Kenny and the Dragon

DiTerlizzi, Tony. (2008). Kenny and the dragon. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Kenny and the Dragon is another novel by Tony DiTerlizzi, one of the team that brought us the Spiderwick Chronicles.  Inspired by Kenneth Grahame's "The Reluctant Dragon" (which we also have in the library), Kenny and the Dragon is illustrated with beautifully detailed pen and ink drawings reminsicent of  The Wind in the Willows (also by Kenneth Grahame - hmmmm).  While the accents and vernacular of the 'country hick' father and the 'court noble' friend are sometimes strained, the characters are likeable and the reader is drawn into the action as Kenny struggles to find a way to save his new friend, Grahame (another tip of the hat to Kenneth Grahame) from the frightened villagers determined to exterminate the dragon. Even without knowing about the famous inspirations for this story, readers ready to graduate from early chapter books will find this adventure accessible and endearing. Kenny, who is not popular at school, finds a kindred spirit in Grahame the dragon and his intelligence and ingenuity save the day in the end.

Late Primary/ Intermediate