Review - Curse of the Dragon

Curse of the Dragon
by Richard Fierce
Date: 2023
Publisher: Dragonfire Press
Reading level: YA
Book type: short story
Pages: 15
Format: e-book
Source: BookFunnel

One misstep can change a life. When Mina stumbles upon an abandoned dragon cave, she finds more than she bargained for. This is a prequel short story that leads into the series Marked by the Dragon. It doesn't have spoilers, but rather expands what the main series mentions.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This short story is a unicorn indeed: a self-published work that's technically competent. The author clearly has a good command of grammar and punctuation (or he has an editor who does). Unfortunately, the story itself is rather weak, marred by a few continuity issues and a lot of... well, nothing happening.

The first half is literally a twelve-year-old girl wandering about, trying to be helpful. The second half is where the action starts and ends, but in a 15-page story, that doesn't leave a lot of room for plot development. Basically, this is just a snippet of backstory that explains how the main character in the Marked by the Dragon series got her start.

It's possible that the main books in the series are stronger. But, given that so much time in an already short story is spent on irrelevant wandering, I'm a bit wary. The first full book in the series is free, though, so if you're really into dragons, you might want to check it out. However, I'm not sure if this prequel short story is really necessary.

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 2/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 2.71 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - You Don't Want a Dragon!

You Don't Want a Dragon!
by Ame Dyckman
illustrated by Liz Climo
Date: 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Be careful what you wish for — again! This follow-up to You Don't Want a Unicorn points out the hilarious mishaps that come with adopting a dragon.

Our protagonist wishes (much to the narrator's continued chagrin) for a pet dragon. Though initially thrilled, the kid quickly discovers that dragons aren't quite as awesome as they originally thought. From the scooting to the digging to the fire-breathing, our Kid is dismayed that they still haven't found their perfect pet. Little do they know, that pet might just be right around the corner...

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a simple, but fun, picture book about a kid who wishes for a dragon... and gets more than he bargained for.

I can't help but feel that I'm missing something by not having read You Don't Want a Unicorn! first. There are lots of unicorn references throughout this book, in both the text and illustrations. That's not to say that you can't get something out of it on its own; I'm just more curious now about the first book.

There are some silly, puerile moments here, but overall, it's a fun take on dragons and the things we tend not to think about when we're wishing for them as pets.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel

Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel (Dragons Love Tacos #2)
by Adam Rubin
illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Date: 2017
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

The hilarious sequel to the smokin' hot New York Times best seller, perfect for story time

News alert! It has just been discovered that there are NO MORE TACOS left anywhere in the world. This is a huge problem because, as you know, dragons love tacos. If only there was a way for the dragons to travel back in time, to before tacos went extinct. Then they could grab lots of tacos and bring them back! It's the perfect plan, as long as there's no spicy salsa. You remember what happened last time . . .

The award-winning creators of Robo-Sauce and Secret Pizza Party return with a gut-bustingly hilarious companion to the bestselling phenomenon Dragons Love Tacos.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Don't milk it.

Compared to the goofy and entertaining Dragons Love Tacos, the sequel is as flat as a tortilla. The idea of dragons loving tacos is silly enough, but it works. What doesn't work is a ridiculous plot about the disappearance of all the world's tacos, necessitating a trip back in time to find a taco that can be planted and grown into a taco tree.

Overall, this is just disappointing. If you enjoy the absurd, you might like this. Otherwise, just stick with the first book.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Duffy the Christmassy Dragon

Duffy the Christmassy Dragon
by Kate Noble
illustrated by Kara Olson
Date: 2007
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Beautiful, unique rhyming verse Christmas story, suitable for 3-8 year olds. Duffy The Dragon helps Santa one icy Christmas Eve. 24 pages - fully illustrated. A lovely gift and fun to read.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book has been around for over a decade. It's obviously being released again. And a re-release would've been the perfect time to give the text a polish. Sadly, that opportunity wasn't taken.

Duffy appears to be the pet dragon of a king. On Christmas Eve, the king is away visiting an aunt, leaving Duffy with his friends in the castle. Santa Claus ends up slipping on all the icy roofs, and he needs Duffy's help to melt the snow with his dragon breath. The dragon helps, and Christmas is saved.

