Review by Booklist Review
Though they're both dragons, East Dragon and West Dragon don't have a lot in common so they think. Golden-scaled East Dragon and his nine brother and sister dragons are welcome in the emperor's palace for their good luck and sage advice. Muddy-colored West Dragon lives alone in a cave, occasionally plagued by pesky bands of the king's knights waving their pointy swords about. So West Dragon sends the king a map filled with mountains and seas, treasures and quests, kingdoms and adventures, and the knights leave him in peace for greater glory. East Dragon and West Dragon finally meet when the knights show up at the emperor's palace and fill it with their special blend of mayhem, and the two dragons learn that maybe they're not so different after all. There's a message about not having your perceptions of others clouded by preconceived notions, but it's buried fairly deep beneath Campbell's packed, boisterous artwork. Here's a fantasy tale that, as an amusing diversion, is a bit off-kilter but right on target.--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Eversole (Red Berry Wool) offers a discursive story that attempts to contrast the cultures of east and west by way of two dragons who "lived on opposite sides of the world" and who mistrust each other more than a little. After delineating some of the differences between them-"East Dragon lived in a palace. West Dragon lived in a cave. East Dragon had golden scales. West Dragon was mossy green"-the story dissolves into a war when the pesky, dragon-hunting western king and his knights attack the eastern dragons and are imprisoned by the emperor. The West Dragon (who can fly) comes to his former adversaries' rescue and, after being hit by an arrow, is in turn saved by the East Dragon (who can swim), leading to reconciliation among humans and dragons alike. Campbell's (Zombie in Love) cartoony watercolors, which are packed with anachronistic details (in the West Dragon's cave, the marauding knights play video games and bounce on his bed), add a much-needed dose of humor, but don't make the story's muddied message any clearer. Ages 4-7. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-2-East meets West in a tale of two dragons who "kept a world between them, just in case." Living on opposite sides of the globe also makes it easy to build a defensive wall of beliefs about one another. The nine dragons of the East and one from the West live a peaceful, noncombative life amid people of their nations: "nothing made a cave smell nastier than roast knight." When West Dragon entices his troublesome, pesky knights and king to chase toward the east with a treasure map, misunderstandings, subsequent imprisonment, and a heroic rescue create an opportunity for both sides to meet and correct their self-made impressions about the other. Watercolor visions of both dragon realms combine traditional folk art and contemporary originality with cross-sectioned full-page images. Far-eastern architecture contrasts with European medieval castles, while modern technology, toys, and conveniences add a twist of the unexpected. Readers can search the pages for humorous scenes of modern comforts-a celebration with rock bands, karaoke, soccer for "tin" men and pizza for all. With an underlying message of the ills of prejudgment, this title should find a place in all libraries.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Two dragons, each of whom fears that the other is mightier, finally meet when one, rescuing a king, is felled by a pirate's arrow and needs help. It's a satisfying if sometimes silly story about finding friendship where you least expect it; too bad it plays out a bit circuitously. Campbell's chunky watercolors do right by the Eastern and Western motifs. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Picture book. 3-7) ]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
