IGGY WHO BREATHES FIRE

A fire-breathing little girl learns how to express herself.

Incandescent Iggy was “born with a spark.” Instead of blowing out her candles on her 6th birthday, she emits flames. At the science fair, her volcano spurts an authentic blaze; on Halloween, her dragon costume makes a stir. She revels in her gift, though it frightens her family and neighbors. Her parents enlist the help of the town librarian, fire chief, and doctor, to no avail. Then Professor Knight arrives. His repressive six-step plan is a total nonstarter with Iggy, who refuses to sacrifice spicy food and toasted marshmallows. Attempts to suppress her flames just lead to a bigger explosion. When Iggy asserts herself at last, her parents say the magic words: “We trust you.” Seeking help from the fire chief, doctor, and librarian, she learns how to control her talents. The professor returns and tries to shut her down, but the newly self-assured Iggy stands her ground. She doesn’t stick around to gloat, though, because “little girls who breathe fire? They are very, very busy.” Featuring characters clad in a Day-Glo rainbow of colors, Meza’s warm illustrations pit Iggy’s fiery exhalations against flat backgrounds. The layouts are dynamic, while the language is clear and direct; children will easily grasp the metaphor and embrace the message of self-acceptance. Iggy and her family are brown-skinned, while Professor Knight is light-skinned; the supporting cast is diverse.

A blazing paean to self-love.