Once more I turn to you for your brains. (I promise not to eat them)

[tzikeh]

When I was a child, I read a story about a poor young lad, a lovely young lady, and an evil man. Now, good luck remembering the story based on that alone. But here is the detail that sets it apart, which I hope might jog someone's memory -- the boy had three dogs. One was named "Fetch-Me-Food", one was named "Eat-'em-Up", and one was named... something else. I also remember the book being beautifully illustrated with what looked like painted illustrations.

I *think* this story was in a small volume with a version of "The Emperor's New Clothes", illustrated by the same painter.

Anyone?

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Sounds like Hans Christian Anderson -- in fact, I'm fairly sure he's the author.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

What about this?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Huh! That's a version of the story, yeah! Shatter-Iron was the third dog. Just like all fairy tales, it has several versions. I wish I could find the title it was published under. I loved that book.

[nigeltde]

Yeah, Andew Lang's might be the version you know, although I don't know if it's in picture-book form.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

More info, it looks like whatever story you remember is based on an Estonian fairytale:

THE DRAGON-SLAYER.

We find this story in a familiar form in that of "The Lucky Rouble" (Kreutzwald). The father of three sons, before his death, gives Peter,[5] the youngest, a magic silver rouble, which always returns to the pocket of its possessor. Peter afterwards meets a one-eyed old man, who sells him three black dogs, named Run-for-Food, Tear-Down, and Break-Iron. Afterwards, when passing through a forest, he meets a grand coach, in which a princess, who has been chosen by lot to be delivered over to a monster, is being conveyed to her doom. Peter abides the issue, and encounters the[Pg 7] monster, which is described as like a bear, but much bigger than a horse, covered with scales instead of hair, with two crooked horns on the head, two long wings, long boars' tusks, and long legs and claws.[6] With the assistance of the dog Tear-Down, Peter kills the monster, cuts off his horns and tusks, and leaves the princess with the coachman, promising to return in three years. The coachman compels the princess by threats to say that he killed the dragon; but the princess contrives to delay her marriage with the coachman, and on the wedding-day Peter returns, is imprisoned by order of the king, but released by Break-Iron. Then he sends Run-for-Food to the princess, who recognises him, and reveals the secret to her father. The coachman is condemned to death, and Peter produces the horns and claws of the dragon, and marries the princess, when the dogs, whose mission is accomplished, assume the forms of swans, and fly away.


Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald published The Old Estonian Fairy Tales.

Try Loganberry Books' Stump the Bookseller

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

Since you're interested in a specific story version in a specific book from your childhood, try the Loganberry Books' Stump the Bookseller service. It's meant for cases like this - and it's astonishing how often people are able to identify specific titles, even specific editions, with relatively little info.

Loganberry Books is a used independent bookstore in Shaker Heights, Ohio that specializes in (amongst other areas) children's literature. They have a variety of services, but my favorite is a book search called Stump the Bookseller: "a service to help identify the author and title of long lost childhood literary memories."

There's a small charge ($2) and the search stays on the website until solved; annual success rates have run from about 50-75%. There are archives of solved searches and archives for those still looking. You don't have to buy the book from Loganberry, though they will notify you if they identify the book and find a copy.

Stump the Bookseller is great fun just to read, even if you aren't looking for a specific book. The searches show the impact that childhood books still have decades later. It is often a particular edition of a book that folks are trying to find again, and I find it absolutely fascinating what details stick with people. It's amazing how many books I recognize from my own childhood, and how many others I'd still like to read. *g*

QUOTE from website:
Have you forgotten the title of your favorite children's book? This is a service to help solve your book mysteries.

Submit your memory here, and see if anyone else remembers your book memory, or better yet, knows the title and author! After all, it's easier to find the book when you know what it's called.

I'll post copies for sale when I have them, and am always glad to search for copies not currently in stock. Loganberry Books is a used bookshop after all, and this page is only a small sideline offered as a service to my customers.
END QUOTE

Loganberry Books - Stump the Bookseller
http://www.logan.com/loganberry/stump.html

And here I'll offer up a plea for people to support their local independent bookstores instead of automatically defaulting to Amazon and chain bookstores. Most independent bookstores will be happy to special order books if they don't carry them in regular stock and any delay is usually minimal. Most independents will glady do mail order, often nationwide.

The support you provide your local independent bookstores is literally their lifeline. We are all much the poorer with each independent bookstore that closes, and the losses have been astronomical over the past two decades.

Re: Try Loganberry Books' Stump the Bookseller

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Oh my GOSH! This is astounding. Thank you *so much* for pointing me to it!

Re: Try Loganberry Books' Stump the Bookseller

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Hope they can help if your flist doesn't narrow it down any farther. I do like browsing through the Stumpers - it's really quite interesting.

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

whatwasthatbook is good, if Stump the Bookseller doesn't help.

[conuly]

Did you ever find the book? Somebody over on whatwasthatbook wants to find it too! Sorry for the drive by comment, but I view WWTB as a competitive enterprise, and google brought me straight to you.

http://whatwasthatbook.livejournal.com/2696206.html