Victoria Times-Colonist (Raise A Reader edition)
"Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another twist on the old alphabet books format, someone comes up with a fresh, funny, clever version like this one. A child dragon with as yet no fire to breathe out, goes on a quest for his flame following the A-Z instruction manual. He encounters all sorts of sympathetic and endearing medieval characters and creatures, each dancing across the page with its own humorous vitality. Clusters of objects beginning with each letter of the alphabet, all to do with medieval myths and stories, are hidden in lovely fairytale landscapes."

Reader Review
"I have been reading Jousting with Jesters to Carmen non-stop. We love it! the pictures are fantastic. Carmen's favorite page is 'Heavy horses help with homework'; She rolls on the ground laughing about that one. My favorite is 'Xylophones assist exits'. I bought an extra copy and am sending it to a friend and her kids in Halifax. If that book does not become a children's classic, I'll eat my hat! --hopefully a hat made of spaghetti, or something else edible."

Read a review of Jousting With Jesters by Helen Norrie, a former teacher-librarian, who writes a monthly children’s books column for the Winnipeg Free Press.

Books in Canada Review
“Beware of barons bringing broadswords to breakfast.”

Alphabet books are a wonderful way to introduce letters to small children while also providing pleasant activity time with them, especially when the book appeals to the adult as well. Martin Springett’s first authored and illustrated work is guaranteed to do just that. His artwork is well-known from the covers of many Canadian fantasy novels, in particular his iconic jackets of the early editions of Guy Gavriel Kay’s best-selling series, the Fionavar Tapestry. In evidence here is the same classical yet distinctive style, intricate detail, fanciful images, and glorious colours.

“Leap lightly over lolling leprechauns.“

Both adult and child will pore over the pictures again and again. Indeed, Springett encourages such scrutiny with a challenge to his readers to find objects in each page beginning with the featured letter. (Words are listed on both publisher’s and author’s websites.)

“Speak special spells speedily.”

The book tells the tale of Dennis the dragon, newly hatched from the egg and in search of his flame. Accompanied by the protean jester of the title, the little dragon sets out on a quest for knowledge, maturity, and the fire of life. His adventures take him through a magical, humorous, and sometimes challenging world of dwarves, elves, fairies, friendly animals, gnomes, magicians, poets, trolls, and more.

“Unyoke the unruly unicorn!”

There are two magnificent double-page spreads for the letter Q-“Queue quietly for queenly quests”-which are truly exQuisite. Petitioners from previous pages line up before a golden-gowned queen sitting in her ornate hall. All the major scenes are also enhanced with miniature tableaus; in one instance, a frog can be seen having tea with two imps on a tree trunk within the greater image of a troll stalking past a medieval castle.

The overall benign and gentle tone is ideal for bedtime and likely to encourage sweet dreams. The book itself has been praised by no less a luminary in children’s literature than Pauline Baynes, the original illustrator of the Chronicles of Narnia.

OR Melling