Caldecott Medal Winner

Saint George and the Dragon

by Trina Schart Hyman

Summary

Retold from Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, this story sends the Red Cross Knight on a quest to free a kingdom from a terrible dragon while a brave princess waits for the long battle to end. Trina Schart Hyman fills the pages with lush detailed paintings of medieval armor, wildflowers, and the fierce beast, framing each scene with decorative borders that recall illuminated manuscripts. The romantic and richly textured art gives the old legend a vivid storybook grandeur.

Historical Context & Significance

Trina Schart Hyman won the Caldecott Medal in 1985 for this book, which retells an episode from Edmund Spenser's sixteenth century epic The Faerie Queene.