And what does Duffy get for his troubles after all of that? A photo of himself. Way to cheap out, Santa. (Aren't dragons supposed to be fond of... well, "stuff"?)

The whole book is written in rhyming verse. The meter isn't great, but I've seen worse. (Oops... Sorry about that inadvertent poem there.) The problem is the writing. The punctuation is off. Capitalization is inconsistent. There are made-up words that I can't figure out (like "wooping"... which may just be a misspelling of "swooping"). The continual use of "reindeers" as a plural is just annoying.

Overall, this is a fairly weak Christmas story. Kids might like it if they're big fans of dragons, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - Dragons Love Tacos

Dragons Love Tacos (Dragons Love Tacos #1)
by Adam Rubin
illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Date: 2012
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

This scrumptious New York Times bestseller has a whole lot of kick!

Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.

The award-winning team behind Those Darn Squirrels! has created an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Did you know that dragons love tacos? That's news to me. It's also the premise of this fun picture book in which a boy hosts a taco party for dragons, only to accidentally feed them spicy salsa... with disastrous results. Oops!

The premise is a bit silly, but so are the dragons. They have great facial expressions (and look friendly more than fearsome). There are lots of cute details to look at in the illustrations.

Overall, this is a book that will probably have wide appeal. After all, most of us can relate to having a favourite food that we could eat "pantloads" of.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Marmaduke the Very Different Dragon

Marmaduke the Very Different Dragon
by Rachel Valentine
illustrated by Ed Eaves
Date: 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Marmaduke's not like all the other dragons - his ears are too big and he never even tries to fly. He just doesn't fit in, however much he wants to, and so he feels terribly lonely.

And Princess Meg? Well, she wears trainers and breaks into dance at the most inappropriate of times, which means that she sticks out like a sore thumb. She doesn't really have any friends, but then she's far too busy having fun to notice . . . Until one day when Marmaduke and Meg's lives collide in the most exciting, brilliant and surprising way and they both realise just how much they need each other.

And, who knows, maybe a princess and a dragon will make the most perfect best friends.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I might've enjoyed this one more if it didn't strike me as an attempt to write a picture book without using the word "said". To be fair, it's used four times, although two of those are embellished with adverbs. This leaves the characters to laugh, call, sigh, chuckle, cry, gasp, shout, ask, grumble, mutter... and, my favourites (ha... not really), sniff, puff, and smile their speech. My patience for this sort of writing ran out a long time ago.

It's a shame, too, because the pictures are really kind of cute. I don't love the "not like other dragons/princesses" trope, though, since it implies rigid roles. Meg is a princess whether she acts like a subservient (and silent) woman or not. Marmaduke is a dragon by virtue of his biology. It's great that they found each other, but they shouldn't have been ostracized by their peers in the first place.

I think that's my problem with this one: there's no real learning going on here. The other dragons don't come around and realize the error of their ways in ostracizing Marmaduke. They simply get jealous of him and wish they could be different, too. I'm not fond of that message. (We don't even find out what happens to the snooty princesses; presumably, they're still being seen but not heard in their pretty dresses.)

The book has its heart in the right place, but the messaging is off.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Bo the Brave

Bo the Brave
by Bethan Woollvin
Date: 2020
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A feisty little girl learns who the real monsters are in this brilliantly funny medieval adventure.

Once, there lived a little girl called Bo. Bo wanted to be just like her brothers and capture a fearsome monster. Bo is small, too small to catch a monster--or so her brothers say. But Bo isn't one to take no for an answer, so she sets off on a quest to catch a monster of her own. Can she defeat the furious griffin, conquer the hideous kraken, and triumph over the monstrous dragon? Or has Bo got the wrong idea who the real monsters are?

Author-illustrator Bethan Woollvin, the creator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Little Red, employs her signature style in this original fairy tale with a clever twist. Readers are sure to fall in love with Woollvin's newest vibrant and sassy protagonist.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

While this book definitely has a distinctive look with its unusual colour palette, I was less than impressed by the story, which is basically just a little girl learning that you shouldn't judge people (or creatures) based on their appearance. The title implies that the theme is bravery, but it's actually more about acceptance.

