Picture Book – Page 3 – Sneak Peek Books

Polar Bear

April in the Arctic . . . / Cold winds send snow clouds scuttling across the sky. / Temperatures barely nudge above freezing. / But every now and again, / The cloud cover parts, / The sun shines down, /
And the frozen world stretches awake.

As spring approaches in the Arctic, a mother polar bear and her two cubs tentatively emerge from hibernation to explore the changing landscape. When it is time, she takes her cubs on a forty-mile journey, back to their home on the ice. Along the way, she fends off wolves, hunts for food, and swims miles and miles.

While hunting for seals, Mother and the cubs move “to the edge of the ice” but “the ice breaks off and is carried out / far out, / into open water.” This section increases suspense, not only by showing Mother’s worried facial expression but also by having a two-page pull-out that shows the bears swimming, surrounded completely by water. Reader’s hearts will pound as they watch Mother try to get her cubs to safety. And readers will rejoice when the bears finally reach safety and curl up to sleep.

Polar Bears is a beautifully illustrated picture book that follows a mother polar bear and her cubs. Using soft blues, browns, and whites, the artist’s oil paintings show the magical world of the polar bears. Readers will fall in love with the adorably cute polar bear cubs as they grow.

Even though Polar Bears is a picture book, the book will appeal to older readers who want to learn more about polar bears. Younger readers will need the book read to them instead of reading it independently. Adults will need to explain some of the words—such as striding, fractured, and gorged—to younger readers. The book’s font is oversized and has rich, descriptive imagery that brings the events to life. However, many of the pages are text-heavy and have up to 15 short sentences.

The back of the book includes a page and a half titled “It’s All About the Ice” – this section explains why polar bears need ice to survive. It also explains what is happening due to global warming, and how readers can make small changes to help polar bears. In addition, there are ten cool facts about polar bears and a two-page infographic that shows polar bears’ physical features.

Polar Bears is the perfect picture book for readers of all ages who love polar bears. While the book can be read for enjoyment, adults and teachers can also use Polar Bears to teach readers about the polar bears’ habitat and life cycles. In addition, the back of the book includes information that can be used to teach how global warming is harming polar bears. The combination of beautiful illustrations and polar bear facts makes Polar Bears a book that will melt reader’s hearts and encourage them to make small changes to keep polar bears healthy and happy.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

Two wolves try to eat the baby polar bears. The wolves “are circling for an attack. Mother grunts for the cubs to keep close. The wolves inch nearer. . . Hissing, [Mother polar bear] rises up her full height—all seven feet of her. . . She growls. The wolves stop. Look. Lope away.”
It is mentioned that polar bears eat seals.

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Little Quack’s New Friend

One day when Little Quack is playing in the pond, he hears the strangest noise. He listens closely along with his siblings, Widdle, Waddle, Piddle, and Puddle, only to discover that it’s a frog in their pond! The other ducklings aren’t sure about taking this new guy under their wings, but Little Quack is determined to make a new friend no matter how different he may be! Soon, everyone is squishing in the mud, splunking on lily pads, and quacking up a splash in the spirit of friendship in this board book edition that is perfect for little ones!

Little Quack’s New Friend is an adorably cute, fun-to-read picture book that shows you can be friends with someone different than you. The five ducklings and the frog, Little Ribbit, have expressive faces that highlight their emotion. Readers may laugh at Little Quack’s siblings because they clearly don’t think playing with a frog is proper. After all, Little Ribbit is “too tiny,” “too green,” and he “can’t quack.” But when Little Quack and Little Rabbit play together, their faces radiate joy and happiness. The ducklings soon learn that they have something in common with Little Ribbit after all — “we all like to play!”

Each page of Little Quack’s New Friend features the five sibling ducklings. Each sibling has a characteristic that makes them easy to recognize. For example, one duck has a blue flower in her hair while another duck has spikey hair. Joyful illustration is bright primary colors and a splash of purple add to the fun tone. Little Quack’s New Friend is perfect for reading aloud because of the alliteration in the duck names and the fun onomatopoeias. Plus, it’s a quick read, with one to six short sentences and simple vocabulary.

