him they make a point to say put loud that they don't want a demon at their Valentine day party.
The demon decides to take a Valentine card to the dragon to express his love, but she accidentally burns it with her breath before she sees it. The same thing happens when he brings flowers. The dragon is also sad because she's alpine on Valentine's day and now she's confused why a demon is bringing her ashes. The demon decides to use the dragons breath to his advantage. He prepares the recipe for his famous fudge and brings it to her but instead of cooking it her breathe melts it.
The demon runs away crying but he gets another interesting idea and makes a magical present for the dragon.
Meanwhile everyone else is enjoying their party until it starts raining and is ruined. The dragon comes down and uses her breath to dry up the rain and chase away the rain clouds. The demon comes forward and gives the dragon the present and when she blows on it, it releases beautiful colors.
The dragon and the demon get together and from then on the townspeople always invite them to their parties.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2020
I've only recently discovered Shirley Rousseau Murphy and so far I have enjoyed her sideways glance at magic. She likes to have things be magical and simply accepted, and also rather different from what you have come to expect from other authors.
The art was great - I especially enjoyed the party scene and the very first illustration that showed the dragon just barely peeking over the hill.
I would have liked the book better if there wasn't a weird middle act of the demon deciding to kill himself? That was weird.
It's for slightly older children - lots of words and a little longer than, for example, a Dr. Seuss book. I would estimate it took me 20 minutes to read.
P.S. I am cackling like mad over here that I can put this on my "dragon romance" shelf. The dragon romance shelf has very different romance than this IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
The art was great - I especially enjoyed the party scene and the very first illustration that showed the dragon just barely peeking over the hill.
I would have liked the book better if there wasn't a weird middle act of the demon deciding to kill himself? That was weird.
It's for slightly older children - lots of words and a little longer than, for example, a Dr. Seuss book. I would estimate it took me 20 minutes to read.
P.S. I am cackling like mad over here that I can put this on my "dragon romance" shelf. The dragon romance shelf has very different romance than this IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
February 7, 2018
My favorite book as a kid.
February 15, 2024
A shy, little demon lives on the edge of town. He loves the great, silvery dragon, named Fervicent, who lives in the mountain beyond the town. For many years the little demon keeps his feelings to himself. Finally on Valentine's Day, driven by loneliness, the demon puts aside his shyness, makes the dragon a valentine, and climbs the mountain. When the dragon asks his business, the demon stammers, drops his valentine, and flees. Fervicent's hot breath burns the card to cinders before she even sees it. The demon brings the dragon flowers and then fudge. Each gift is destroyed by Fervicent's fiery breath. The demon goes home in despair and tears. His sadness deepens when the townspeople blame him for the rain that threatens their Valentine's Day festivities. He goes out to dig his grave for he will surely die with loneliness. Chilled to the bone he builds a fire. When the glamour of dying leaves him, and he throws gravel on the fire to extinguish. The gravel burns it beautiful colors; this is certainly a dragon-proof gift. Meanwhile Fervicent sees the party preparations and goes to investigate. As the townspeople flee, Fervicent rears up and blows a mighty breath of fire that covers the sky, stops the rain from falling, and dries all of the party things. The people return and celebrate. The little demon presents his last gift to Fervicent. When her breath touches this curious gift of gravel it explodes in color. The dragon thanks the demon, and, together, they join the party. Afterward they return to the dragon's lair and live their together.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
February 9, 2010
Pretty adorable story about a demon who loves a dragon, but some of the vocabulary, as well as the length of the story, indicates that this is for older children. The illustrations are pen and ink with splashes of color, which suits the story well I think.
June 3, 2008
A great book about accepting others who are different.
April 29, 2016
School challenged: relocated, cover removed, flagged "not for all readers", 1993
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews