Children's Book Review: Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

Title:  Kenny & the Dragon
Author:  Tony DiTerlizzi
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing
Genre: children's/MG
Hardcover: 160 pages

ISBN: 1416939776   

Summary:

What do you do when your new best buddy has been designated a scourge by the community and marked for imminent extermination? Just ask Kenny Rabbit. When the simple folks in the sleepy little village of Roundbrook catch wind that there's a dragon running loose in the countryside, they get the wrong idea and the stage is set for a fight to the death. So it's up to Kenny to give his neighbors front-row seats to one of the best-known battles in history -- the legendary showdown between St. George and the dragon -- without losing a friend in the fray.

•                                                                     Overall rating: 10/10

To buy this book:  IndieBound | Powell's | The Book Depository | Amazon

Add this book to your:  Goodreads | Shelfari | LibraryThing | Visual Bookshelf

Kenny & the Dragon is such a fun book!  Our daughter loved this sweet story, which was strongly inspired by Kenneth Grahame's classic The Reluctant Dragon.  Unlike the human cast of that classic story, Kenny & the Dragon is brought to life by a wonderful cast of woodland animals, much like Kenneth Grahame's other well-known book The Wind in the Willows.  Tony DiTerlizzi's illustrations have long been favorites in our household, and Kenny & the Dragon features some of his most charming work. 

What I Liked: 

-      The illustrations in this book are filled with personality and atmosphere.  From Kenny's little floppy ears and crooked smiles to Grahame's warm grin, children and adults will find these illustrations memorable. 

-      This is a story about friendship and learning to set aside prejudices & look past appearances.  Kenny and Grahame form an unlikely friendship & Kenny must convince the rest of the town of Grahame's peaceful nature before the townsfolk gather together to rid the village of this 'dangerous' beast. 

-      Kenny is such a sweet character!  He is a book-loving rabbit who loves to read about science and fairy tales and believes in both equally. 

-      Kenny's parents, who are hard-working farm folk, don't share his bookish qualities, but they are very loving and supportive of his interests.  One of my favorite aspects of this story is that even when they can't fully relate to Kenny's interest in book-learning, his parents always listen to him.  They trust and respect him and are happy to hear his ideas.  By the end of the story, Kenny also sees the value in the type of wisdom and practical knowledge that his parents possess, and they work together to save his friend the dragon. 

-      Grahame is a peaceful and intelligent dragon who would rather spend his time reading or composing poetry than harassing the local townsfolk or putting anyone in harm's way. 

- The tone of this book is light and humorous.  So young readers won't be too frightened even as the tension builds once the king asks Sir George, Kenny's friend who is a retired knight turned bookshop owner, to slay the dragon. 

-      The main characters in this story make a conscious effort to listen to each other and to adjust their preconceived notions about one another.  Ultimately the conflict in this book is is resolved with cooperation and cleverness, and it is impossible not to like that. 

-      My six-year-old daughter and I read this book together, meaning that I read the odd-numbered chapters aloud & she read the even-numbered chapters aloud.  Sometimes that can be a slow process if her interest in a book wanes halfway through one of her chapters, but this book not only captured her interest, it had her volunteering to read my chapters aloud too! What a fun, fast read! 

What I Wished:

-      I would love to see Tony DiTerlizzi versions of more classic folktales or fairy tales.  This book has become one of our daughter's new favorites! 

If you and your children enjoy stories about dragons, friendship, or smart little rabbits, this book is for you.  Fans of The Reluctant Dragon will like this book, and fans of Tony DiTerlizzi's illustrations in The Spiderwick Chronicles or E.H. Shepard's illustrations in The Wind in the Willows will definitely enjoy the illustrations in Kenny & the Dragon.  If you would like to learn more about this book or author Tony DiTerlizzi, please visit his website and blog.  We are excited to check out his upcoming book The Search for WondLa which is set for release on September 21, 2010.

