FICTION

A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

by Joanne Ryder
YEP, Laurence & . illus. by Mary GrandPré. 160p. Crown. Mar. 2015. lib. ed. $18.99. ISBN 9780385392297; Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780385392280; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780385392303. LC 2014017803.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4–7—When a dragon loses her longtime "pet" human, she is surprised to find herself now paired with the woman's great-niece, Winnie, a curious and capable 10-year-old. Though Miss Drake is a curmudgeonly dragon, she gradually warms to her new companion and introduces her to the magical creatures that live secretly in their city of San Francisco. Miss Drake narrates the tale with an engaging, whimsical tone. She is proud, snobbish, and modern; her human disguises reflect the latest fashions, and she keeps in touch with magical friends via cell phone. Her impatience with Winnie develops into respect and affection as she observes the girl in action, and their relationship is convincing and enjoyable. Introductions to the characters and the hidden magical world proceed rather slowly, and repeated hints at dangers to come are too obvious to generate much drama. Action finally begins when Winnie's sketches of magical creatures come to life and the two companions try to recapture them all. This task takes on a surprising twist when the identity of the final creature is revealed. Though even the climactic battle scenes are not terrifically suspenseful, the resolution is convincing and satisfying. With a black-and-white spot illustration opening most chapters, an engaging narrator, and a consistently fluid writing style, this title makes a fine dragon choice for readers not yet ready for more weighty fantasy novels.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR
Dragon Miss Drake's pet Fluffy dies, then Winnie shows up. Winnie, a human, seems to have the notion that she is the owner and Miss Drake is the pet. An enchanted sketchbook leads to adventure when the magical creatures Winnie draws come to life. Miss Drake's refinement and Winnie's hardscrabble make-do set each other off with a vinegar-and-sweet piquancy shared by GrandPré's whimsical spot art.
When Miss Drake's beloved pet Fluffy dies, she has no intention of taking on another, but then Winnie shows up at her door, scrawny, willful, and unimpressed, and Miss Drake finds herself starting training anew. Miss Drake, by the way, is a dragon; Winnie, a human, is the grandniece of Fluffy (a.k.a. Great-aunt Amelia), and Winnie seems to have the notion that she is the owner and Miss Drake, the pet. In chapters headed with advice reminiscent of dog-training manuals ("Train your pet how to behave when meeting strangers and their pets. No fighting, no biting, please!"), Winnie and Miss Drake begin the pas de deux of getting to know each other. A dragon-flight to San Francisco and an enchanted sketchbook lead to adventure when all the magical creatures Winnie draws come to life -- including a pemburu, a magic-eating lobster-like animal that could blow up San Francisco unless Winnie and Miss Drake recapture it. Miss Drake narrates in a tart, self-assured voice, relating events from her own point of view but with enough detail for readers to perceive the disjunction between what Miss Drake wants and what Winnie insists upon, a refreshing dual perspective. Miss Drake's old-money refinement and Winnie's hardscrabble make-do set each other off with a sort of vinegar-and-sweet piquancy shared by GrandPre's whimsical spot art. The promise of Winnie's enrollment in spell-casting Spriggs Academy hints at sequels to come. anita l. burkam
Reviewed by Steven Engelfried , Jan 01, 2015

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Into the Rapids
by Braden, Ann
BOOKS

Leonard Builds a Haunted House
by Ciccotello, Mike
BOOKS

The Right Call
by Greenwald, Tommy
BOOKS

My Dad Thinks He’s a Scream
by Germein, Katrina
BOOKS

Baby Cousin’s Big Day
by Kim, Aram
BOOKS

Pumpkin and Beetle: Two Vampire Cats
by Ho, Jannie
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?