Arthur's Tractor: A Fairy Tale with Mechanical Parts

by Pippa Goodhart, Colin Paine (Illustrator)

A charming picture book starring a hapless farmer who is struggling with what he thinks is a broken down tractor. But behind him, a resourceful princess is being pursued by a dragon who is being persued by a rather useless knight. In the end it's Arthur who winds up saving them all. Arthur's Tractor delivers a delightful twist on a classic rescue tale with its own unique fairy tale ending. The perfect book for any child who loves machines...and fairy tales!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2003

About the author

Pippa Goodhart is the author of over a hundred children’s books, including the prize-winning picture book You Choose, and the Winnie the Witch series which she writes under the pen name of Laura Owen. She trained as a teacher and worked for many years in bookselling before becoming a mother and a writer.

See Laura Owen

Reviews

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss 3 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

Miss 3 and I loved this modern fairy tale. There's a wonderful juxtaposition between the two narratives (the tractor in the foreground, the princess-dragon-knight in the background) and there's a pantomime feeling in telling the farmer to look behind him. It's also a satisfying twist that the princess happens to quite like tinkering with motorbikes and tractors and decides to settle down with Arthur instead of going off with the knight.

[Laure Hittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as good as the main story, if not even better, are the other little stories happening all the time. Some are easy to miss. i had to go back and fully appreciate them.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally cute

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be slightly more generous by giving this 2 1/2 stars.

This book was over all pretty silly. A story about a farmer who hears funny noises and thinks his tractor keeps breaking but when actually there is a battle between a dragon and Prince to save a princess in distress.

There are two stories going on, Arthur conatantly fixing his tractor and the fairytale in thr background. Other than the farmer taking dominion and fixing his tractor I didn't care much for this book. It was rather silly that the princess ended up with the farmer and not the prince.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids and I love this book. Appropriate for both girls and boys. A little something for everyone: Tractors, motorcycles, princesses, knights, dragons, a love story, funny things to say. It is a great read the first time, even the 20th time, but after that, I am ready for something new.

[Erica Eyestone]

Not my favorite...I didn't really get it. A farmer ends up falling in love with a princess who helped him fix his tractor.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is so much fun! I think it would be great read aloud to a slightly older group of youngsters (ages 4-6).

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

My four year old didn't quite get it and had trouble following the princess and dragon storyline... I loved it.