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Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780805080490
ISBN: 080508049X
Label: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks
Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 208
Publication Date: May 16, 2006
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Release Date: May 16, 2006
Sales Rank: 36715
Studio: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks
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Product Description:
The Newbery-winning fantasy series now available in gorgeous new paperback editions!
Since The Book of Three was first published in 1964, young readers have been enthralled by the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his quest to become a hero. Taran is joined by an engaging cast of characters that includes Eilonwy, the strong-willed and sharp-tongued princess; Fflewddur Fflam, the hyperbole-prone bard; the ever-faithful Gurgi; and the curmudgeonly Doli—all of whom have become involved in an epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain. Released over a period of five years, Lloyd Alexander’s beautifully written tales not only captured children’s imaginations but also garnered the highest critical praise.
The Black Cauldron was a Newbery Honor Book, and the final volume in the chronicles, The High King, crowned the series by winning the Newbery Medal for “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.”
Henry Holt is proud to present this classic series in a new, redesigned paperback format. The jackets feature stunning art by acclaimed fantasy artist David Wyatt, giving the books a fresh look for today’s generation of young fantasy lovers. The companion book of short stories, The Foundling is also available in paperback at this time.
In their more than thirty years in print, the Chronicles of Prydain have become the standard of excellence in fantasy literature for children.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A Very Good Follow Up to "Book of Three"
Taran, the Assistant Pig Keeper continues his adventures in the second book of the Chronicles of Prydain, "The Black Cauldron". With The Horned King now dead, Arwan relies solely on his magical Black Cauldron to contain his power. The Cauldron has the power to produced armies of the dead, but now it is missing. Taran, along with his friends (from the past book) and some new allies are drafted into locating the Cauldron which is believed to be in the possession of three witches.
"The Black Cauldron" begins much like the previous story ("The Book of Three"), rather slow and predictable, but once the Cauldron is found the book takes off. The plot speeds up and some wonderful twists appear. Character development is okay but could be a little better. Characters are still painted in broad strokes of black and white, after all it's still a kids book. However, "The Black Cauldron" appears to more than just for kids, it's plot is more sophisticated then say "The Book of Three". If you can mangle your way past the Welsh based nouns, it would be a great book to read aloud, for the child as well as for the adult.
Rating: - The second in the series of Alexander's Prydain Chronicles
When I first read this book in 1985, the book cover had the Disney movie poster on it and I was surprised to see how little resemblance there was between the film and the book. The second book in Alexander's superlative series has Taran sitting in a council of men for the first time and being assigned to aid Prince Gwydion in finding and destroying a weapon, the Black Crochan (or cauldron) that gives life to dead warriors and is in the hands of Arawn Death-Lord.
Taran learns more of what being a man entails from the gentle Adaon, son of the Chief Bard of Prydain and the hotheaded Ellidyr, Prince of Pen-Llarcau. Faithful Gurgi also returns, as does Fflewdur Fflam, Dallben, and Coll. Also introduced in this book are three witches named Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch and they make appearances in other books as well.
The book does get a little darker here, as themes of life and death as well as baser human traits such as haughtiness and pride are seen in the characters and the situations they find themselves in.
Rating:  - Great Fantasy
Lloyd Alexander was one of my favorite authors as a young adult and his work has really held up now that I'm an adult. The stories and characters are just so well crafted and executed. This is a great book to go back to or to get for someone who is just starting to explore the realms of fantasy.
Rating:  - Not Free SF Reader
Pig-boy gets to be a bit princely, but has problems with undead, goddesses, etc.
This is a reasonably diverting kids book, and doesn't take itself too seriously, even with putting in the Celtic legends about magic pots that can bring the dead back to life, and the various deities that are associated with that sort of thing. Your evil witch queen of the undead type person, at least, of sorts. So, a good one for the kids, for sure.
Rating: - The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander is an interesting book that I would recommend to people to all ages.The story opens up at their cottage,while they are trying to find or get a counselor.After the meeting they were still trying to get a counselor so after the Prince heard about them talking who is the counselor, he just said that he was the counselor but he really wasn't.One day they realized that something was missing!So they went to go look for it because it wasn't theirs it was theirs it was the three wtches.When they were out looking it started to rain so they had to find some where to stay, so they found this cottage and stayed their.When they were their they ran into the three witches and they said they wanted to turn them into frog/toads.There names were Orwell, Rod, and Orgoch.So will they get the cauldron back???When they found the cauldron they found out that it was the three witches.So they felt bad.After they found that out they gave it to back to the three witches, and they didn't turn them into toads/frogs they were happy about that but sad about the black cauldron.
The setting takes place at two places but it takes place mostly at cottage/outside.The cottage/outside is dark,creepy,and old.The people are scared and frightend because of how dark,creepy,and old it is.
I recommend this book because it is exciting!!!
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