Review: Happy Appreciate a Dragon Day!

​Did you forget? Then I’m glad I could remind you. To commemorate this very important day of the year, I am going to give a shout out to one of my favorite dragons You can meet him in Josh Funk’s book: 

​TITLE: DEAR DRAGON
AUTHOR: Josh Funk
ILLUSTRATOR: Rodolfo Montalvo
PUBLISHER: Viking/2016
OPENING LINES: Hello, students!
                            Our poetry and pen pal projects
                            this year are combined.
                            Upon your desks you’ll see the pen pals
                            That you’ve been assigned.

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Follow author Josh Funk’s rollicking rhyme in the form of letters between George Slair and Blaise Dragomir. They tell each other about their favorite sports and hobbies, pets and family, and ups and downs.  Over the course of the school year, the two become friends. Thanks to illustrator Rodolfo Montalvo, the reader can see what George and Blaise can’t – George is a human and Blaise is a dragon! The pen pals have the opportunity to meet at the school picnic, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens when they discover their true identities. I love that this is told in epistolary form. I had a pen pal growing up and I remember the anticipation of waiting for a letter to arrive in the mail. As much as I love the convenience and speed of email and texts, there is something endearing and exciting about having to wait to hear back from a far-away friend. Josh’s rhyme make this a fun read-aloud and Rodolfo’s bright, colorful art work illustrate the two characters’ reality as well as what each character imagines the other character means in their letters. Clever idea, cleverly executed. I highly recommend this book!

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