by Anthony Browne

PICTURES AND PATTERNS LEAFLET 1 Literacy Time Years 1 and 2 ❙ No 30 ❙ May 2007 ❙ © Scholastic Ltd 2007.

Willy was riding in the countryside, enjoying the beautiful landscape and warm sunshine when he heard a terrible cry of “Help!” At fi rst Willy didn’t know what to do – he felt like turning round and galloping away, but when he heard another scream he knew he had to try and help.

Round the next bend he saw his friend Millie being attacked by a horrible dragon. “Stop that!” called Willy in a shaky voice, but the dragon, who looked strangely familiar, took no notice and carried on trying to bite Millie. Willy urged his horse forward but she seemed to be having trouble running – there seemed to be a problem with her shoes.

TheThe

ILLUSTRATION FROM WILLY’S PICTURES BY ANTHONY BROWNE © 2000, A.E.T. BROWNE & PARTNERS (2000, WALKER BOOKS LTD).

lt120507lf1b.indd 1-2 31/01/2007, 13:54:26

Willy eventually got to the dragon and tried to stab him with his lance, but something odd had happened to it. All he could do was paint the revolting creature. The dragon was obviously very uncomfortable being painted and he writhed around, making terrible noises and trying to bite Willy’s horse. At last Willy managed to paint the dragon’s sunglasses so he couldn’t see, and the monster slowly crawled back into his cave. Quickly, Willy painted a door on the mouth of the cave and locked it. “That will keep him quiet!” said Willy excitedly.

Willy turned to Millie who was so happy the dragon had gone. “You’re my hero, Willy,” said Millie. “Oh don’t be silly,” said Willy. “It was nothing.” He noticed that one of the rocks had mysteriously turned into an ice cream and they ate it together. “Mmmm ... banana, my favourite fl avour,” said Millie.

Willy carried Millie into town on the back of his horse, and when Millie told everyone how Willy had saved them all from the terrifying dragon, the King made Willy a real knight – Sir Willy!

The painter Raphael painted this picture of Saint George and the Dragon in about 1506. Anthony

Browne used this painting in his book Willy’s Pictures, in which Willy the chimpanzee paints his own versions of some famous works of art.

Raph

ael,

Sain

t Geo

rge

and

the

Dra

gon,

And

rew

W M

elon

Col

lect

ion,

Imag

e ©

200

7, B

oard

of T

ruste

es, N

atio

nal G

alle

ry o

f Art,

Was

hing

ton

lt120507lf1b.indd 3-4 31/01/2007, 13:59:31