Little Quack’s New Friend is a fun story that young readers will want to read again and again. The simple plot and cheerful illustrations will capture readers’ hearts. In the end, the ducklings connect because “we all like to play!” But beware: Little Quack’s New Friend may make your little one want to squish, bounce, and splash! Introduce more friendship-based books by reading Moon’s First Friends by Susanna Leonard Hill, Sparkly New Friends by Heather Ayris Burnell, and Bo’s Magical New Friend by Rebecca Elliott.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Grandma Elephant’s in Charge

Elephants are the biggest animals on land, and they live in big families, too. So who can possibly keep them in line? Grandma!

Every elephant in the herd looks to Grandma to tell them how to find the best watering holes, gather the tastiest food, and sniff out danger. And you better be certain that when Grandma lays down the law, everybody pays attention.

Teach young readers about elephants by reading Grandma Elephant’s in Charge, an entertaining and educational book about the everyday life of a family of elephants. The book uses a conversational tone to tell the story of an elephant’s family. Readers will learn how Grandma Elephant helps her family. Fun facts are also interspersed throughout the book. For example, when Grandma leads the herd “up the cliff to the salt lick,” a different font underneath the story text reads, “Salt licks are places where the earth is full of minerals. Lots of animals eat the salty earth there, which helps to keep them healthy.”

Each page uses the soft colors of brown, green, and blue. The elephants are the focus of each picture and the landscapes fade into the background. Several pictures emphasize Grandma’s large size compared to the other elephants in the herd. Each page also has three to five complex sentences with some difficult vocabulary such as boisterous, scolding, and investigate. Even though Grandma Elephant’s in Charge is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently.

Grandma Elephant’s in Charge is the perfect book for readers interested in the day-to-day life of an elephant. The full-page illustrations are awe-inspiring, but some text-heavy pages may be daunting for young readers. If you’d like to rumble through the savanna and meet Grandma Elephant, then step into the book Grandma Elephant’s in Charge. Readers interested in learning more fun facts about animals should also read the What If Series by Sandra Markle.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Hot Rod Hamster and the Haunted Halloween Party

Halloween is off to a great start for Hot Rod Hamster. He has received an invitation to a costume party, where the guests with the best costumes will win a prize! Everyone is welcome, so Hot Rod Hamster races to the junkyard to invite his best friend, Dog. After a visit to the costume store, the two decide to dress as rock stars. With their instruments, leather jackets, and spiked hair, Hot Rod Hamster and Dog are confident about their chances of winning the contest.

However, on the way to the party, Hot Rod Hamster’s car breaks down. If that isn’t bad enough, it has stopped in front of an eerie, foreboding house. Now Hot Rod Hamster and Dog have no chance of making it to the party in time…that is, unless they go to the spooky house for help. But when they step through the open door, they are greeted by four ghosts!

Although startled at first, Hot Rod Hamster and Dog quickly realize that they have stumbled upon four particularly friendly ghosts. What’s more, the ghosts love parties just as much as Hot Rod Hamster and Dog do. Hot Rod Hamster and Dog arrive at the party later than they had hoped, but they make a grand entrance with their new ghost friends. The group has a wonderful time at the party. At the night’s end, it’s time for Hot Rod Hamster and Dog to prove that their costumes are the best. They perform an original song dedicated to Halloween. With the ghosts as their backup singers, the group wins the prize! It was an even better Halloween than Hot Rod Hamster expected.

Hot Rod Hamster and the Haunted Halloween Party is a cute, quick, and scare-free picture book that is sure to entertain younger readers. Its illustrations are based on the art of Derek Anderson, the regular artist of the Hot Rod Hamster series. Although not drawn directly by Anderson, the illustrations of this book successfully capture the fun and playful tone familiar to the series.

In the book’s narration, Lord employs another familiar trait of the series: a rhythmic rhyme scheme that allows readers to participate in the story. For example, when Hot Rod Hamster, Dog, and the ghosts arrive at the party, Lord asks the reader: “Carve time? Sweet time? Drink time? Meet time? Which would you choose?” While these questions do not change the direction of the story, they nonetheless engage the reader in the events on each page. Along with this, the book uses simple sentences with one to five sentences per page, making it a very approachable book for young readers.

If your young reader is already a fan of Hot Rod Hamster, this adventure is guaranteed to entertain. And all young readers who celebrate Halloween will find the book an enjoyable read.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

Although the characters encounter ghosts during their adventure, the ghosts are portrayed as nothing but friendly.

Spiritual Content 

None

The Very Best Pumpkin

Growing up on Mimi and Papa’s farm, Peter knows a lot about caring for pumpkins. One summer, Peter finds a lonely pumpkin all by itself in the field, and with his tender care, the pumpkin flourishes. By autumn, it’s the very best pumpkin of all, and Peter wants to keep it for himself. But when a young girl shows up at the farm in quest of a perfect pumpkin, will Peter pass on his prized pumpkin and gain a friend?