One additional note about Kenny & the Dragon: 

Some people who loved the original classic that this book is based upon may be thinking, "Why retell a story that was already great?"  To address that point, I'd like to mention that my daughter and I have also read Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon together, but while Kenny & the Dragon had my daughter volunteering to read my chapters as well as her own, she was not at all interested in reading any part of The Reluctant Dragon aloud to me.  She loved listening to The Reluctant Dragon as a bedtime book, but the format and illustrations of the edition we read (which was illustrated by Michael Hague) are much less young-reader-friendly.  That version of The Reluctant Dragon is not separated into chapters and is 42 pages long with illustrations every two to five pages.  Kenny & the Dragon is split into fourteen chapters and spread over 151 pages with illustrations every two to five pages.  Both books have their merits, but I think that the chapter divisions, the woodland animal characters, and the additional illustrations will help Kenny & the Dragon appeal to younger (or more reluctant) readers who might find The Reluctant Dragon intimidating.  We really enjoyed both versions of this fun story.

Sample pages of Kenny & the Dragon vs. The Reluctant Dragon:

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Finished Reading:

Frostbite & Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Brief thoughts: Could this series be more addictive? I don't know how it took me ages to stumble across the Vampire Academy series, but I was completely hooked by the middle of the first book. I stayed up late reading Frostbite one night last week, then promptly rushed out to buy Shadow Kiss the next day (immediately putting the rest of my reading on hold). One sleep-deprived night later, and I hurried back to the bookstore to pick up Blood Promise. Eeek! I had grand plans for catching up on a few book reviews over the weekend, but somehow every spare minute was stolen away by Rose & Dimitri.

Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

Brief thoughts:  Such a cute book!  My daughters loved this sweet story, which is strongly inspired by Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon.  Unlike the human cast of the original story, Kenny & the Dragon is brought to life by a wonderful cast of woodland animals, much like Kenneth Grahame's other classic The Wind in the Willows.  Tony DiTerlizzi's illustrations have long been favorites in our household, and Kenny & the Dragon features some of his most charming work.  We read this book together (meaning that I read the odd-numbered chapters aloud & our six year old read the even-numbered chapters aloud).  Occasionally, that can be a slow process if her interest in a book wanes halfway through one of her chapters.  But this book not only captured her interest, it had her volunteering to read my chapters aloud too!  Fun!  Definitely a 10/10 flower review from Primrose.  :-)

Currently Reading:

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Brief thoughts:  Reading this series one book right after the other has been really fun, and I am already beginning to dread the seven month wait that is approaching once I finish Spirit Bound and have to wait until December to read The Last Sacrifice.

 

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris  Brief thoughts:  I am halfway through Once Upon a Marigold, and so far it is a very heart-warming, innocent love story.  This was shelved in the YA section at our local library, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to middle-grade readers. 

The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge

Brief thoughts: The Lost Conspiracy is such a richly-woven and original story. I love Frances Hardinge's beautiful imagery & clever characterizations. I started reading this book aloud to the whole family last week, and we are still thoroughly enjoying reading it this week.  It is definitely the kind of book you want to take your time with and savor.  Three sample quotes:

"For a moment Skein wished that he did not know that every town was really a thriving hive of bitter, biting two-legged animals, full of schemes and resentment and hidden treachery." (page 3 of Frances Hardinge's The Lost Conspiracy)

"As it happened, the girl supporting Arilou had a name too. It was designed to sound like the settling of dust, a name that was meant to go unnoticed. She was as anonymous as dust, and Skein gave her not the slightest thought.

Neither would you. In fact, you have already met her, or somebody very like her, and you cannot remember her at all."  (page 5 of Frances Hardinge's The Lost Conspiracy)

"Both thought that they could use words to make people do what they wanted, and one of them was right. The younger man with the scarred face tried to gust people along with a fussy logic, pelting them with reasons like fistfuls of feathers. The lean older man with the plausible smile used words to gloss and slope the ground so that people slithered quite naturally in the direction he wished, not even knowing why." (page 217 of Frances Hardinge's The Lost Conspiracy)

A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

Brief thoughts:  My husband and I love this series and were pleased that Primrose chose this as our next 'read together' chapter book after finishing Kenny & the Dragon.  It has been many years since we first read this book, and so far I am enjoying the reread as much as Primrose is enjoying discovering the story for the first time.

