Books by Lloyd Alexander

Lucian, a young bean counter is about to be put to death by a pair of villainous soothsayers. His escape leads him on a magical journey where he meets Joy-in-the-Dance, a girl of marvels, and Fronto, a poet turned into a donkey. A few more interesting characters along the way and you have the Arkadians, a cast that weaves their way through danger and romance.

To escape the wrath of the king and his wicked soothsayers, an honest young man joins with a poet-turned-jackass and a young girl with mystical powers on a series of epic adventures.

Mickle, once a common street urchin, now rules Westmark as the wise Queen Augusta. Yet the kingdom is strangely restless. Ghosts of the past lurk everywhere, whispering of future war. Justin and his revolutionaries denounce the monarchy--even the benevolent Mickle. Cabbarus, banished from Westmark, plots to seize the throne and install a Reign of Terror.Theo, the famed Colonel Kestrel, remembers it all--the bloody battles, and the fight for his own soul. The past has retumed to haunt the present, and Theo, once again, must join in the struggle. Who will at last command the fate of Westmark?

Peace reigns in Caer Dallben, where Taran works as Assistant Pig-Keeper, but evil threatens the rest of Prydain. The diabolical Arawn's army grows every day, and his terrible warriors never die. They are born in the Black Cauldron from the stolen bodies of slain soldiers. If evil is to be defeated, the cauldron must be destroyed. Taran volunteers to travel to Arawn's stronghold and assist in the destruction of the dreaded cauldron. With his faithful friends reassembled, Taran marches off to face great danger with a courageous heart.

In this first book in the quintet set in mythical Prydain and based on Welsh legend, honest Taran, the assistant pig-keeper, finds himself the prince's helper in battling The Horned King and saving Prydain from the forces of evil. Other titles in the series are "Black Cauldron", "The Castle of Llyr", "Taran Wanderer" and "The High King", which won the Newbery Medal.

Taran dreams of adventure, but nothing exciting ever happens to an Assistant Pig-Keeper, until his pig runs away. A chase through the woods leads Taran far from home and into great danger, for evil prowls the land of Prydain. With a collection of strange and wonderful friends whom he meets on his journey, Taran finds himself fighting so that good may triumph over evil, and so that his beloved home will not fall to a diabolical fiend.

Partially inspired by Welsh mythology, THE BOOK OF THREE is the first entry in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain quintet. It tells the story of Taran, the assistant pig-keeper to the most powerful enchanter in the Kingdom of Prydain. Despite his humble life, Taran dreams of adventure and glory--a dream that comes true when he is sent on a quest to save the kingdom of Prydain from the forces of evil. Unbeknownst to Taran, this quest will ultimately reveal the secrets of his own life. Full of adventure and humor, this popular fantasy novel includes such classic elements as castles with secret passageways, good princes, heroes, villains, magical powers, and, of course, enchanted swords. Other books in the series are THE BLACK CAULDRON, THE CASTLE OF LLYR, TARAN WANDERER, and THE HIGH KING, which won the 1969 Newbery Award. A companion book, THE FOUNDLING AND OTHER TALES OF PRYDAIN, gives readers a further glimpse into life in Prydain.

In the imaginary kingdom of Prydain, Princess Eilonwy must leave her friends to go to the Isle of Mona for training as a proper princess. Because Eilonwy has magical powers, she is sought by Achren, the most evil enchantress in the land. Shortly after her arrival on the Isle of Mona, something sinister and secret befalls her. Eilonwy's loyal friends, Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper; Flewddur, the bard; and Prince Rhun, her intended husband, realize her peril and set out on an exciting and terrifying mission to rescue her. They encounter great forces of evil as well as private, sometimes painful, revelations in the course of their journey.

Lost in the Ohio River Valley in May 1793, Clare and her two brothers struggle to survive in the wilderness and to avoid capture by the Shawnee.

A beautiful picture book vividly brings to life the extraordinary friendship between a bold feline named Dream-of-Jade and Kwan-Yu, the emperor of China who becomes a great ruler with the help of his newfound ally.

Traveling to Central America to inspect her real estate holdings, seventeen-year-old Vesper tries to stop a villain from building a canal which would destroy an Indian tribe's homeland.

Traveling to Central America to inspect her real estate holdings, seventeen-year-old Vesper tries to stop a villain from building a canal which would destroy an Indian tribe's homeland. Reissue.

A young carpenter hears that a fortune-teller has come to the next town and immediately sets off to ask about his future. "Vibrant with life and good humor . . . (and) reinforced by Hyman's masterful illustrations".--School Library Journal, starred review. Full color.