Peter enjoys eating out of the garden, where juicy strawberries and corn grow. When Peter finds a lone pumpkin in a field, he tends to it lovingly, pulling the weeds, loosening the soil, and watering it. As Peter cares for his pumpkin, a new neighbor, Meg, watches. When Meg comes to Peter’s family’s farm, Peter shows her “the very best pumpkin”—the one he has cared for all summer. This begins Peter and Meg’s friendship “and just like the pumpkins, their friendship grew and grew and grew.”

The Very Best Pumpkin’s illustrations use muted fall colors and simple illustrations to bring the harvest season to life. Readers will enjoy the small details such as bees buzzing through the air, mice playing in the pumpkin patch, and birds twittering. Readers who tend to get wiggly may have difficulty sitting through a reading of the book because of the advanced vocabulary and long sentences. Each page has one to six long sentences. However, adults who want to show the joy of gardening and sharing will find The Very Best Pumpkin worth reading.

Readers will learn the value of hard work and friendship by reading The Very Best Pumpkin. The book has an old-fashioned vibe that shows the simple joys in life. The story ends with information on how to grow your own pumpkin. The Very Best Pumpkin is the perfect book to read if you’re planning on planting a garden or you want to enjoy the scenes of autumn.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Return of the Underwear Dragon

After Sir Cole saved the kingdom from the destructive wrath of the Underwear Dragon, he realized the Underwear Dragon wasn’t disobeying the signs that said not to attack. The Underwear Dragon couldn’t read the signs!

So Sir Cole sets out on a valiant quest. He’s not going to conquer the Underwear Dragon—he’s going to teach him to read. But it’s hard to teach a fire-breathing creature to read an actual book when he sets them all on fire. Besides, the Underwear Dragon is a reluctant reader. But when the Underwear Dragon finally succeeds, Sir Cole presents his star pupil with the perfect gift—gigantic alphabet underwear!

The Return of the Underwear Dragon shines a torch on the dragon, who has nightmares about Sir Cole defeating him in battle. Young readers will relate to the Underwear Dragon’s nightmares as well as his embarrassment at not being able to read. Rothman uses humor to introduce the conflict: “Underwear Dragons get embarrassed when they don’t get gold stars. . . can’t do the monkey bars. . . trips on lutes. . . accidentally toot.” The dragon is so embarrassed that he disguises himself as a duck to tackle the hard task of learning to read. While learning to read is hard, the Underwear Dragon doesn’t give up—and neither should you!

The silly storyline and illustrations perfectly come together in a book that will have young readers giggling (and maybe tooting too!). The story is a quick read with one to four sentences on each page. Plus, the rhyming words make the book fun to read out loud. The brightly colored illustrations have fun elements that show the Underwear Dragon’s embarrassment when he steps in poo, rips his shorts, and is bad at sports.

The Underwear Dragon’s humorous adventure will captivate readers while also teaching that learning to read isn’t always easy. Young readers will love Sir Cole’s dedication to teaching the dragon, and they will giggle at the dragon’s delay tactics. Both Sir Cole and the Underwear Dragon show determination and grit. Sir Cole’s new assistant is a welcome addition to the story and thankfully, she is really good at putting out fires.

The Return of the Underwear Dragon has unique characters, a funny plot, and a positive message about perseverance. If you’re looking for a picture book that readers will want to read again, and again, and again The Underwear Dragon Series is the perfect book. If you want more knightly fun, also add Knight Owl by Christopher Denise to your reading library.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

The Underwear Dragon keeps setting books on fire.

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Shadow in the Woods and Other Scary Stories

These five spine-chilling stories will have beginning readers everywhere begging to stay up late to read (with the light on!). The first story, Shadow in the Woods, focuses on a monster that is rumored to live in the woods. When Hugh has to walk through the woods alone, he isn’t worried. He knows an owl—not a monster—is hooting, “Hoo!” But is it?

In The Monster in My Room, Ruby is convinced that a monster lives under her bed. However, no one believes her. One night, in order to comfort her, Ruby’s brother gives her a flashlight. When she drops the flashlight, “That’s when she saw the hand! A large, hairy, purple hand! Eight long fingers were wrapped around the flashlight!”

