PPBF: How to Light Your Dragon

Author: Didier Lévy
Illustrator: Fred Benaglia
Publisher: Thames & Hudson, 2019; orig. 2016
Age: 3-7
Themes: dragons, health, human-animal relationships

Opening: Can’t breathe fire? not even the tiniest flicker of flame? Has your pet dragon’s fire gone out? Don’t worry. There must be a way to relight him!

Summary: (from my library’s catalog) Has your dragon forgotten how to breathe fire? Have no fear. This imaginative story follows the exploits of one frustrated dragon owner as she tries increasingly hilarious tricks to rekindle her dragon’s flame. Covering everything from the simplest tactics (tickling the dragon), to the sneakiest ones (surprising it with unlit birthday candles), this book is perfect for children who love to guess what’s going to happen next. Readers will learn that in the end, the most important thing is loving the dragon unconditionally. If a person can do that, and if they mean it from the bottom of their heart, then they might discover a truly magical result.

I picked this book because: it’s so sweet AND funny! The writing as well as the illustrations done in a bright but limited palette. I love the voice of the dragon’s human and their heart!

Resources/activities: can you think of other ways to help a friend get their spark back – after giving them the time and space to just be with their predicament, of course! A nice companion book could be The Rabbit Listened, written and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld. Great launch for a discussion about respecting space and knowing when to give a friend some help.

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.

PPBF: Pierre and Paul: Dragon!

Needed to show off all the pollen on my porch!

Author: Caroline Adderson
Illustrator: Alice Carter
Publisher: Owl Kids, 2021
Age: 4-8
Themes: imagination, bilingual stories, dragons
Opening: see opening page below image of title page.

Summary: (from my library catalog) Pierre speaks French and Paul speaks English, but that doesn’t stop them from being friends and exploring together. Today is garbage day, so the duo sets out to find hidden treasures in the trash. Treasure map in hand, they encounter poisonous swamps, dark forests, a dragon, and even a tsunami! (Or maybe it’s a garbage truck driving through a puddle). When the tsunami sweeps away their treasure map, they think all is lost–until they finally find a treasure lying in plain sight. Told half in French and half in English, this uses simple phrases and clues in the illustrations to make the story accessible to readers in both languages. Full of imagination this is a story of friendship.

I read this book because: my friend Julie Abery recommended it on IG, and I was immediately intrigued by a book that seemed so good on so many levels: imagination, friendship, language, and the sense of adventure! And it delivers on all fronts! in our family’s bookshelf my dad kept what looked like a French comic book and I poured over it hoping my efforts would magically teach me French! Well, it achieved something better, the desire to learn other languages and the sound of words! That and my second grade teacher, Mrs. Beck who taught us a bit of Spanish! This was a fun way to test what I have retained form HS French! And I bet my dad would enjoy it too!

Resources/activities: go to your library’s foreign language sections – hopefully they have one with kids books – and take home a pile to try out your pronunciation skills and detective skills! Watch a kids show

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog  HERE. 

PPBF: Raising Dragons

Author: Jerdine Nolen
Illustrator: Elise Primavera
Publisher: Harcourt, 1998
Age: 4-8
Themes: dragons, farm life, friendship
Opening: Pa didn’t know a thing about raising dragons. He raised corn and peas and barley and whet. He raised sheep and cows and pigs and chickens. He raised just about everything we needed for life on our farm, but he didn’t know a thing about raising dragons.

Summary: (from my library catalog) A farmer’s young daughter shares numerous adventures with the dragon that she raises from infancy.

I like this book because: of the way Nolen tells a story. She has the reader believing everything without an ounce of doubt, and identifying with the main character and her firm confidence in her own abilities. Pure magic and an absolute joy to read aloud! Once upon a time I was a parent of young children, and I was reluctant to read long stories to my kids at the end of the day. I realize now I cheated myself from discovering some of the best writing. Don’t miss out. Don’t be a Lazy Julie!

Resources/activities: research all the creatures that are oviparous; compare the shape, color and sizes of eggs; talk about what to do if you should find one in the wild; read more books by Jerdine Nolen!

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog  HERE. 

PPBF: The Paper Bag Princess

Author: Robert Munsch
Illustrator: Michael Martchenko
Publisher: Annick Press, 1980 (75th printing in 2014!)
Ages: 4-7yrs
Themes: princesses, princes, dragons
Opening: Elizabeth was a beautiful princess. She lived in a castle and had expensive princess clothes. She was going to marry a prince named Ronald.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Princess Elizabeth outwits a dragon to save her prince, but her prince does not appreciate what she has done for him.

I like this book because: I like stories with strong female characters, that use their wits and in the end come full circle in respecting themselves! And a sassy dragon to boot. This book was recommended to me by a friend former teacher as one she loved to read to her classes year after year. Now I see why!

Resources/activities: make a paper-mache statue, in the likeness of the one below in a public library in Canada; would make a great Halloween costume too – if you don’t live too far north!; click on the photo for more class activities at Elementary AMC.

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks, go to Susanna Hill’s Blog – HERE

PPBF: The Worst Princess and 3 WINNERS

Author: Anna Kemp
Illustrator: Sara Ogilvie
Publisher: Random House, 2012
Ages: 3-7yrs
Themes: princesses, dragons, stories in rhyme
Opening: Once upon a time, in a tower near you, lived a lonely princess – the Princess Sue.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Lonely Princess Sue longs to leave her castle tower, but when her prince finally rescues her, she realizes she is destined for a less traditional partner.

I like this book because: first of all, I love how the opening line tells us we’re in for some great humor! The rhyme frolics sprightly without hurrying – and gosh, who can resist a princess in chucks intent on adventure? And for those who know me, the ART!

Resources/activities: check this Pinterest board for fun dragon activities; make an egg box dragon like THIS one; check out A Might Girl’s list of books featuring independent princesses HERE

And now for the WINNERS, 100% teen-disregard guaranteed, of a copy of BAD APPLE”S PERFECT DAY by Edward Hemingway – read the GIVEAWAY post HERE

Wendy Wahman

Edna Hokunaauao Cabcabin Moran

Kirsten Williams Larson

For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE