THE TROUBLE WITH DRAGONS

Gliori puts forth a rhythmic environmental message that warns of the excesses of “dragons galore” on the planet. Fanciful watercolors accompany verses stating the effects of excessive “draconic” behaviors in emphatic if somewhat causally fuzzy terms: “Dragons chop down the forests, / which melts both the Poles / and punctures the atmosphere / full of big holes.” Images of brilliant orange dragons in chaotic urban scenes, silhouettes of animals displaced by the disappearing habitats, even Santa Claus at the watery North Pole help to foster a sense of urgency. The final illustration, of parent and young dragon reading a book—“For if we can’t see that our stories are linked, / then sadly like dragons we could be extinct”—is as charmingly alarmist (if a little daffy, given the visual context) as the rest of the book. This effort will be a useful addition to picture-book collections, especially those needing more titles that promote environmental awareness. (Picture book. 4-8)