The third story, Fingernails, focuses on Tommy. Even though his grandmother tells him not to, Tommy chews on his fingernails. Right before she takes a nap, Grandmother makes Tommy promise not to chew on his fingernails. When Grandmother wakes up, “Bits of fingernail were littered across her lap. Tommy stared up at her as he chewed and chewed and chewed. . .”

In The Writing on the Wall, Sophia and her parents move into a creepy, old house. As she explores the house, Sophia feels as if she’s being watched. Right before she goes to bed, she writes on the wall: “I don’t want to live in this house!” In the morning, when she wakes up, a new message is written on the wall, “I don’t want you to live here either!”

The final story, The Animal Behind the Locker, takes place at Emma’s school. Emma hears a scratch-scratch behind her locker. She’s convinced that an animal is stuck behind the locker. When Emma investigates, she falls through the back of her locker and is stuck. However, Emma is frightened to discover that a spider is making the scratch-scratch sound.

Shadow in the Woods and Other Scary Stories is part of Scholastic’s early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. Each page has one to four short sentences that are easy to read. With a short story format, and full-color artwork on every spread, this book will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books instill a love of reading and help readers grow.

Readers who enjoy scary stories will enjoy each short story’s surprise ending. However, some readers may also be frightened when monsters and things that go bump in the night are shown to be real. In addition, each story is so short that there is little character development. Readers who want more ghoulish fun should also read the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol Series by Andres Miedoso and the Eerie Elementary Series by Jack Chabert.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

As Hugh is walking through the woods, he thinks he sees his shadow. But then, “the shadow turns toward him. Its huge mouth opens. The mouth is full of fangs. . . Finally, Hugh starts to run. But it is too late.” It is implied that the monster eats Hugh.
When Emma gets stuck behind her locker, she finds “a huge spider was hanging beside her. . . The spider smiled at Emma. Sharp, wet fangs stuck out.” It is implied that the spider eats Emma.

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween

Beep! Beep! It’s Halloween! Follow Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad as they pick up their animal friends for a costume party. This fun Halloween book will get readers eager to dress up in costumes and enjoy the fall festivities.

The book uses a kid-friendly format, with the first page having four short rhyming lines. The second page repeats the same question, “Under the mask who do you see?” Readers will have fun lifting the flaps of this sturdy board book to find out who’s dressed up in each costume! The last scene shows Blue getting into the holiday spirit by dressing up as a ghost. The silly costumes, such as a cow dressed up as a king, will inspire readers to be creative with their own Halloween costumes.

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween uses simple vocabulary and rhyming that is perfect for young readers. Each illustration uses fall colors with lots of Halloween details such as a full moon, black cats, and jack-o-lanterns. In addition, the forest animals get into the spirit and dress up. For example, one page shows a squirrel dressed up as a witch and a raccoon wearing a colorful hat peeking out of a tree. Adults can encourage children to find the black cat that appears on each page. Add even more fun by having readers count the pumpkins.

Get ready for Halloween by reading Little Blue Truck’s Halloween, which leaves out spooky details and instead focuses on the fun of dressing up in costumes. The interactive book will keep readers entertained again and again. For more Halloween-related books, check out a copy of Dragon’s Halloween by Dav Pilkey and The Halloween Queen by Joan Holub.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Victor, the Wolf with Worries

Wolves are known to be brave, fierce, and big. But Victor, a short and timid wolf who is more sheepish than wolfish, worries he is none of these things. He tries pretending to be brave, but he worries other wolves will expect him to do things he isn’t brave enough to do. He tries pretending to be fierce but worries that he will scare the other wolves away. While Victor wishes he could be as brave as the other wolves, he cannot seem to escape his constant worries.

Fortunately, Victor has a best friend, Pablo. Pablo listens to his friend’s concerns and helps him take his mind off them. They sprint through the forest together until Victor feels better. They imagine their worries as bubbles and gently blow away each one. With Pablo’s presence, Victor realizes that all wolves share these worries, though not everyone feels comfortable talking about them. By discussing his feelings with Pablo, Victor feels reassured and comfortable with himself.

Victor, the Wolf with Worries, is a short, sweet story that teaches readers the importance of addressing and discussing things that may cause stress or doubt. Victor is initially reluctant to open up to Pablo, saying, “If I tell you my worry, it becomes yours too.” Pablo shows Victor that discussing anxieties can help you realize such feelings are perfectly normal. By addressing these feelings, you can be better prepared to understand and cope with them.

