IMAGINE A DRAGON
by Laurence Pringle & illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan
Light on specifics—and totally free of source citations or leads to further information—Pringle’s anecdotal survey of dragons worldwide floats next to a set of kaleidoscopic action portraits done in swirling combed acrylics. Making it plain that he’s describing imaginary creatures, the author begins with examples from ancient civilizations, closes with a reference to dragon floats in modern Chinese New Year celebrations, and in between, mentions monsters from Asia, Europe and Africa, but not the Americas. Neilan’s toothy worms occupy color or monochrome scenes rendered in a fragmented, cubist style. Gail Gibbons’s Behold—The Dragons! (1999) is just one of several titles that will give younger audiences a better grounding in dragon basics; consider this one only for readers who can’t get enough on the topic. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-9)