The idea of giving to others as the best way to celebrate Christmas is certainly not new, but the treatment here is fresh...
In the third story in the Me and My Dragon series, the red dragon and the boy who owns him find a new way to celebrate Christmas.
The unnamed, dark-skinned boy with straight, black hair and Dragon work together to earn money to buy Christmas gifts for their family members. They take all sorts of freelance jobs, mostly ones that come with gag opportunities, such as selling toasted marshmallows, cleverly roasted with Dragon’s fiery breath, on a stick. After babysitting for free for a single mom with seven kids, the boy and his pet see that the family can’t afford to heat their house. The boy donates his funds to an agency that provides fuel to needy families, and with his earnings, Dragon buys some of the latest toys for the children of the family. Instead of giving store-bought presents to one another, the boy and Dragon make simple gifts at home for their family, and both find their Christmas of helping others the “Best Christmas ever!” Bold, digital illustrations have an animation aesthetic and use a pleasing variety of perspectives and page formats, and the dragon with its bulging yellow eyes is quite a scene stealer.
The idea of giving to others as the best way to celebrate Christmas is certainly not new, but the treatment here is fresh enough thanks to the help of the charming red dragon. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-58089-622-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2015
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
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A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
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