Bo wants to go hunting monsters with her older brothers. But they tell her she's too small. So she goes to hunt some on her own. But each time she finds what she thinks is a monster, her mind is changed when she starts to interact with the creature. When she encounters a sad dragon, she learns that its baby is missing. Bo and her new friends rescue the baby dragon from its captors (I'm sure you can guess who they are) and everyone agrees not to go monster hunting anymore.

The writing is just okay. A character sneered his speech right at the beginning (argh!) but other than that, it wasn't terrible. I liked Bo's refrain of, "Get ready to be got!"

Whether you like the illustrations will be a matter of taste. I don't personally care for the style here, but the pictures are colourful (in a palette of black, white, grey, magenta, orange, and teal) and will probably appeal to some readers. There are some cute details throughout the book (including in the maps at the beginning and end).

Overall, this isn't bad, but I don't know if it's a book that I'd be rushing to read again. Kids who like stories about questing and magical creatures are probably the audience for this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing Company for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Liza Jane & the Dragon

Liza Jane & the Dragon
by Laura Lippman
illustrated by Kate Samworth
Date: 2018
Publisher: Akashic Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Liza Jane believed she could find better parents. So she fired her mom and dad and hired the first applicant who came to the door—what could possibly go wrong?

And at first everything was fun. The dragon did whatever Liza Jane wanted him to do.

But it turned out the dragon had only one response to all problems—opening his mouth and belching fire. Suddenly, people were scared of Liza Jane. The pizza deliveryman didn’t want to come to her house. No one wanted to play with her. And all that fire was very bad for the furniture.

Could Liza Jane have been wrong about what kind of qualities she wanted in a parent?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I didn't realize it until I saw someone mention it in their review, but the more I think about it... yeah. This is a book about Trump's presidency. (Viewing it this way also makes the dragon's blond coif make more sense!)

Liza Jane has a good life. Her parents tell her so every day. But Liza Jane's experience isn't what they keep telling her it is. They don't listen to her, they interrupt her, and they don't seem to care about her feelings. So she fires them and puts up ads for a new mom and dad. No experience necessary! (Can you see the Trump parallels yet?) A dragon answers the ad, claiming he can do both jobs. So Liza Jane hires him... and the trouble begins. Every time something goes wrong and Liza Jane gets upset, the dragon sets something on fire. When the pizza delivery guy gets the order wrong, the dragon torches his car. When the lady at the front desk of the school gives Liza Jane a hard time for being late (which was not her fault; the dragon was having a hard time brushing her hair), the dragon sets fire to the desk. Soon, Liza Jane is eating nothing but pizza, her teachers are afraid to give her bad grades (for fear of the dragon), and nobody wants to play with her. Liza Jane suggests that maybe he could be a little nicer, but he excuses his fiery bad behaviour with the same excuse: "Hey, I'm a dragon." So Liza Jane fires him and puts out a new ad... this time asking for parents with experience. Guess who answers.

As a story about being careful what you wish for, it works... although I didn't really care for the parents' behaviour in the beginning. It seemed almost like gaslighting, the way they constantly told Liza Jane how lucky she was (while treating her the way they did; is it not hypocritical for parents to demand the respectful behaviours that they themselves aren't bothering with?). But the plot is also a little absurd, with the parents just taking off after Liza Jane fires them and the dragon taking over. I wasn't too impressed the first time I read it... but after learning it was possibly about Trump, I liked it a little better. The parallels are all there: The government tells everybody they have the best country and they're lucky to be Americans. USA! USA! USA! But the people don't really believe it. They think nobody is listening to them, so they hire someone with absolutely no experience just because he says the right things. But then this person damages nearly everything he comes into contact with. I don't know if the metaphor could be much clearer!

That said, I didn't love this. The illustrations are just okay (although, I do like the selective use of colour to highlight the things that are important to Liza Jane) and the narrative is pretty basic. But if you're looking for a somewhat subversive picture book that ties into current events, you might want to take a look. (Also check out A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss. It's an absolutely adorable picture book about Mike Pence's grand-bunny that looks at the Trump presidency through a lens of tolerance and inclusion.)