In this collection of stories about the fantasy world Prydain, readers will discover more about the characters and objects introduced in the five novels that make up the Chronicles of Prydain. Meet Dallben the enchanter as a foundling boy, Angharad, the mother-to-be of Eilwony, and Menwy, the harper. Readers can also learn the dark history of the sword of Dyrnwyn and the secret of Doli of the Fair Folk and his magic stone.

Selected stories take the reader on a journey into the imaginary and enchanting Kingdom of Prydain to witness the events preceding the birth of Taran.

On their way to the town fair, the tailor, the baker, and the shoemaker experience several misadventures and learn a valuable lesson from a tired old donkey.

The legendary Lloyd Alexander's last book, published posthumously, follows young Carlo Culchio on a Middle Eastern treasure hunt inspired by a dusty volume of tales. A confirmed day-dreamer, Carlo leaves his uncle's care in search of something special on the Road of Golden Dreams, accompanied by a lazy camel wrangler and a vengeance-bent girl. Mischief, humor, and mistaken identity follow in this middle grade adventure. A 2007 Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book.

In this final part of the chronicle of Prydain the forces of good and evil meet in an ultimate confrontation, which determines the fate of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper who wanted to be a hero.

Poor luckless Tooley longs for some help from the Friendly Folk, so when an odd little man shows up, Tooley is delighted. But Hooks worsens Tooley's luck. It's up to Tooley's wise cat to get rid of Hooks--by summoning the dreaded House Gobbaleen!

Warned not to get into his usual mischief, Mother Holly's cat tries to tidy up all the mess he has made while she is away.

On a visit to a remote European kingdom in 1872, a fearless sixteen-year-old orphan and her guardian research an ancient legend and become enmeshed in a dangerous rebellion.

On a visit to a remote European kingdom in 1872, Vesper Holly, a fearless sixteen-year-old orphan, and her guardian research an ancient legend and become entangled in a dangerous rebellion. An ALA Notable Book. Reissue.

After he loses his kingdom and everything he owns in a dice game, Tamar, the young king of Sundari, embarks on a magical quest to atone for his mistake and to learn about honor, goodness, and the preciousness of life.

The kingdom of Westmark is invaded by neighboring Regia, and Theo, now prince consort, and Mickle, the street urchin turned queen, are forced into battle with badly outnumbered forces. Reissue.

A humble man searches for a means to convince the king of his folly in desiring to build a fountain that will cut off a city's water supply.

Recounts the heroic and adventurous life of a thoroughbred collie that was particularly devoted to his owners.

Sartre's first novel focuses on Antoine Roquentin, an introspective historian who undergoes an existential crisis. Roquentin loses confidence in established values of ordinary life. His recognition of the absurdity of life precipitates problems in all his relationships, including his relationship with himself. Roquentin records the shifts in his perceptions and the struggle to restore meaning to his life in a continuous present, free of lies. Besieged by metaphysical doubts, he tries to cleanse himself of "the sin of existing." The physical manifestation of his angst is nausea. "Nausea" is one of the central texts of 20th-century existentialism.

On a pilgrimage to the great court of Yuan-Min, Prince Jen carries six gifts--a sword, a saddle, a flute, a bowl, a paint box, and a kite--and it is not until he loses the sword to Natha Yellow Scarf that he realizes the true potential of the gifts. Reissue.

Lidi's plans to find master magician Ferramondo and learn the greatest magic rope trick of all time are altered after she learns of the kidnapping of a young child who was taken because of his supernatural powers.

The fourth book of the Prydain cycle tells of the adventures that befell Taran when he went in search of his birthright and the truth about himself.

Jason and his magic cat Gareth travel through time to visit countries all over the world during different periods of history.

A master storyteller's eight humorous tales about cats that outwit, out-maneuver, and often outclass the humans with whom they come into contact are complemented by imaginatively detailed drawings.

Theo, a boy fleeing from criminal charges, falls in with a charlatan, his dwarf attendant, and an urchin girl; travels with them about the kingdom of Westmark; and ultimately arrives at the palace where the king is grieving over the loss of his daughter. An ALA Notable Book. Reissue.

Mallory notices there’s something funny about an old oak tree, takes a closer look, and before she knows it, she’s broken a magical spell. Arbican the wizard has been trapped in the oak for thousands of years, and his powers are gone. Will he get them back in time to save Mallory’s village from greedy Squire Scrupner? “Deft storytelling.…[Full of] quotable bits of wisdom about the real nature of magic.” —Booklist, starred review