The picture book is easy to read, with only one to eight short sentences per page. Although younger readers may need help reading the book’s small font size, Rayner’s illustrations are sure to help them navigate the story. Rayner draws her characters with pencil before coloring them and the backgrounds with watercolor paint. The backgrounds are drawn in brilliant spring blues and greens, allowing for some particularly beautiful illustrations of the wolves’ lively forest.

While everyone has their own method of dealing with anxieties and daily worries, Victor, the Wolf with Worries is a comforting story that encourages children to address and talk about their feelings. It is a perfect read for young readers who may have trouble discussing their feelings or coping with stress.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path

From the day he was born, Jim Thorpe’s parents knew he was special. As the light shone on the road to the family’s cabin, his mother gave Jim another name – Wa-tho-huck – “Bright Path.”

Jim’s athletic skills were evident early on, as he played outdoors and hunted with his father and twin brother. When the boys were sent to an Indian boarding school, Jim struggled academically but excelled in sports. School life was difficult for Jim. In addition, he had to overcome family tragedies, including the death of his brother. Jim’s life dramatically changed when Coach Pop Warner at the Carlisle Indian School recognized Jim’s athletic genius.

Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path follows Jim’s path to becoming a world-renowned athlete. Jim hates boarding school. One reason is that boarding schools “were designed to cut [Indians] off from everything that made them Indians—their language, their traditions, even their families—and make them fit in with white society.” Even though Jim hated school, his father was determined for Jim to get an education. At school, Jim fell in love with football, but because of his small size, the coach would not let him play. This didn’t stop Jim; soon, he formed a group of other small boys to play football with.

Jim’s inspiring biography shows how he persevered despite many obstacles. His determination allowed him to become the greatest athlete of his time. As an athlete, Jim “was carrying not just a football, but the hopes and dreams of his family, his people, and all the Indians who had been told they could never compete with a white man.” Jim used his fame to fight for equal rights and opportunities for American Indians.

Although Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path is a picture book, it is best suited for older readers. The pages have up to ten complex sentences that use advanced vocabulary such as Gauntlet, Pottawatomie, endurance, dormitory, and inconsolable. However, the illustrations will help readers visualize the story’s events because they focus on Jim’s activities. The end of the book includes a timeline and an author’s notes that discusses Jim’s accomplishments.

Bruchac’s writing educates readers about the discrimination early Native Americans faced and the unique obstacles that Jim had to overcome. Jim is an inspiration not only because of his accomplishments but also because he used his education and fame to help his people. Jim’s story will encourage readers to overcome obstacles as they follow their own bright path.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

If Jim spoke his native language, he “got smacked hard across his knuckles with a wooden ruler.”
Jim’s father “had been shot in a hunting accident and was dying.” Jim made it home to find that his father had recovered.
Jim’s father “had been bitten by a snake while working in the fields and had died of blood poisoning.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Berry Song

Berry Song by Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade follows an unnamed Tlingit girl and her grandmother as they forage for food in their homelands. Through beautiful and mystical watercolor paintings, the reader follows the girl and her grandmother through the sea and forest where they primarily harvest berries which have cultural importance to the Tlingit people. The font and rhyming words imply that the girl and grandmother are singing to each other. Singing helps show that the Tlingit people are grateful to the land for providing for them.

The author provides a long note at the end of the story that gives more context to the important role berries play in the lives of the Tlingit: Berries provide necessary sustenance to the people and were given traditionally as medicine and ceremonial gifts. Berries also feature in many folk tales. Thus, the ritual harvesting and extensive use of berries in daily life make them the perfect symbol to teach others about the Tlingit culture.

The teaching is done mostly through images, as Goade’s colorful watercolor paintings blend reality with the natural world. As the story progresses, the girl’s body becomes more intertwined with nature, such as her arm becoming a tree branch or her hair becoming leaves, showing how she is one with the land. There are one to two sentences per page, which allows the reader to focus on the natural scenes. The plot is straightforward. The language is simple, and the text uses one word from the Tlingit language which is translated as “giving thanks.” The native terms for berries are also given in the illustrations.