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Review - Miranda: Fantasyland Tour Guide

Miranda: Fantasyland Tour Guide
by Aaron L. Humphres
Date: 2019
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Join tour guide Miranda as she takes the Deedle family on a tour of the fantastical land of Wondaria. The tour takes readers through an enchanted wizard's house, an underground shopping plaza, and a haunted castle. Come explore the magic of Wondaria with Miranda's tour services.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This isn't so much a story as an exercise in world building. As such, the plot is nearly non-existent; it's just Miranda, a tour guide, taking the Deedle family out to enjoy the sights of Wondaria.

The book is done in almost a graphic novel format. For each sight on the tour, Miranda gives us a brief explanation, and then we're treated to interjections from the Deedles. The various locations are certainly creative, and the illustrations have plenty to look at. However, at the end, I was left wanting more. A story set in this world could be really neat. But this book is more like one of those volumes that accompanies a series. It has maps and profiles of various settings, but there's no story; that's left to other books.

So, while I think this is a great starting point, I don't know that I'd bother reading this again. I'd much rather see Miranda (or the Deedles) starring in a story that has conflict, action, and suspense... as well as a beginning, a middle, and an end.

(Note that there's a typo on the map at the end. It reads "COZY CAZE", when it should be "COZY CAVE". Perhaps this will be fixed before it goes to print.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Action Lab Entertainment for providing a digital ARC.

Plot: 1/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall Rating: 2.38 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - The Red Suitcase

The Red Suitcase
by Giles Baum
illustrated by Amandine Piu
Date: 2019
Publisher: words & pictures
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 42
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A beautiful and touching journey of one little dragon fleeing a home that has become dangerous and finding refuge in a new place and with new friends.

The Red Suitcase is a simple and allegorical story with evocative illustrations and minimal text depicting the plight of refugees. From the unrest they leave behind, the treacherous journey they undertake, the fear they are met with, and finally the acceptance and helping hand that is, and should always, be offered to them. The Red Suitcase tells this story in its simplest form in a way that young children can understand and enjoy as one of friendship and acceptance.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I can only rate what I can see. Unfortunately, my digital ARC is a mess and missing half of the illustrations. What I did see of them, I liked; I just wish I'd been able to see all of them (especially since this book is light on text and uses the pictures to tell much of the story).

While I appreciate the intent behind this book, I'm not sure if little kids will understand that it's supposed to be about refugees. Again, like so many picture books I've read lately, this one seems to be aimed more at adults than children. We're introduced to a small dragon who's surrounded by scribbly flames (representing danger in their homeland, I guess) and a simply drawn red suitcase. The story is told with the second-person point of view, which is unusual for a picture book, and even more so in this case. (Is this intended for refugee children? Or is it supposed to be for their peers to help them understand the situation?) It looks like the dragon goes on a journey, although I can't really say for sure; those illustrations were some of the ones that were missing. Eventually, they end up in a new land at a new school, where they make a friend.

(On an unrelated note, why is the author's name spelled differently in the book than in all of the material online? Which is it? Gilles or Giles?)

It's hard to say if I would've liked this one any more if I'd been able to see all the pictures, but I don't know that I would've rated it much higher, since I'm not sure if the story's message is clear enough. It might work as more of an allegory, but if children are supposed to understand that the dragon and their journey represent the plight of refugees in our world, it might be asking a little too much.

Thank you to NetGalley and words & pictures for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.5 out of 5

Review - My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon

My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon
by Angie Lucas
illustrated by Birgitta Sif
Date: 2019
Publisher: Sounds True
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

An illustrated picture book for children dealing with grief, showing that although loss is hard and real, together we can move through it to find joy and hope again.

When a young boy unexpectedly loses his mother, an invisible dragon swoops in and perches on top of his head. The boy wants the dragon to go away, but the dragon has plans of its own. It follows him to school, sleeps on his chest at night, and even crashes his birthday party. Yet as the boy comes to terms with his loss, his relationship with the dragon changes in surprising ways.

