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Summary
Summary
When a dragon hatches on her pa's farm, a young girl finds a best friend. At first Ma and Pa are wary of Hank, but it's not long before they see him as their daughter does--and welcome the baby dragon into their family. As it turns out, Hank is not cut out for farm life, but still, he warms the hearts of those around him and leaves a legacy that no one will ever forget.
Author Notes
JERDINE NOLEN is the author of the Bradford Street Buddies easy reader series and numerous picture books including Raising Dragons, Thunder Rose, Plantzilla, Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm , and the recently published Irene's Wish . She is a teacher and lives in Ellicott City, Maryland. ELISE PRIMAVERA has been writing and illustrating children's books for more than twenty-five years. She has received numerous awards for her work and in 2004 was asked to illustrate the Christmas Brochure for the White House. Her Christmas classic AUNTIE CLAUS earned two stared reviews and was a New York Times Bestseller.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3A pig-tailed, snub-nosed, African-American girl tells how an egg she finds on a "Sunday-before-supper walk" helps her discover her true callingraising dragons. Out of the egg comes a hatchling that she names Hank, and until crowds and undue attention force him to leave, he and the girl share everything from bedtime stories to nighttime flights under the stars. Although the narrator boohoos a heap when forced to say good-bye to Hank, she leaves him in his tropical homeland with the hope of seeing him againand with a wheelbarrow full of dragon eggs to care for. The warm, colloquial narrative has patterns and pacing reminiscent of the oral tradition. Clever supporting details are provided by the acrylic and pastel illustrations, beginning with the Old World-style map that depicts Dragon Island and Oceanus Dragonicus. The changing expressions on the creature's face, the dragon-shaped cloud after Hank has left, and the airline serving Dragon Island (Air Dragon, of course) are all illustrative details that enrich the text. That the girl brings new dragon eggs home to the exact location Hank was forced to vacate because of attracting so many crowds may puzzle some very astute listeners, but most will be absorbed by a joyous tale of friendship and adventure.Faith Brautigan, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"In this enchanting blend of the real and unreal, a spunky girl welcomes a tiny dragon into her family's home," said PW in a starred review. Ages 6-9. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
A tiny dragon hatches from an egg found near the young heroine's family farm. Sensible Ma and Pa hold little truck with imaginary critters, but their good nature has spawned a daughter respectful of all living things. The same way Pa knew that farming was in his blood, I knew that raising dragons was in mine. Nolen's chimerical text meets its match in Primavera's imaginative and bold illustrations. From HORN BOOK Fall 1998, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Nolen (Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm, 1994) unearths some unique livestock in this tale of a farmer's daughter who braves her parents' skepticism to hatch and raise a flying, fire-breathing dragon. Initially no bigger than a sheep, Hank the dragon grows to the size of a barn; even though he is a sloppy eater, he proves handy around the farm, popping a whole field of corn all at once and raising tomatoes that a neighbor claims cured her gout. In Primavera's glowing acrylics, Hank looms like an iridescent Dinosaur Bob over his bright-eyed, pig-tailed companion, smiling with a puppy-like friendliness as he listens to a bedtime story or catches sight of a gigantic eel pot pie coming his way. Public attention eventually forces him to move to the volcanic island where the other dragons live, but he leaves behind a wheelbarrow full of glowing eggs as a parting present. A fresh and cheery tall tale, told in an appropriately matter-of-fact tone. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Ages 4-7. Fantasy and realism blend nicely in a warm-hearted picture book with a title that attracts attention and pictures that dazzle with vibrant colors. In a comfortable, conversational, matter-of-fact tone, a little African American child tells about the dragon, Hank, that she raises on her parents' farm and the helping hand that Hank lends to her family--cooling Ma's tomatoes by beating with his large wings, blowing his fiery breath to pop corn in the fields, and giving the child a ride in the sky. Wise beyond her years, the child knows Hank can't stay, so she takes him to a dragon-shaped island to be with others like himself. She doesn't return empty-handed, however; she comes back with a wheelbarrow full of dinosaur eggs. The magical beasts know their progeny is in good hands. Children may be reminded of Steven Kellogg's Mysterious Tadpole (1977), though the story and pictures in this book are tender rather than wildly funny like Kellogg's. And the focus here isn't on the beast and its antics; it's really on the strong, smart, devoted little girl, who is willing to work hard to give substance to what most people think is strictly make-believe. A book that pushes children to look beyond the obvious. (Reviewed April 1, 1998)0152012885Stephanie Zvirin