Review by Kirkus Book Review
Rory isn't like other dragons, but she still finds a place among her peers at the Dragon Academy. From the moment she hatches, it's apparent that Rory is different. (Readers will love being in on the joke: Rory is no dragon at all; she's a chicken!) At school, the principal notices that there's something off as Rory struggles with flying lessons ("She flies so fast, we can't even see her!" concludes her teacher), has trouble breathing fire (her teacher lauds her for her self-control), and loses her appetite at lunch when her classmates sit down to a meal of roast chicken. Finally, the principal realizes why Rory stands out: She's a vegetarian dragon! Despite all her differences, Rory's discipline earns her a place as the youngest treasure guard in dragon history. This story upends readers' expectations and celebrates Rory's very obvious differences. The skills that set her apart from her peers also make her uniquely talented. It's a humorous tale about standing out in a crowd that works on a surface level but also hits a little deeper. Rammell's illustrations are appealing and cartoonish; the principal is full of personality with oversize pink horn-rimmed glasses, a beaded necklace, and overdrawn lipsticked lips. Rory has wonky eyes and a fitting, perpetual look of confusion. The other dragons are cute and friendly, depicted with different colors and horns and teeth of various shapes and sizes. Sweet, silly, yet meaningful.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
