Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library

May 30, 2016
Dragons may love the library, but it doesn’t love them back. There’s the whole fire-breathing thing, of course: “As she starts to read, she could over excite,/ and then chances are her flame will ignite!” Dragons also need space to maneuver, whether they’re enjoying story time, navigating the stacks, or dancing to the beat of visiting musicians. Does that mean they’re condemned to a life without books? The wise librarian has an idea: leave your dragons at home and bring the books to them. The premise might draw giggles, but Gassman’s (the Little Boost series) rhyming is workmanlike (“Your dragon should not miss the library treasures./ Just bring home some books for her reading pleasure”), and Elkerton’s (How to Catch a Leprechaun) compositions, while bright and energetic, have a muddled compositional focus that tends to put a damper on the jokes. But the real problem is how the book solves its central dilemma. Most readers experience libraries today not just as storehouses of literature but as beloved places of inclusion and community. Why should dragons have to miss out on that? Ages 3–7. Illustrator’s agency: Shannon Associates.

July 1, 2017
This book contains verses that don't scan and completely predictable reasons why a dragon shouldn't come to a library. Elkerton's bright cartoon illustrations featuring a multiethnic cast are a high point but can't save the whole. Stick with Elise Parsley's titles about inappropriate items to tote to public places (including If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don't!).

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)