My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon is an important book for children dealing with loss. Whether it is the death of a parent or loved one, divorce, a move, illness, or losing a friendship, this story shows children that loss is real and hard, but we can move through it. Young readers learn that healing takes time, and that it’s okay to experience a range of emotions when processing a really big loss.

Filled with poignant yet playful illustrations and touches of humor, the book tackles a weighty subject in an easy and approachable way. For any child who’s lost someone they love, My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon is a tale of healing and hope.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

After reading a number of picture books using metaphors to talk about emotions, I've come to the conclusion that this is something that's really hard to get right. Often, the stories are confusing, convoluted, age-inappropriate, or internally inconsistent. My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon, however, is a book that gets it right. By personifying dragonifying grief, the book demystifies the grieving process for children.

When a boy suddenly loses his mother, the dragon--complete with his funky purple boots--shows up. And he won't leave. He sits on the boy's head when he's trying to get through the school day. He lies on the boy's chest when he's trying to sleep. And he even shows up on happy occasions like playdates and birthdays. The boy learns to deal with the dragon as best he can. After a while, though, something strange begins to happen. The dragon doesn't spend all his time with the boy. Sometimes he's gone for a few hours. Sometimes he's gone for a whole weekend! And the boy realizes that, as time passes (and as he gets older), the dragon seems to be getting smaller. While it'll never go away, it can become much more manageable.

I like the message here about having compassion for others' grief as well. Talking and sharing are important, as is being a good friend. I really like how the book manages to talk about such a serious, potentially depressing subject and not have it seem too heavy. Anyone who's dealt with grief of any sort will be able to relate to the boy and his bothersome dragon who weighs him down and just won't leave.

Highly recommended to readers looking for books about emotions, and especially those searching out kid-friendly books about dealing with grief. It's one of the best books dealing with tough emotions that I've seen so far.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.67 out of 5

Review - Part-time Princess

Part-time Princess
by Deborah Underwood
illustrated by Cambria Evans
Date: 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: hardcover
Source: library

At night, a normal little girl imagines she is a princess, but not just a princess who wears pretty gowns and goes to balls. She also gets to fight dragons and tame trolls. But one morning she wakes up and begins to think maybe her royal adventures aren't so imaginary after all... From the best-selling author of The Quiet Book, this jacketed picture book is perfect for every little girl who dreams of being a princess.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I picked this one up because of the author, not really knowing what to expect from it. It's actually really cute! Yes, there are tiaras and fancy dresses and balls... but there's also firefighting and dragon counselling and general kingdom-saving.

Every night, the kid goes to bed... and dreams she's a princess. She lassos a dragon, only to find out he's just cranky because his little brother melted his crayons. She plays leapfrog in the royal mud puddle. She takes a bath with a dolphin in preparation for the royal ball. When some unexpected guests show up, she deals with them before they can cause any trouble. (At one point, she mentions she might grow up and marry the handsome prince, but not right now because she's too busy. Priorities!)

I like the subtle incorporation of the girl's mother (I almost didn't catch it at first) into her imaginative world. The whole book is kind of a clever twist on the whole princess theme, emphasizing imagination and action over entitlement and superficiality.

There are enough bright colours (and lots of pink!) to make this book appealing for kids, but adults will probably appreciate the humour and deeper message (at least, deeper than you often see in princess books). If you're looking for a book about princesses that's a little bit different, you might want to check this one out.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Little Dragon and the New Baby

Little Dragon and the New Baby
by Deborah Cuneo
Date: 2018
Publisher: Sky Pony
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Little Dragon is about to be a big brother...

A new baby dragon is on the way, and Little Dragon is not happy about it. There's no way this can be good! Little Dragon doesn't even want to look at the egg. He ignores it, then tries hiding it. He even "decorates" it, which just makes a big mess. But soon enough... Rattle, rattle, CRACK! When the big moment finally arrives, the whole family receives a surprise! Maybe things aren't so bad after all.

Little Dragon and the New Baby addresses the universal difficulty of adjusting to the idea of a new sibling.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a simple little book about getting a new sibling. The story isn't particularly new or original, although I did think it was cute when Little Dragon drew a face on the egg (I probably would've, too; that great, big faceless thing sitting in your room has got to be disconcerting). Too bad his mom made him wash it off!

