Ack. I have GOT to start remembering to proofread. In my original
post, I failed to mention the recommended grade levels (I tend to
list the grade/age levels listed by reviewers from School Library
Journal, Hornbook or Kirkus). Here is the corrected review, which,
again, is available at http://thebookdragon.blogspot.com/ Apologies
for the double posting.
What I actually wanted to make note of was a couple of "new" (to me
at least) picture books featuring one of my favorite topics:
dragons. Of course, looking at the dates on these, you'll realize
that "new to me" doesn't necessarily correspond with currency of
publication date, but that's neither here nor there--well, it's
actually more a then not now. . . .
<u>The Dragon Snatcher</u> by M. P. Robertson. Published by The
Penguin Group's Dial Books for Young Readers in 2005, this
beautifully illustrated book features a young boy named George who,
unlike at least one of his predecessors, is out to <i>save</i>
dragons--not slay them. Hearing a noise in the chicken coop one
night, George investigates to find a worried dragon who whisks him
off to a cold, bleak castle. Inside the castle George finds shelf
after shelf on neatly labeled dragon eggs--and overhears an old
wizard whose plan is to "rid the land of these cursed creatures" once
he finds just one more egg. Does George stop the wizard from
stealing the last dragon egg? Can anything melt the wizards ice-cold
heart? Read and see. (K-3rd grade)
<u>The Dragon Machine</u> by Helen Ward, illustrated by Wayne
Anderson. Published by Dutton Children's books in 2003, this is a
very different story about a boy who always went ignored and
overlooked, just like the dragons he starts to notice. Dragons are
<i>everywhere</i>, but noone ever seems to notice them, just like
they never seem to notice George--until they start to become
troublesome. Needing some advice, George goes to his local library,
where he learns, much too late, that one should never feed the
dragons or let them into our home. But the book also offers hope
that these dragons might not end up captured--if only he can show
them the way to their own home--the place where they belonged. And
so, George builds the dragon machine. Part of the fun of this story
is discovering the dragons along with George--at first glance, the
unobservant reader might just miss seeing these heretofore unnoticed
creatures. Are the dragons discovered and captured? Do the dragons
follow George as he attempts to take them to the safety of their own
home? Does George ever get noticed? Read this whimsically
illustrated story and see. (K-4th grade)
Of course, now this begs the question: What are some of YOUR
favorite books--picture or chapter that include dragons. Off the top
of my head, some of my favorites are:
Dragon Song, Dragon Singer, and DRagon Drums (aka Harper Hall series)
by Anne McCaffrey (Ages 10+)
Ignis by Gina Wilson and P.J. Lynch (Ages 4+)
Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini (Ages 10+)
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke (Ages 9+)
I suspect this means that I will now start a list of favorite books
with dragons. . . . Which reminds me--the list of librarians in
children's lit? It's up to 46 now. A far cry from 100--but still
growing.
Ronda Y. Foust
School Media Specialist--newly graduated!
readingdragon@comcast.net
Oak Ridge, TN
http://thebookdragon.blogspot.com/
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