Total Pageviews

Friday, November 22, 2024

The Dragon Slayer, written and illustrated by Tatyana Feeney. Kids Can Press, 2024. $21.99 ages 4 and up

 


"Not far away, there happened to be a 
fierce dragon who was dreaming of a 
girl ... 

TO EAT!"

Freya is a very lucky girl. She has great parents, many books and marshmallows. She even has a crown to wear; it's just not enough. What Freya wants most in the world is a dragon. She means to slay it. All her fairy tales talk about knights and dragons. Unfortunately, the princesses must remain at home. Freya plans on changing that circumstance. 

She longs for adventure, and is sure that meeting a dragon will be all it takes to make her most fervent wish come true. Lucky for the little princess, a dragon lives not far away. That dragon is also on the lookout. He wants to find a girl to eat. Having eaten a lot of knights, the dragon is looking for a meal less tough. He's quite sure a girl will be more tender to the taste. 

Simultaneously, the two set out to make their wishes come true. They know nothing of the other's plan. It seems their searches will come to naught. Both can see knights everywhere they look; neither can see what the other is seeking. Until, by chance, they both end up at the top of the same hill. The dragon is  unimpressed at seeing another knight ... until he ultimately discovers that beneath the knight's helmet stands a girl! 

Preparing to make a meal of her, the dragon quickly realizes the girl is not only courageous, she is also incredibly clever, for her weapon is a skewer displaying a full array of marshmallows. The dragon provides the fire for roasting. Much tastier than a knight! Freya suggests that the next time they might make s'mores together. Wouldn't friendship be a better solution?

No comments:

Post a Comment