This cautionary tale set in a library with dragon patrons is worth circulating.
Have you ever thought about bringing your dragon to the library? Don’t do it!
In rhyming couplets, a bunch of kids bring their individual dragons (six in all) to the library, and unsurprisingly, they break all the behavior rules. “Maybe you’re thinking, 'Don’t worry, it’s fine. / There’s plenty of space in that library of mine.' / Perhaps that’s true, but he’s sure to roam. / Then you’ll be wishing you had left him at home.” A double-page spread here shows a big, blue dragon with droopy ears nosing around the bookcases, while in the following spread, he’s pushing them over as he tries to fit between them, visually underscoring the refrain: “So do not bring your dragon to the library!” The vibrantly colored illustrations overflow the pages, use aerial perspectives, and accentuate the size of the dragons. It’s a clever approach to proper library do’s and don’ts. Kudos for including a kid in a wheelchair in the thoughtfully diverse cast, but jeers for the stereotypical demiglasses, bun, and drab clothing worn by the black librarian. The dragons are as colorful as the characters are multiracial, appearing in shades of vivid purple, blue, green, and orange polka dots. The text struggles with scansion and rhythm, but the energy of the illustrations helps to mitigate its flaws.
This cautionary tale set in a library with dragon patrons is worth circulating. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62370-651-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An appealing and magical celebration of the Festival of Lights.
A child describes a series of gifts given by family and friends for Hanukkah.
The first is from young Hannah’s parents: a dragon named Nerry. Hannah details the presents received on the next nights of Hanukkah: a rainbow that “[spills] down the stairs,” a treasure chest filled with gold coins, a merry-go-round, a time machine that takes Hannah back to the ancient days of the Maccabees, a pair of “rocket boots,” and three boisterous unicorns. On the eighth and final night, it’s Hannah’s turn to give gifts; the child is preparing a “tasty treat.” Readers also discover that Hannah has been describing the presents very inventively. Nerry the dragon’s actually a stuffed animal; the rainbow’s a multicolored drawing; the treasure chest is an assortment of chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Hannah’s gift to others? A large batch of latkes. Hannah shares them with family and friends at a festive holiday dinner, “which makes this last night, / the eighth night, / the most magical night… // of Hanukkah.” Kids will enjoy this simple, inviting reminder that the holiday is about warmth and togetherness. The dynamic, colorful illustrations are full of imaginative imagery and present familiar holiday symbols, including menorahs (Nerry lights the candles by breathing fire in one scene), stars of David, dreidels, and jelly doughnuts. Hannah’s family is pale-skinned; the dinner guests are racially and ethnically diverse.
An appealing and magical celebration of the Festival of Lights. (more information about Hanukkah) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781338897524
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
A meaningful, beautifully illustrated portrayal of anxiety.
Lily the mermaid tends to the pond and its inhabitants, but her worries threaten to overwhelm her.
Alongside her tadpole pal Bobble, Lily cares for the plants, obtains algae for the snails, and cleans up garbage thrown into the water. She frets about her freshwater friends, and her worries peak after a storm ravages the pond. Finding her inner courage, Lily talks through her fears with her friends, and together they restore the pond. Fleming offers a child-friendly representation of anxiety, touching on experiences that will be familiar to many: repressing one’s emotions, feeling overburdened and turning inward, and, finally, asking for help. The story ends with the necessary reassurance that readers, too, can eventually resolve complex emotions. Children will be captivated by Fleming’s luscious illustrations. Round-eyed, sweet-faced Lily has striking white hair and a burnt-orange tail. Her skin is light tan, and she appears to have vitiligo. An especially eye-catching full-page image depicts an uncertain Lily floating on the water’s surface, too worried to sleep; on another, Lily is blown about by the raging storm. Eagle-eyed readers will notice the darling Bobble transforming from tadpole to frog as the book progresses.
A meaningful, beautifully illustrated portrayal of anxiety. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781536235562
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
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