Synopsis
Amy Ehrlich spins a resonant tale of separation anxiety, pluck, and reassurance, aided by Will Hillenbrand's charming, lush illustrations.
Baby Dragon knows he must wait for his mother by the red fern. He knows she'll be back by morning. So he counts his claws, draws in the sand, takes a nap, and otherwise bides his time, never budging even when friends coax him to run off and play. But as night falls, Baby Dragon starts to worry. What if his mother doesn't come back? Should he climb on sly Crocodile's back and try to find her? Blending just the right amount of excitement and apprehension, this deeply satisfying story confronts a child's common fear, and offers the ultimate comfort.
Publishers Weekly
Hillenbrand's (Counting Crocodiles) expressive artwork shines in this well-structured story about a baby dragon that grows restless while waiting for his mother to return from an overnight trip. More puppy than dragon, more endearing than fearsome, Baby Dragon waits semipatiently for hours ("He drew a picture in the dirt. He counted his claws. He took a nap") but as day turns to night, he accepts a shifty-looking crocodile's offer to take him upriver to find her. Ehrlich's (When I Was Your Age) plot climax is free of fear: when Baby Dragon realizes he's in danger, he bravely jumps to a convenient floating log while the villain doesn't even notice. The author emphasizes instead her protagonist's pint-size determination: he puts "one foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other" until he returns to the meeting spot designated by his mother. Hillenbrand uses a variety of media, then tweaks it all digitally to achieve layered, batiklike effects-despite the dense patterning, his compositions are light and harmonious. Winning. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
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