Zog (children's book)
Zog (rendered on the cover and title page as ZOG) is a 2010 children's picture book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, about a young accident-prone dragon, named Zog, who wants to be the best student in dragon school.
Author | Julia Donaldson |
---|---|
Audio read by | Imelda Staunton |
Illustrator | Axel Scheffler |
Country | England |
Genre | Children's picture book |
Published | 2010 (Alison Green) |
Media type | Print (paperback, hardback) |
Pages | 32 (unpaginated) |
ISBN | 9781407115597 |
OCLC | 972513647 |
Reception
Booktrust reviewing Zog, wrote "The illustrations are as vivid, imaginative and amusing as you would expect from the illustrator of The Gruffalo, with subtle details that children and adults will love. The perfectly crafted rhyming text is ideal for reading aloud. And the ambitious princess is a great touch."[1]
Zog has also been reviewed by The Wall Street Journal,[2] Booklist,[3] and the School Library Journal.[3]
In 2010, the story book won the Galaxy National Book Award.[4]
An interactive Zog-themed woodland nature trail for children was installed at Grizedale in Cumbria in 2019.[5]
Publication history
- Zog (2010), Alison Green[6]
- A Gold Star for Zog (2012), Arthur A. Levine Books[7]
Television adaptation
Magic Light Pictures produced a half-hour television adaptation, also known as Zog. Directed by Max Lang, it was broadcast on Christmas Day 2018 at 4:50 pm on BBC One. Magic Light previously adapted five other Donaldson/Scheffler books for the BBC, including The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Room on the Broom, Stick Man and The Highway Rat.
Home media
Zog was released on DVD on 11 February 2019 in the United Kingdom.
Voice cast
- Sir Lenny Henry as the Narrator.
- Hugh Skinner as Zog, the orange accident-prone dragon (the main character in the story) who tries his best every day to win a golden star.
- Kit Harington as Sir Gadabout the Great, the knight in the story who, at one point, joins Zog for a fight.
- Patsy Ferran as Princess Pearl, the princess who lives in a castle with her uncle and dreams of being a doctor.
- Tracey Ullman as Madame Dragon, the green-skinned teacher at Dragon School who teaches the dragons throughout the school days.
- Rob Brydon as the Horse, Castle Guards and Additional Voices and Vocals.
Zog and the Flying Doctors
The sequel, titled Zog and the Flying Doctors was published by Alison Green Books on 7 September 2016. On 12 November 2019, it was announced that Magic Light Pictures and BBC One would team up once again in order to bring audiences Zog And The Flying Doctors for Christmas 2020. Magic Light Pictures are currently working hard on a half-hour adaptation of Zog and the Flying Doctors, due to premiere at approximately 3:30pm on Christmas Day 2020. As always, the music will be supplied by French composer and musician Rene Aubry.
Voice Cast
- Maria Darling as the Narrator.
- Patsy Ferran as Princess Pearl (Zog's friend)
- Hugh Skinner as Zog the Dragon (title character)
- Kit Harrington as Sir Gadabout the Great (the Knight)
- Miranda Richardson as the Sunburnt Mermaid.
- Tracey Ullman as the Queen (Princess Pearl's mother)
- Rob Brydon as the Sneezy Lion.
- David Holt as the King (Princess Pearl's Uncle).
- Tom Hollander as the Distressed Unicorn with an unwanted spare horn.
- Faith Brown, David Tennant, Sir Lenny Henry and Helena Bonham Carter as Additional Voices and Vocals.
References
- "Zog". booktrust.org.uk. Booktrust. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- "In Brief: Children's Books". The Wall Street Journal. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2017.(subscription required)
- "A gold star for Zog". Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- "Galaxy National Book Awards". readingagency.org.uk. The Reading Agency. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- Join Zog on his magical forest adventure at Grizedale and Whinlatter Forests, Cumbria Crack, 13 February 2019
- "Zog". worldcat.org. OCLC. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- "A gold star for Zog". worldcat.org. OCLC. Retrieved 17 December 2017.