Do not bring your dragon to the library

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. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Have you ever thought about bringing your dragon to the library? Don't do it!In rhyming couplets, a bunch of kids bring their individual dragons (six in all) to the library, and unsurprisingly, they break all the behavior rules. "Maybe you're thinking, 'Don't worry, it's fine. / There's plenty of space in that library of mine.' / Perhaps that's true, but he's sure to roam. / Then you'll be wishing you had left him at home." A double-page spread here shows a big, blue dragon with droopy ears nosing around the bookcases, while in the following spread, he's pushing them over as he tries to fit between them, visually underscoring the refrain: "So do not bring your dragon to the library!" The vibrantly colored illustrations overflow the pages, use aerial perspectives, and accentuate the size of the dragons. It's a clever approach to proper library do's and don'ts. Kudos for including a kid in a wheelchair in the thoughtfully diverse cast, but jeers for the stereotypical demiglasses, bun, and drab clothing worn by the black librarian. The dragons are as colorful as the characters are multiracial, appearing in shades of vivid purple, blue, green, and orange polka dots. The text struggles with scansion and rhythm, but the energy of the illustrations helps to mitigate its flaws.This cautionary tale set in a library with dragon patrons is worth circulating. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.