A well-illustrated story about how anyone can accept help and learn something new.
Two magical creatures get each other out of a bind and learn to appreciate their differences in Froh’s picture book.
Flying, fire-breathing dragon Dan and galloping unicorn Fran, who has a magical horn, live in the Emerald Kingdom. Their homes are on opposite sides of the Marbled Mountain, so they’ve never met. The two are variously described as caring, kind, and smart; these attributes come in handy when they finally meet after being swept far from their homes by a “blustery blizzard.” They quickly learn how their individual talents are good for some situations but not for others. Fran can’t breathe fire, for instance, but Dan realizes that she has “fire in a whole different way,” and although Dan doesn’t have a magic horn, Fran sees how he’s “magical in a whole different way.” Froh effectively infuses the book with simple lessons regarding the importance of lending a hand, being yourself, and appreciating others’ attributes. Svobodová’s full-color, painterly illustrations capture the whimsical architecture and colorful landscapes of the Emerald Kingdom, while textured details of the creatures’ skin and fur, facial expressions, and animated body movements add to the visual excitement. A map featuring other locations in the Emerald Kingdom is included, leaving the door open for a series of other adventures.
A well-illustrated story about how anyone can accept help and learn something new.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre.
Ice princess Lina must navigate family and school in this early chapter read.
The family picnic is today. This is not a typical gathering, since Lina’s maternal relatives are a royal family of Windtamers who have power over the weather and live in castles floating on clouds. Lina herself is mixed race, with black hair and a tan complexion like her Asian-presenting mother’s; her Groundling father appears to be a white human. While making a grand entrance at the castle of her grandfather, the North Wind, she fails to successfully ride a gust of wind and crashes in front of her entire family. This prompts her stern grandfather to ask that Lina move in with him so he can teach her to control her powers. Desperate to avoid this, Lina and her friend Claudia, who is black, get Lina accepted at the Hilltop Science and Arts Academy. Lina’s parents allow her to go as long as she does lessons with grandpa on Saturdays. However, fitting in at a Groundling school is rough, especially when your powers start freak winter storms! With the story unfurling in diary format, bright-pink–highlighted grayscale illustrations help move the plot along. There are slight gaps in the storytelling and the pacing is occasionally uneven, but Lina is full of spunk and promotes self-acceptance.
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre. (Fantasy. 5-8)Pub Date: June 25, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-35393-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
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