FICTION

East Dragon, West Dragon

illus. by Scott Campbell. unpaged. S & S/Atheneum. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-689-85828-4; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8704-8. LC 2010039609.
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Gr 1–2—East meets West in a tale of two dragons who "kept a world between them, just in case." Living on opposite sides of the globe also makes it easy to build a defensive wall of beliefs about one another. The nine dragons of the East and one from the West live a peaceful, noncombative life amid people of their nations: "nothing made a cave smell nastier than roast knight." When West Dragon entices his troublesome, pesky knights and king to chase toward the east with a treasure map, misunderstandings, subsequent imprisonment, and a heroic rescue create an opportunity for both sides to meet and correct their self-made impressions about the other. Watercolor visions of both dragon realms combine traditional folk art and contemporary originality with cross-sectioned full-page images. Far-eastern architecture contrasts with European medieval castles, while modern technology, toys, and conveniences add a twist of the unexpected. Readers can search the pages for humorous scenes of modern comforts—a celebration with rock bands, karaoke, soccer for "tin" men and pizza for all. With an underlying message of the ills of prejudgment, this title should find a place in all libraries.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX
Two dragons, each of whom fears that the other is mightier, finally meet when one, rescuing a king, is felled by a pirate's arrow and needs help. It's a satisfying if sometimes silly story about finding friendship where you least expect it; too bad it plays out a bit circuitously. Campbell's chunky watercolors do right by the Eastern and Western motifs.

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