What really made me enjoy this book were the illustrations. They're very, very cute! Little Dragon is an artist, so he's always making pictures for the walls of his room. They generally focus on his family: Mom, Dad, and Me. So you just know that having a new sibling is going to be a big adjustment.

While this book hints at trouble ahead rather than solves any problems, it's still a cute look at siblings and how an older child might adjust to the coming of a new baby.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Sir Small and the Dragonfly

Sir Small and the Dragonfly (Sir Small)
by Jane O'Connor
illustrated by John O'Brien
Date: 1988
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

"The tallest person is no taller than a toothpick in the town of Pee Wee, and when Lady Teena is abducted by a dragonfly, a tiny knight, riding his trusty ant, rescues the miniature maiden. This is a hit--an engagingly humorous storyline (set in very large type) features simple words and only a sentence or two per page."--Booklist.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is by Jane O'Connor, the author of the Fancy Nancy series, which I've been enjoying lately. I thought I'd give this book a try to see what it was like. It's much older, being published in 1988... and it shows.

The story is kind of dated, and it manages to reinforce negative stereotypes of a number of marginalized groups. Women need to be rescued. Old people are useless. So are fat people. Reading it through a 21st-century lens, it just doesn't work.

The pictures are kind of boring and a little bit silly. The people are drawn in one style (when they're not in closeup, they remind me of old-school Fisher-Price Little People), while the dragon is so cartoonish that it doesn't really seem to fit.

I didn't like the story, which is a basic "girl needs rescuing" tale. For a fun story with dragon kidnapping that turns the trope on its head, I'd recommend Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess instead.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.67 out of 5

Review - Emiline: Knight in Training

Emiline: Knight in Training
by Kimberli Johnson
Date: 2019
Publisher: Oni Press
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

In the tradition of classic children's books such as Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit comes a charming children's story about learning to read, told as a beautiful watercolor graphic novel!

Emiline is learning how to be a knight. There are many skills that knights need: sword fighting, unicorn riding, and PB&J eating! While Emiline is very good at these, she has a hard time reading. But when fixing a dangerous situation means Emiline must read some magic words, she discovers that with practice, curiosity, and help from her friends, she can improve at reading and save the day!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not the audience for this book, so I don't know how it would actually be received by young kids with dyslexia. There does seem to be quite a bit of text in a book that's supposed to be for those who have difficulty reading, and some of the fantasy words and names might be kind of tricky.

The illustrations are quite lovely, and I can see why there's the comparison to Beatrix Potter's work in the synopsis. I really don't have much of a complaint with the illustrations. They're much more muted than I'm used to seeing in graphic novels, but they're pretty nonetheless.

I think, though, that I'm hesitating over the plot of the book, which has Emiline and her knight class moving a nest of dragon eggs. I don't think that's a good message to be sending to kids. The dragon laid her eggs in a certain place for a reason; it's presumptuous and kind of arrogant for the humans to think they know better. They go and move all the eggs somewhere warmer. First of all, though we do see the dragon curled up with her eggs at the end, for most of the story we don't see the dragon at all, which leads me to assume that she didn't know where her eggs had gone. Second, maybe dragon eggs need cold to hatch. None of that is explained, and I don't like the idea that kids might come away thinking that they know better than nature's intelligence. I'd hate to see children trying to move bird or sea turtle eggs, thinking they're doing the creatures some kind of favour.

Unfortunately, this egg-moving thing is the main plot of the story. I would've rather seen something else happening. Maybe with the ogre that was mentioned. Or with the ice giants who were throwing rocks. There are plenty of things that could've been part of a story where Emiline needs to use her reading skills to save the day, without messing with the balance of nature.

So, while I can't wholeheartedly recommend this one, I wouldn't mind seeing what else the author can do with this character. Emiline and her friends could potentially have many more adventures. It's an interesting world that's been set up here, with ample opportunities for more stories. Maybe next time, though, they can leave the dragon eggs alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a digital ARC.

Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.75 out of 5

Review - Dragons in Love

Dragons in Love
by Alexandre Lacroix
illustrated by Ronan Badel
Date: 2019
Publisher: words & pictures
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Drake is playing happily in the park when a little girl kisses him on the snout and a fire begins to roar inside him. What should he do with his new-found emotions? Perhaps his dad will be able to give him some advice…

Dragons in Love is a funny and moving story about young love and the bonds between fathers and children, with a positive message—and all the magic and mayhem you’d hope for in a tale about dragons.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I have to say, this is a weird little book. I don't think it's really appropriate for its intended audience, and I don't really feel comfortable recommending it in the #MeToo era.

The plot/premise is all over the place. At first, it seems like a story about a little dragon awakening to feelings of love/lust. But then it turns into a story about bullying. So I'm really not sure what the point was supposed to be.

I had problems almost from the beginning, when Violet kisses Drake on the snout without his permission. I know this is something little kids sometimes do, and this is why teaching about consent early is an important thing. Poor Drake is so "hot and confused", and he ends up flying around and breathing fire (which appears to be what happens when dragons get aroused, if his father's story about meeting his mother is anything to go by). I really didn't like the passage that read:

My friend Violet kissed me. It didn't hurt. In fact it felt soft.

What a horrible message to give kids who might be subjected to sexual abuse. If it doesn't physically hurt, it's okay?

I was just as confused as Drake for much of the rest of the book. He seems to be most worried about his body's reaction to the kiss, and not the fact that his so-called friend put him in an uncomfortable position to begin with. Everything is "fixed" at the end with another kiss, this time from Drake, to which Violet gives consent. (I have to wonder: if the genders were reversed, would more people see the initial kiss as problematic?)

The illustrations are kind of cute and have a very European feel. I like seeing Drake's dad in his wife-beater (although I'm not sure why you need underwear if you don't wear any other type of clothing). But the whole consent issue just rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe this sort of message still flies in Europe, but I don't think we should be teaching kids that it's okay to kiss their friends without consent. A whole discussion could've been had about how Violet's actions made Drake uncomfortable because of the lack of consent; instead, the focus was on his confusion because of how his body responded. It was kind of a missed opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley and words & pictures for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.67 out of 5

Review - The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart (Tales from the Chocolate Heart #1)
by Stephanie Burgis
Date: 2017
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Reading level: MG
Book type: prose novel
Pages: 253
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon.ca

Aventurine is a brave young dragon ready to explore the world outside of her family's mountain cave... if only they'd let her leave it. Her family thinks she's too young to fly on her own, but she's determined to prove them wrong by capturing the most dangerous prey of all: a human.

But when that human tricks her into drinking enchanted hot chocolate, she's transformed into a puny human without any sharp teeth, fire breath, or claws. Still, she's the fiercest creature in these mountains--and now she's found her true passion: chocolate. All she has to do is get to the human city to find herself an apprenticeship (whatever that is) in a chocolate house (which sounds delicious), and she'll be conquering new territory in no time... won't she?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book was so cute and so much fun! I wish it had been around when I was younger (but I still enjoyed it very much as an adult).

Aventurine is a great character. She has a distinctive voice, and we never quite forget that she's a dragon trapped in a "puny human" body. I love the message about finding your passion--the thing that makes you so happy that you want to do it all the time--and being true to who you really are on the inside, even when that might be difficult. There's no romance in this book; instead, we get some great friendship and family themes. And the dragons themselves are wonderful characters; instead of mindless beasts, they're actually quite scholarly (did you know dragons debate philosophy and write epic poetry?) and they even think humans are the stupid ones!

I've barely seen this book mentioned, and it's a shame, because it's a well-written story with a good message, a fun plot, and unforgettable characters. It hasn't gotten nearly the amount of attention it deserves.

Quotable moment:

When I passed a waffle stand two minutes later, I didn’t even let out the snarl of desperation that wanted to rip itself from my throat.

If all I had were five marks, I would not waste them. I was a fierce, powerful dragon despite my current body problems, and I could control myself, no matter what Mother or Jasper thought.

I just wished that all the horses I passed didn’t look so delicious.

Premise: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Editing: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 ladybugs