Up Next in my TBR (to-be-read) pile:  

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Brief thoughts:  I cannot wait to pick up a copy of Perchance to Dream when it is released tomorrow!  In fact, I may be stalking the bookstore shelves this afternoon just in case they happen to put out their new releases a little early.  ;-)

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

Brief thoughts:  My pre-ordered copy of  The Demon's Covenant still has not arrived.  *pout*  I am trying to be patient but can't help watching our mailbox with eager eyes.  

                                       

What are you reading today?  What's up next in your TBR pile?

This fun meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? + Reading Habits meme + Jackson Pearce's "Writers' Blok"

Currently Reading:

         Frostbite by Richelle Mead,  The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge,  and Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

 Up Next in my TBR (to-be-read) pile:

                                          

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris & The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan

What are you reading today?  What's up next in your TBR pile?

This fun meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

I've seen this Reading Habits meme on several blogs lately, including Candace's Book Blog, Pure Imagination, and Chachic's Book Nook, and I have really enjoyed reading everyone's responses so I've decided to participate too.  If you have participated in this meme, I would love to stop by and read your answers if you leave a link in the comments.  :-)

1. Do you snack while you read?  If so, favorite reading snacks:
Prior to having kids, my reading time was devoted exclusively to reading, so snacking while reading was fairly uncommon.  But these days, my reading time is anywhere and anytime that I can squeeze a book into my day, so sometimes there are definitely snacks involved.  For example, last night I snacked on sliced cucumbers in between chapters as I read Frances Hardinge's The Lost Conspiracy aloud to my family.  Other favorite reading snacks include celery sticks, pretzels, and rolled up slices of Tofurky.

2. What is your favorite drink while reading?

Water or tea (peppermint, lemon, or English breakfast)

3. Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
Ack!  The idea of writing in books completely horrifies me!

4. How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
I have never dog-eared a book.  I have a lot of bookmarks, but I hardly ever use them.  More often than not I stop reading at a chapter break and just remember the chapter number (and/or title).  When I do have to stop reading mid-chapter, I will often use a receipt or scrap of paper to hold my place.

5. Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
97% fiction.  3% non-fiction.

6. Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
I do prefer to stop at chapter breaks, but if life gets in the way I don't feel too panicked about setting a book down mid-chapter.

7. Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
Slamming a book closed is probably the closest I've ever gotten to throwing a book across a room in anger.  I generally express my book frustrations in the form exasperated griping and venting sessions.  On a few occasions, I have been known to complain about a book for more hours than it took me to read the book in the first place.  Silly?  Maybe.  More satisfying than throwing a book across the room?  I think so.

8. If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
If I happen to be sitting near my laptop where the dictionary is just a click away, then yes.  If I am reading on my own away from the computer, then probably not.  If I am reading aloud & want to be able to give a precise meaning of an unfamiliar word to my daughters, we will sometimes set the book aside to look up a word's definition together.

9. What are you currently reading?
To myself:  Frostbite by Richelle Mead.  To my family:  The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge.  With Primrose:  Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi.

10. What is the last book you bought?
The Rise of Renegade X  by Chelsea M. Campbell.

11. Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I generally read a few books at once.

12. Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
My best uninterrupted reading time tends to be very late at night or very early in the morning.  I will read anywhere, but my favorite spot is on the couch with a blanket and a couple pillows.

13. Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
Series books.  When I fall in love with fantastic characters and an awesome world, I want to dive into the story for as long as possible.

14. Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
Hmm... I recommend Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series, and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice a lot.

15. How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.)
I can't say that I am always successful, but I try to keep them organized by author & series.  Of course, that never lasts long on our overflowing picture book shelves.  Our two bookcases of children's non-fiction are loosely organized by subject.  One half-sized bookcase is devoted to board books & picture books of unusual sizes and shapes.  We have a couple shelves of waiting-to-be-read books that are not organized at all, a few stacks of recently purchased books on top of our piano, a shelf of library books in our living room, several shelves of double-parked paperbacks in our bedroom, and small piles of books we are currently reading on our endtables, nightstands, & desk.

And finally, on a totally unrelated note, Jackson Pearce shared this hilarious "Writers' Blok" video yesterday and its awesomeness demands to be passed along: