Advanced Literature for Children

Review of THE LIBRARY DRAGON:

Deedy, Carmen Agra. The Library Dragon. Michael P. White, illustrator. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 1994.

Even for a picture book “Library Dragon” is oversized. I would be hard pressed to find another picture book with superior illustrations. The new librarian in town is a horribly old fashioned librarian who is so set in her ways she becomes a dragon, Miss Lotta Scales. She believes books are to be looked at but never touched, that a good child is a silent one. Teachers and principals are afraid of her rather than the opposite but a plucky red head student named Molly Brickmeyer with the help of Miss Lemon finally get through to “the library dragon” that is transformed by listening to Molly read aloud to her classmates during a library visit. The library dragon takes Molly into her lap and begins to read to the children and her large scales of green, yellow, and purple begin to fall one after the other and she transforms into Miss Lotty, a most pleasant and trendy librarian. An overt message about the transforming power of reading aloud it will be loved by adults, teachers, librarians, kids, and media specialists alike. The illustrations of lime green, bold yellow, bright orange, aqua and fuchsia dominate the pages. Not to be missed is the center picture of the Library Dragon in deep lime green skin and a combination of fuchsia and red eyes behind her aqua cat eyes and jeweled glasses on a chain. Library Dragons paws and talons reach over the book shelf to make sure that her wall sign of “Do not touch the books! For display only” is obeyed. The front and end papers feature hand print sized library scales in shades a touch more subdued than on the inside pages.

In an unusual twist the author and illustrator know each other well and have collaborated on other books. They are both from Atlanta. Deedy is also known for her adult books such as GROWING UP CUBAN IN DECATUR GEORGIA and her presentations on National Public Radio. Illustrator Michael White gives drawing lessons to students on visits and leaves an original work of art with each teacher. He is very reasonably priced as a speaker, or at least he was in the past.