Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After a day of bickering, a dragon-led dream-time outing offers nighttime tranquility to two human siblings and others. In extended second-person passages, Schotter describes "a rustle and a whirrrrr. Wings at your window? Your own special dragon could be calling." A ghostly-blue beast named Nuri whisks the pale-skinned protagonist aloft to a "Secret Gathering." En route, comets pen messages and stars are roasted like marshmallows in dragons' fiery breath. The meetup initially proves quarrelsome, but when a dragon proclaims "PEACE NOW," it inspires the participants, portrayed with various skin tones, to unfurl their own benevolent messages ("No more shoving/ Just loving") and to send "kindness to the earth and sky." Scattered with multicolored stars, Le's inky, unlined renderings seem to twinkle, and the dancing beasts' tails become luminous northern lights. An invitation ("Imagine...") closes out the earnest expedition after the child tells family about the group's harmonious vision. An author's note includes further info about dragon lore. Ages 4--8. (Jan.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A child learns a lesson on a celestial adventure. After a day of squabbling with a brown-skinned sibling, a lighter-skinned youngster--referred to as "you" in the text, narrated in second person--lies awake in bed until a luminous dragon named Nuri beckons. Soon the protagonist is flying through the nighttime sky on Nuri's back, zooming toward a gathering of diverse children riding dragons of their own. Like the siblings, the winged creatures fight until a wise Sky Dragon calls out, "PEACE NOW!" The dragons settle, helping the children write messages of tranquility on banners. Nearby, the protagonist's little sister is writing her own message: "No pinching / no poking." At the end of the night, Nuri takes the child home, where the two siblings make amends and fall into sweet dreams. The starry, jewel-toned illustrations sparkle, creating a dreamy nighttime environment filled with fantastical dragons. Strong shapes and lines combine with the thoughtful use of negative space. Repetition of the wordimagine punctuates the narrative, clearly written to emphasize the importance of harmony. Whimsical touches--message-bearing comets, stars that taste like marshmallows--add a dash of fun to an otherwise didactic bedtime story. While the goal of eliminating sibling conflict is a noble one, fights are inevitable, and a discussion of how to resolve them might have been more helpful for caregivers and their little ones. Backmatter includes tidbits about dragon lore from around the world. Somewhat preachy but enlivened by vibrant illustrations--and plenty of dragons.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
