Alonso read books every night.
Their heroes could win any fight.
He thought they were true
And knew what to do:
He'd ride out to put the world right.
Story page 1
LITTLEST · Read it with me
Don Quixote
Complete draft manuscript · Artwork in progress
Read together with a grown-up. These classics include danger, loss and sadness. Missing pictures are clearly marked; wordless passages need their illustrations to tell the full story. This is a working draft, not a finished or print-ready book.
Spread 1 · Story pages 1–2
“Don Quixote!” he cried with a grin.
He buckled his straps at his chin.
His horse, thin and slow,
Was ready to go.
“My life as a knight can begin!”
Story page 2
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 2 · Story pages 3–4
He stopped at an inn for the night.
“A castle!” he cried with delight.
The host played along;
He knew it was wrong.
And Quixote thought, “I’m a knight!”
Story page 3
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 4
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 3 · Story pages 5–6
“Come, Sancho,” he said, “take a ride.
Your donkey can walk by my side.
An island for you!
That’s what knights can do!”
So Sancho set off, full of pride.
Story page 5
He dreamed of a queen far away.
“Dulcinea!” he’d proudly say.
She wore no gold crown
Or fine royal gown.
She worked on a farm every day.
Story page 6
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 4 · Story pages 7–8
“Those giants are blocking our way!”
“They’re windmills!” cried Sancho. “Please stay!”
He charged on ahead.
“I’ll beat them!” he said.
The sail swept Quixote away.
Story page 7
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 8
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 5 · Story pages 9–10
“Two armies!” The dust hid the view.
“Just sheep!” said his friend. “It is true!”
He charged. The sheep fled.
A stone struck his head.
His charge hurt the sheep and him, too.
Story page 9
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 10
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 6 · Story pages 11–12
His friends brought him home to his bed.
But knights filled his dreams and his head.
“New roads!” he would say.
They soon rode away,
With Sancho still planning ahead.
Story page 11
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 12
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 7 · Story pages 13–14
Rich hosts made his dreams all seem true,
And laughed at the things he would do.
In masks and disguise,
They told him their lies.
He trusted their tricks through and through.
Story page 13
They gave Sancho charge of a town.
They kept back his food. He would frown.
His judgments were fair;
He ruled with great care.
Their threats and their games wore him down.
Story page 14
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 8 · Story pages 15–16
Now Sancho grew weary and sore.
He longed for his life from before.
He saddled his friend.
“My rule’s at an end!”
He rode back to Quixote once more.
Story page 15
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 16
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 9 · Story pages 17–18
A knight with a moon shining white
Said, “Home if you lose in our fight!”
Quixote fell. “I’ll stay home
For one year; I won’t roam.”
He mourned his lost life as a knight.
Story page 17
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 18
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 10 · Story pages 19–20
The knight was a friend in disguise.
He hid his own face from their eyes.
He wanted him well,
And home for a spell,
Away from these troubles and lies.
Story page 19
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 20
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 11 · Story pages 21–22
At home, he grew ill in his bed.
“I’m Alonso again,” he said.
“The tales aren’t all true.
I thought that I knew
The world from the books that I’d read.”
Story page 21
“I’m sorry. You’ve always been kind.
I led you with dreams from my mind.”
“Get up!” Sancho said.
“Please don’t stay in bed.
There’s joy in the fields we can find!”
Story page 22
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.
Spread 12 · Story pages 23–24
Alonso grew weaker and died.
His family wept at his side.
His friends gathered near;
Each wiped one more tear.
And Sancho sat close as he cried.
Story page 23
Wordless page, told by the illustration.
Story page 24
Illustration style draft · Text is typeset separately from the unchanged source artwork.