Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The satin-gowned princess and bobble-eyed dragon from Lovabye Dragon (2012) are back with a warmhearted damsel-in-distress story. Joosse's nursery-rhyme verse enchants from the opening line: "At the wake of derry-day/ the friends decided what to play." They choose hide-and-seek; Dragon doesn't realize that Girl can see him behind his tiny rock, and she makes a show of being befuddled. Now it's Girl's turn. She runs off into the forest where she hides in a hollow tree, dozes, and wakes up in the dark: "Came the cricking and the cracking,/ came the flipping and the flapping/ came the moaning and the groaning-/ are there monsters in the night?" The sound of her frightened heartbeat brings Dragon flying to her, his earlier silliness replaced by heroism. "Evermore, evermore, I am here," he sings, holding her close. The unexpected contours of Cecil's figures, like Girl's pancake-flat head and Dragon's ping pong ball eyes, add smiles, but there's also unexpected depth in the tiny, scratchy strokes and dusky shades of his paintings. It's a noteworthy alternative to more commercially flavored princess stories. Ages 3-7. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-The warm friendship that Girl and Dragon established in Joosse's Lovabye Dragon (Candlewick, 2012) deepens as the two play hide-and-seek. First Dragon hides, curling his "Drag-enormo self" behind "a little rock/such a very little rock." Amused readers will spot his huge bulk immediately. But Girl can't find him, even from her perch up a tree, until he reveals himself with a resounding "BOO!" Then Girl takes her turn and runs far away into a "hidey-hole place" where Dragon can't find her. Time passes, night falls with its scary "moaning," "groaning" sounds, and though she tries to be brave, Girl cries "worry worry tears." But never fear. Special friend that he is, Dragon hears her cries, brightens the night sky with his fire, and flies to her rescue. "Evermore, evermore, I am here," he rumbles as the forever friends embrace. The muted palette and tiny brush strokes employed in Cecil's oil paintings exude warmth and are a perfect backdrop for the loving relationship. The poetic text with its coined words and just-right repetition makes for a delightful read-aloud for storytime and friendship units. VERDICT Fans of the first book will welcome the chance to read about these two friends again.-Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Greenwich, CT © Copyright 2015. 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
Girl and Dragon play hide-and-seek in this gentle follow-up to Lovabye Dragon. Dragon isn't great at finding his clever friend until the sound of her lonely heartbeat calls him to the rescue when she secrets herself in too tricky a spot. Rhyme, repetition, and made-up words make this a playful read-aloud. Cecil's oil paintings use soothing muted tones and fine textures. (c) Copyright 2016. 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
The comforting friendship between a young girl and an enormous dragon deepens. In Lovabye Dragon (2012), Joosse shared a hopeful tale of sweet friendship between an unlikely pair. Moving on from the first book, the friendship continues to grow here with an innocent game of hide-and-seek. Doesn't Girl see the dragon hiding behind a very small rock? Both children and adults reading this story will chuckle, though for slightly different reasons. The two friends delight in their togetherness. When Girl takes her turn to hide, she runs to a faraway hidey-hole and becomes lost in the night, separated from Dragon. "But she cried silver tears / worry worry tears / and her heart thumped a sound / a trem-below sound / that only Dragon friends, / very very special friends, can hear." So summoned, the distressed Dragon flies to her rescue: "I am here," he rumbles; Girl whispers, "You're a dear." Although the theme of rescue seems similar to the first title, the thoughtfully constructed, rhythmic text sprinkled with clever neologisms moves the action forward, while the comforting palette of hazy grays, blues, and browns keeps the distress minimal. The teary and frightened Girl shines in her starlike yellow gown, muted yet hope-filled on the dreamy pages. A beguiling read-aloud for more than princess-and-dragon lovers. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
