Fiery farts and burps included—who needs more? (Fantasy. 6-9)
How much trouble can one tiny dragon be? Apparently loads.
Eric’s turning 9 soon, and all he has to do to get his dream gift of a scooter is to avoid incurring three strikes before his birthday party. Staying out of trouble should have been fairly easy, but in their Chinese takeout, delivered by Eric’s classmate Min Song from her family’s restaurant, is a surprise order of bean sprouts. Even more surprising is the talking, eggroll-sized dragon in the bean sprouts. Pan the Mini-Dragon had been on his way to Mexico to live with his aunt and uncle, but he’s ended up in the United States instead. After Pan’s disastrous flying demonstration earns Eric a first strike, Eric tries to keep the little guy secret—but annoying, rich neighbor Toby soon discovers Pan and thinks he’s a high-tech toy. With Min’s help, Eric learns a bit about Mini-Dragons from the Encyclopaedia Dragonica, but will it be enough to keep Pan secret? Their adventures are just beginning. This British series opener (There’s a Dragon in My Backpack! publishes simultaneously in the U.S., and there are several more out in the U.K.) has been smoothly Americanized with only a couple translational blips. Chapter-book readers looking for a bit of silly adventure will likely enjoy this fluffy tale of friendship. Eric and his family present white, as does Toby; Min is Chinese, and Eric’s best friend, Jayden, presents black.
Fiery farts and burps included—who needs more? (Fantasy. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-68010-444-8
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For very girly princesses-at-heart.
The author of the Canterwood Crest series switches from horses to magical unicorns in this chapter-book series opener.
Princess Bella lives in the Crystal Kingdom, where magic, unicorns and royalty coexist with intercoms and photography. As a royal, Bella’s eighth birthday is important—her aura will become visible, and she will get her own unicorn. Three birthday storylines ebb and flow: Bella’s commoner best friends feel left out by the royal traditions; Bella periodically worries that no unicorn will Pair with her at the unicorn ceremony; and a mysterious woman with an evil, red aura and her own bad unicorns is rumored to live on the edge of town. While the book respects Bella’s friends’ feelings with regard to privilege, the plotline is simply resolved—at first only royals are allowed in the special birthday parade, and then that’s changed so her commoner friends can attend. Rather like the evil fairy in “Sleeping Beauty,” the mysterious woman arrives, uninvited, to trigger exposition and then leaves. The unicorn ceremony also passes without tension or surprise. The plotting is borderline adequate and doesn’t sparkle nearly as brightly as the descriptions of delicious meals, jewelry, unicorns and, most fulsome, dresses. Easy-to-read, descriptive prose is augmented by friendly illustrations.
For very girly princesses-at-heart. (Fantasy. 6-9)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4814-1105-9
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: June 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
A sweetly fantastic addition to the early-reader shelf.
A little phoenix gets in touch with his feelings.
When Flare is born in a burst of flame, he, like all phoenixes, doesn’t have parents. But Cloud, Wind and Sun watch over him, and he’s a scrappy fellow who teaches himself how to fish and fly. When things go wrong, he sings a little song: “I am tough. / I am strong. / I do not cry.” Sun, Wind and Cloud worry that Flare is perhaps a bit too tough for his own good and decide to coax him toward greater sensitivity. First Cloud models crying by raining, and then Wind wails and howls. Instead of being inspired to soften up a bit and shed some tears of his own, Flare is repelled. Then Sun shines a path through the forest, leading Flare to a baby bird that has fallen from its nest and hurt its wing. The little bird cries in pain, and empathy finally moves Flare to tears as well. In a happy twist, the little phoenix’s tears magically heal the baby bird. While perhaps a bit heavy-handed (must Flare cry if he’s really doing OK?), the text is accessible. Throughout, Côté’s lively illustrations reinforce meaning from one brief chapter to the next, loose lines and broad swathes of color communicating energy and fun.
A sweetly fantastic addition to the early-reader shelf. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-927018-50-7
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Simply Read
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2014
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