IGNIS

Winged, scaled, and irresistibly puppyish, the young dragon in this searching-for-self-identity tale will appeal more to Stellaluna fans than those who prefer their dragons grandly aloof. Ignis may run faster and fly higher than any of his circle, but since he can’t breathe fire, he feels like no dragon at all. As it turns out, he lacks only priming for the pump; after hanging out with Poto the hippo, Loquax the parrot, and Cara, a human child, he struggles to the top of a volcano and by accident inhales a spark that really ignites the internal burners. In page-filling, elaborately detailed scenes, Lynch gives his smokeless saurian mottled, rough-looking skin, a spiky profile, and large, liquid, forward-facing eyes that positively broadcast appeal. Ignis returns in triumph, to impress even the craggy elders with great gouts of flame—proving that he’s not a fizzle, but like Leo, just a late bloomer. (Picture book. 7-9)