Review by Booklist Review
Franklin (a dragon) and Luna (a girl), who first appeared in Franklin's Flying Bookshop (2017), are itching to see the amazing creatures and places described in the books they love to read. Harpies, selkies, ghosts, werewolves, and mermaids are all contenders, but when Luna asks Franklin where to find other dragons, her friend doesn't know the answer. That's when Luna decides they must go on an adventure to find Franklin's family. Harnett's muted, magical paintings carry a naive quality suited to the tale's childlike whimsy, dynamically using two-page spreads, spot illustration, and single-page scenes. As the pair travels, they encounter many of the fantastic beings from their books roller-skating unicorns, fancy poltergeists, vampires enamored with Shakespeare but none has seen a dragon. Finally, Luna's pet tortoise, Neil Armstrong, has an epiphany that rockets their search into space. Campbell's lightly rhyming verses avoid a sing-song cadence, unobtrusively propelling the story along. Youngsters with vivid imaginations will be easily swept up in Franklin and Luna's quest, their hearts set alight by adventure and library-filled lunar craters.--Julia Smith Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A search for long-lost family sends best friends into outer spaceand beyond!Luna loves nothing more than to read adventure stories "all night long, curled up with her tortoise, Neil Armstrong." Her best friend, Franklin, who happens to be a large green dragon, also loves to read. The two of them have read about all kinds of fantastical creatures, and now they want to explore all the places they've read about. They'll start by searching for Franklin's family; he's 605 and has never met any of them. They don't know where to look, so they go just about everywhere, meeting nymphs and pixies and vampires and scores of other creatures. Then Luna spots something interesting far away in the sky. She tickles Franklin's nose and he sneezes a blue flame, sending them impossibly high in the air. Suddenly Franklin remembers this place; he's from the moon. They land, and dozens of silver dragons come out to greet them. They all sing songs and share stories until it's time for Luna and Franklin to go back home. Campbell endearingly captures the excitement of reading, but her text unfolds in a stutter-step rhyme scheme that may pose a challenge to those reading aloud. Hartnett's dreamy illustrations are full of soft shapes and warm colors, depicting Luna as white with a diverse background cast.Vibrant and sweet. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
