Look Out, It's a Dragon!

We all know that Dragons are big 'lumbering beasts', scorching everything in sight with their 'fiery flames', don't we?! Or at least we think we do. This is a warm tale of one such dragon who is not at all like the others we see. Saffi was miserable, sitting on cold, rocky, mountains. She didn't want to 'crush castles and capture princesses' like the other dragons do, no, all she wanted was a sunny woodland home that she could snuggle down in quietly. After searching far and wide, that's exactly what she found! Saffi is happy until some of the small woodland creatures came along. They were frightened of this beastly intruder and wanted her gone! Poor Saffi makes some humorous accidental blunders that mean she is booted out of the lovely forest home, feeling very unwanted. It is not until some nastier dragons arrive and begin terrorising the forest animals that Saffi gets the chance to prove she is not like the others and manages to make some treasured friends. This is an enjoyably simple book, abundant with beautiful collage illustrations, depicted with printed patterns, placed against generous white space. I love the fantastic examples of onomatopoeia Johnny Lambert has used and would definitely show this as examples to children. This tender story reminds us of the age-old message to 'never judge a book by its cover' - as our beast turned out to be an unlikely hero - and that our friends might come in all shapes and sizes, but nevertheless friendship has no prejudice. Picture book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Nikki Stiles, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 5+