The Library Dragon

I love "The Library Dragon"!! Why? It is so clever in illustrations but more so in word play. There is a flip doll The Library Dragon Flip Doll that goes with this book to show the dual nature of both the dragon and the librarian. I am burning to explain! A dragon is hired by the principal to protect the library books. In order to do that, she gets rid of all the old books and replaces them with nice, new, clean books. Everyone knows the ONLY way to keep them that way is to keep them on the shelves. So Library Dragon institutes new policies: no books out, no children in. After weeks of no story time in the library, the children begin to suffer from withdrawal. As often happens in fairy tales anything can happen and does. Molly Brickmeyer has lost her glasses and cannot see beyond her hand. She wanders into the library, a book drops into her hand--Library Dragon is fast asleep-- and she starts reading aloud. Little children hear her and wander into the library to listen. Then Library Dragon awakes and an ancient memory crowds her brain. She takes the book and begins reading. What happens afterward is the stuff of happy endings. Suffice it to say that scales are involved and a tail and one lap. Other related books to look at are: The Shelf Elf Mr. Wiggle's Library Library Lion Tomas and the Library Lady (Dragonfly Books) Wild About Books (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards))

For the first time, my 4-year-old nephew sat enthralled and enchanted by a book that was not about construction or train equipment. He talks about the Library Dragon and wants to read it every day. The illustrations are beautiful, and the prose is right on target for children just beginning to understand the library and its vital function in communities. Perhaps the best message of the book is the emphasis on taking care of books for others to enjoy.

My preschooler and first grader love this book, but best of all, so do I! It's one of those books that is entertaining to readers of all ages. You really just have to read it to understand how fun it is.

"The Library Dragon" is one of a handful of titles that I read EVERY YEAR in our elementary school library. It is read at the beginning of each school year to first, second and third graders (and they never get tired of it). While it is delightful, spellbinding story, my motives go beyond entertaining the kids. This hilarious tale is an excellent way to discuss proper care of library books. After all, my students don't want to see me, their librarian, turn into a fire-breathing DRAGON!By the time the students reach third grade, I have them begin to look for the puns and plays on words pertaining to fire, heat and smoke. Author/illustrator Carmen Agra Deedy got all "fired up" with her "burning" sense of humor. To introduce the concept of puns, we make comparisons to the Amelia Bedelia books, that they already know and love so well.

As a corporate librarian by trade and a public library volunteer, I had to buy this book for myself. However, as much as I (an adult) got tremendous pleasure from the book, it was even more enjoyable to see the rapt faces of the children to whom I read it at the local library. They loved the story, and were impressed with the bravery of Molly Brickman as she educated the Library Dragon on how children can responsibly enjoy the library. In my copy of the book, the dragon actually felt scaly, though I am not sure if it was deliberate on the part of the publisher. Great book, I highly recommend it!