EVERYONE LOVES TACOS

It’s a crisis! A catastrophe! A calamity of epic proportions! Quick, do something RIGHT NOW, because tacos have just gone completely extinct!

And, as you may recall from author-illustrator duo Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri’s first book: Dragons Love Tacos. (If you haven’t read the original book, you might also glean this tidbit from the informative titles of both books. You should really read the original, though, because a little more context could certainly help. Plus, it’s hilarious.) Dragons love all kinds of tacos: big tacos, little tacos, beef tacos, chicken tacos-- just not the spicy tacos (that’s kind of an important detail). Yes, the dragons are deeply enamored with tacos, and the current state of emergency has rendered them completely hysterical; they’re sobbing, pacing, rolling on the ground in fits.

There’s only one solution to this problem, and I’m sure you already know what it is.

Yes, you guessed it: fire up the ol’ time machine in the garage, return to a period in which tacos were plentiful, avoid spicy salsa, quickly rescue a few dozen specimen before the dragons gobble them all up, and bring them back to the present to replenish the taco reserve. Easy peasy, right? I mean, it will be once you’ve figured out how to operate the time machine.

Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel is an enjoyable and wacky picture book ready to be shared aloud with kids in kindergarten through third grade. Just make sure you read the original too!

RE: THE DRAGON

Petsitting a temperamental creature is no easy task―especially when that pet happens to be a full grown, fire breathing dragon. When Eddie’s family agrees to care for his Uncle Morton’s unusual pet, they have no idea what to expect. They certainly aren’t prepared for burnt curtains, noxious poop, ravaged refrigerators, crisped petunias, and singed mailmen.
Eddie narrates the dragon’s escapades through, largely unanswered, emails to his Uncle Morton. The dragon’s bad behavior continues to escalate with each frantic message, and if you think dog poop on your bedroom carpet is bad, just imagine cleaning up after a vindictive dragon! Soon Eddie’s irate mother is appealing to local zoos, animal shelters, and even the fire department for help. Problematically, when you’re dealing with mythical creatures people tend not to believe you... or they think you’re crazy.
Josh Lacey’s The Dragonsitter is a humorous epistolary chapter book, told through fraught email exchanges and picture attachments.
The first in series for grades 2-4.

SPARKS FLY WITH THIS EARLY READER!

On one fine day, a very small dragon was born.  His parents look him over and are proud of his unique features- a pointy tail and incredible sparks coming out of his big snout! Spark, as he's called by his parents, has a difficult time controlling his fiery breath so they refer to a book that could help solve the problem.  After being taught three lessons, the only thing that Spark really needed was time to develop his own skills.  

A gentle and wonderful tale by Kallie George for beginning readers. 

MAGICIANS AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

Jennifer Strange - eh, what's in a name - is responsible for finding jobs for all the magicians and wizards of the world. Oh, and she's also the last dragonslayer in the history of the world. Also, there is only one more dragon and he's going to die. Rumor has it that once this dragon dies, "BIG MAGIC" will return. Because magic lately has been pretty hard to come by. So it is up to Jennifer to determine the fate of magic whether she wants to or not. Luckily, this story is very funny because if it wasn't it would be very sad. But you will laugh a lot. Especially if you liked Adam Rex's True Meaning of Smek Day or anything in Brian Sanderson's Alcatraz series. 

THE LAST DRAGONSLAYER by Jasper Fforde is sure to delight the fantasy/science fiction fan who like a little comedy here and there to lighten things up. For grades 5 and up.

AUGUST 2013

WHAT'S A DRAGONSLAYER?

Exactly!  A dragonslayer has not been seen for many years.  Now, the last dragon in the Ununited Kingdom is dying.  Mayhaps all magic along with it.  Orphan, Jennifer Strange, manager of wizards and all things magical at the Kazam Mystical Arts Management is treading water and keeping things together, barely, while her boss is "away".  Come to find out, she is the last dragonslayer and the previous dragonslayer has been waiting for her for a long, long time.  With no time spare, she gets a crash course as an apprentice in the history of dragons and people, and dragonslayers and of course the dragonstation.  She's had the quickest apprenticeship ever.

But now with the imminent death of the dragon, everyone, from kings to land developers, are vying for the last of the open space of Dragonland.  Jasper Fforde's first book for children, The Last Dragonslayer, is a great fantasy that takes a while to set up but ends in a fantastically unexpected way. 

For readers in 6th-8th.  

WILD ISLAND ADVENTURE

A review by Mr. B. of  the Grandview Library Branch: 

Setting dragons free is dangerous work, but in Ruth Stiles Gannett’s My Father’s Dragon, somebody’s gotta do it. That somebody is a little boy named Elmer Elevator; and his story is told in the voice of his very proud son, also a little boy. It all begins when Elmer brings home a stray cat. The cat tells Elmer about a young dragon being held captive and in servitude as the new rapid transit vehicle between the islands of Tangerina and Wild Island. Elmer quickly packs a bag with seemingly random items, and he and the cat are off on an adventure. 

There are many hazards on the road to rescue, but in true folklore tradition, each of the packed items gets the travelers out of trouble just as disaster is about to strike, until the dragon is rescued. This gentle, imaginative, witty Newbery Honor (1949) adventure is suitable for episodic read-aloud times, at home or in the classroom.

For readers ages 5-10.  

DRAGON SPEAR

After a battle between good and evil, a vast number of dragons find a new and peaceful life in an area far from Feravel.  When Creel, Heroine of the Dragon Wars and her beloved Luca visits her dragon family, they are overwhelmed with joy; the dragons are content and the queen dragon is due to have her own baby dragons!  Unfortunately, a misguided dragon kidnaps the queen with the hope that there will be a new leader.  Will Creel find her in time?  An exciting battle ensues.  This is an exciting end to Jessica Day George's beloved dragon trilogy.  

For 4th grade and up.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES IN... DRAGON FLIGHT

All is calm in Feravel until a scorned brother devises a plan to become the King of the Dragons.  When his plan is unveiled, the Heroine of the Dragon Wars makes a desperate plea to friends and strangers to help her in the fight.  Will she have to fight alone against evil?  Another fantasy adventure by Jessica Day George.  

For 4th grade and up.

DRAGON SLIPPERS

What would you do if you were asked to leave the comforts of home?  Would you  refuse?  A young, gifted seamstress accepts such an offer with the hope to find work in the city.  During her travels, she is captured by dragons and her life changes from a simple country girl to the Heroine of Feravel.  Jessica Day George weaves a humourous and dramatic tale of princes, dragons, and an unforgettable heroine in Dragon Slippers.  A must read! 

For 4th grade and up.

CAN A DRAGON BE A GOOD FRIEND?

From Vivian, Children's Librarian at the Casa Verdugo Branch Library:

How To Be Friends with a Dragon by Valeri Gorbachev

A fun story about the many rules to follow when around a dragon.  Valeri Gorbachev’s illustrations are whimsical and the story is an absolute delight to share with young dragon fans with bright imaginations.  For ages 4 - 7.  

FOR YOUNG DRAGON LOVERS

Kenny has found a friend, a dragon friend. Everyone knows that dragons are ferocious fire breathing monsters who must be slayed knights of the kingdom. And wouldn't you know it, Kenny's other good friend turns out to be the knight chosen to kill his new friend.

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DeTerlizzi is a revised, modern version of the classic tale The Reluctant Dragon with lovely new black and white illustrations. Perfect for bedtime read-a-loud or for independent readers in 4th - 6th grade.

Read the classic tale also and compare the two.