This review is part of Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book series. Visit her site to see the other books recommended.
Title: Who Wants a Dragon?
Author: James Mayhew
Illustrator: Lindsey Gardiner
Publisher: Orchard Books October 1st 2004
Suitable for ages: Pre-K - 3 Grade
Themes: Humor, Fantasy, Feelings & Emotions
Opening Sentences:
Who wants a dragon?
All fiery and bright?
A lost baby dragon,
Alone in the night?
Why I like this book:
Who Wants a Dragon is fun and easy to read out loud to your little ones. It has big colorful pictures done in pastels. The baby dragon is polka dotted with patches and just plain adorable. I also like that book is done in rhyme using under two hundreds words, great for those early readers.
Synopsis:
Taken directly from School Library Journal-
PreSchool-Grade 1– “A lost baby dragon searches through a castle for someone to love him. However, everyone he meets–a witch, a knight, a princess, a king and queen, and a fairy–runs away in fear. The exuberant illustrations show the rosy-pink, polka-dotted creature frowning as he is rejected again and again. Finally, his mother appears to "cuddle him, and kiss him, and help him sleep tight." The rhyming text is soothingly predictable and the repeated refrain of "Who wants a dragon?" will help young listeners focus on the story...” Reviewed by James K. Irwin, Nichols Library, Naperville, IL
Resources
1) Illustrator site: Lindsey Gardiner has coloring sheets for her books-http://books.lindseygardiner.com/fun_stuff/
Materials you'll need for this project-
•Blue construction paper—one per student
•Dragon outline (big and small)—two per student
•Paint
•Paintbrushes (optional)
•Scissors
•Glue sticks
•Crayons/markers
4) Author James Mayhew's website: http://jamesmayhew-katiespictureshow.blogspot.com/
