The Magic Fishbone

By Charles Dickens

King Watkins the First is the father of the lovely and kind-hearted Princess Alicia and a tribe of eighteen other darlings. Between their money problems, the queen's illness, and the children's boisterous doings, the king and his eldest daughter are fairly overwhelmed by responsibilities. But a chance meeting with a good fairy at the fishmonger brings a bit of magic into their lives and leads the entire family toward health and happiness.
Caldecott Award-winning artist Louis Slobodkin recaptures the enchantment of Charles Dickens's The Magic Fishbone in a book that perfectly blends the gifts of one of the world's favorite storytellers with those of a great American illustrator. Readers of all ages are certain to be captivated by the little-known tale of a king whose only riches lie in his children. Winsome watercolor images grace every page of this beautiful edition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MuhammadUsman
• Release date: Jun 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9788834154793

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of England's greatest writers. Best known for his classic serialized novels, such as Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations, Dickens wrote about the London he lived in, the conditions of the poor, and the growing tensions between the classes. He achieved critical and popular international success in his lifetime and was honored with burial in Westminster Abbey.

Book preview

The Magic Fishbone

CHARLES DICKENS

There was once a King, and he had a Queen; and he was the manliest of his sex, and she was the loveliest of hers. The King was, in his private profession, Under Government. The Queen’s father had been a medical man out of town.

They had nineteen children, and were always having more. Seventeen of these children took care of the baby; and Alicia, the eldest, took care of them all. Their ages varied from seven years to seven months.

Let us now resume our story.

One day the King was going to the office, when he stopped at the fishmonger’s to buy a pound and a half of salmon not too near the tail, which the Queen (who was a careful housekeeper) had requested him to send home. Mr Pickles, the fishmonger, said, Certainly, sir, is there any other article, Good-morning.

The King went on towards the office in a melancholy mood, for quarter day was such a long way off, and several of the dear children were growing out of their clothes. He had