The Chronicles of Zabaduk

About the Book

Zabaduk Finds His Wings

Everyone thinks that Zabaduk is a snake. He looks like a snake; however, he knows that he is a dragon who has lost his wings. Desperate to find his wings, he enlists the help of Wendy, a wren, and Breezy, a seagull whose damaged tail makes him fly in circles. Breezy flies in search of the Great Magician in the mountains. Merlin, the Great Magician, sends a pelican to collect Zabaduk and they set off on the dangerous return journey to the mountain. They are attacked by a falcon sent by a rival of Merlin, then, helped by Whirlwind, an eagle, they finally succeed in meeting the Great Magician, who is able to help both Zabaduk and Breezy.

The Great Escape

Zabaduk and his young owner, Sammy, are kidnapped. With the help of a robin and some local pigeons, Zabaduk sends word of their plight to his friend Breezy, a seagull. Breezy delivers a message to Sammy's parents and then flies to see Merlin, who starts a dramatic rescue with help from eagles and dolphins. During their adventures Zabaduk and Sammy learn to communicate with each other and with the animals they meet.

About the Author

John Warden was born in 1933 in Singapore. He spent his early years there until the outbreak of the second world war. His father became a prisoner of war in Malaya and his mother fled Singapore by boat to India with John and his brother, Robin, in 1941. They spent some time living in India before coming to England.

John attended a prep school in Devon and then Christ's Hospital in Sussex. He did his National Service in the Signals, based in Trieste. Afterwards he studied chemistry at Trinity College, Oxford.

After university, John worked as a chemist in Tanganyika. Back in England, John qualified as a Patent Agent, married, and moved to Montreal, Canada to work. Back in England again, they settled in Surrey with their two children. John worked for many years as a Patent Agent in London. During this time he pursued his passion for riding which he had first discovered as a child in India.

John took early retirement in order to study at the Jung Institute in Zurich. There he met Jackie, whom he later married, and who lived with him for many years in Islip, Oxfordshire.

John's three grandsons inspired him, in recent years, to write several children's books, which he illustrated himself.

John travelled widely and had friends and relatives all around the world. However, he was happiest in his home and garden in Islip, where he surrounded himself with his books, art and music.