Kirkus Review
A knight struggles with no dragon to slay.The title suggests something other than a knight tale, but his search for a suitable story in the absence of a dragon is a clever device. The fearless knight has set out to slay a terrible dragon, pink in this case, but the dragon has left a note saying he's gone on vacation, which leaves the knight without a story. So begins the search for a suitable tale of danger. A neighbor takes him to the titular shop, but the shopkeeper is all out of dragons and instead offers him a feisty ferret who becomes the foil for the mishaps across story genres: a space opera, a cowboy tale, a jungle-exploration adventure, and a journey to the bottom of the sea. Other characters join the hunt, particularly a space robot. In each case, the ferret saves the day. In the humorous illustrations, the knight's depiction echoes the style of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. The double-page spreads are filled with fun details such as the characters riding sea horses and wearing space suits. Key words are highlighted to build tension. The only human characters depicted are the knight, the neighbor, and the shopkeeper; all are white.It's hard not to like a story with a flustered knight, a ferret friend, a bounty of adventures, and a poop joke. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A fearless knight approaches a dragon's lair and calls out a challenge, but there's no response. The dragon is on vacation. At a nearby Story Shop, the knight demands a different dragon, the feistiest one you have. After the proprietor's initial offering (a feisty ferret) is rejected, he accompanies his customer (and the ferret) on a series of alternative exploits, battling foes in exotic destinations: a different planet, the Wild West, a jungle, and the ocean floor. After they return, the knight turns down a dragon's challenge and heads off into the sunset with Ferret, his trusty sidekick, in search of new adventures. The large pages give plenty of scope for the colorful, cartoonish digital artwork. In the illustrations, the knight and his ferret pick up a growing entourage of little followers during their travels: a robot, an armadillo, and a few scarlet birds, characters that kids will enjoy finding in one scene after another. Between the action-packed text and witty illustrations, this picture book delivers plenty of fun for young adventure fans.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2019 Booklist