Review: The Little Dragon

I still remember the sneak peek I managed to drag out of Roland Harvey when this book was in production (from memory, it's what ended up on the front cover) and I was so excited about seeing these fabulous illustrations do their picture book dance with Mem Fox's text.

It's only taken me a little over two years to finally lay eyes on this dance, but it was worth the wait.

So. Here he is! Our dragon. And here is his sister, brother, father and mother. Here's the church, too, and the steeple, and the market and the people, in all their Roland Harvey glory, scattered about the pages in that superlative way Roland does so well, forcing the eye to travel and explore and delight in the myriad happenings.

But wait - here is 'the mistake'! A wee dragon sneeze. A fiery dragon sneeze. A small sneeze that soon becomes a major disaster! Here are the flames rising higher and higher! I couldn't explain the ensuing chaos if I tried. But needless to say, it's fabulous fun.

Set to the rhythm of the classic childhood rhyme Here is the Church, Here is the Steeple, this funny, fiery romp will delight kidlets of all types, even those who aren't particularly dragon-obsessed (though what child isn't?).

Mem's clever text and Roland's luscious, busy-bee pictures really do make for a beautiful and engaging picture book, with a delightfully dynamic ending, that makes this--quite possibly--my favourite Mem book yet.

Achoo!

Title: The Little Dragon
Author: Mem Fox
Illustrator: Roland Harvey
Publisher: Viking, $24.95 RRP
Publication Date: March 2011
Format: Hard cover with dust jacket
ISBN: 9780670028740
For ages: 4 - 10
Type: Picture Book