In all, the story emphasizes the reciprocal relationship of respect and dependence that the native people share with their homeland. Phrases such as, “We take care of the land. . . And the land takes care of us,” are passed on from the grandmother to the girl as they collect berries together. This highlights how ancestors play a specific role in teaching future generations about important cultural practices. In the end, the girl, now older, takes the hand of her younger sister and leads her through the woods as her grandmother once did, proclaiming, “I have so much to show you.” The girl is excited to pass down her cultural traditions, while also remembering those that came before her. This simple and heartwarming story teaches the Tlingit values through detailed drawings that emphasize the connection between people and their land.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural 

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Remember

Remember is a picture book adaptation of Joy Harjo’s original poem, gorgeously illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade. In Remember, Harjo asks readers to appreciate the beauty of the world and acknowledge the fact that we are a natural and important product of this life cycle. For example, the text reads: “Remember the sky you were born under,” Harjo begins. “Know each of the star’s stories.” From here, Harjo asks the reader to reflect on the Earth’s many other wonders, from the luminescent moon to the setting sun, and ultimately reflect on the undeniable beauty of their own existence. “Remember your birth, how your mother struggled to give you form and breath,” she writes. “You are evidence of her life, and her mother’s; and hers.”

Harjo recalls the basic, universal aspects of life, but describes them with such passion that she conveys the wonder of our existence which is so often taken for granted amidst our busy lives. The book is accessible to younger readers, with only one to three short sentences per page.

Illustrator Michaela Goade brilliantly visualizes the poem. Goade reflects the beauty described by Harjo by using an intricate mix of colors for each page such as violets and reds for the night sky, deep shades of blue and green for the ocean. Just as Harjo describes nature and life with equal passion, Goade personifies every subject discussed in the poem. She draws faces in the sun and moon and draws the waves of a river and the leaves of a tree in the form of animals, visualizing Harjo’s message that everything is united by its place on Earth. For example, in a page depicting a mother and daughter planting seeds into the ground, they are illustrated with roots beneath them, showing that they too are products of the Earth and must take care of it.

Remember is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book that asks young readers to appreciate the beauty of the world and their own existence. This year, Remember received the American Indian Youth Literature Award, a biennial award that honors the best books for youth by and about Native American and Indigenous peoples of North America. Although it was created as a children’s book, its universal message resonates with readers of all ages. Pair Remember with We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom to teach young readers that people and nature are intertwined.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Hot Rod Hamster: Monster Truck Mania!

It’s Fair Day, and Fearless Franco’s famous Monster Truck Mania has come to town. Hot Rod Hamster and his friends are geared up for a roaring, soaring great time, so they set out to find the best ride at the fair. The water boats, spinning teacups, and bumper cars are great, but Hot Rod Hamster can’t seem to find the BEST ride. That is, of course, until Fearless Franco needs a last-minute back-up driver for his monster truck. Can Hot Rod Hamster help him out, and still find the best ride of all? In this rollicking new adventure, Hot Rod Hamster proves once again that being small doesn’t mean you can’t think BIG!

Hot Rod Hamster and his friends, Dog and three mice, enjoy a day at the county fair. To keep readers engaged, they are asked what rides they would choose. For example, when going on the bumper cars, the text reads, “Sports car, race car, fun in outer space car. Cop car, mail car, make the siren wail car. Which would you choose?” The surprise ending will leave readers dreaming about having the perfect treat.

One of the best aspects of this picture book is the detailed and humorous illustrations. The three mice are adorably cute and also funny. Readers will love exploring the pictures to find the mice. In one illustration, the mice are riding tea cups while one mouse is drinking tea, one is holding a clipboard, and one is collecting the doggie treats that are flying out of a bulldog’s cup. Each page is full of bright colors, interesting details, and funny situations.

With one to six sentences per page, Hot Rod Hamster is a quick read. The animal’s dialogue appears in quote bubbles, making it easy to keep track of the speaker. Some of the words appear in large colorful font to highlight each ride’s qualities. All of the fun graphic elements perfectly complement the story’s words. Any child who enjoys going to the fair will love Hot Rod Hamster: Monster Truck Mania! The fun topic, cute animal characters, and interactive text make reading fun. Readers who love trucks should zoom to the library to check out Bulldozer Helps Out by Candace Fleming and Otis and the Puppy by Loren Long.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Arlo, The Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep

Arlo is an exhausted lion. Arlo can’t sleep a wink while his family sleeps soundly each night. He tries to sleep beside his family, but they wriggle too much. He tries to sleep beneath a tree, but its leaves and branches make too much noise. Try as he might, Arlo cannot manage a single night’s rest.

Arlo’s fortune changes when an owl visits him. As a nocturnal animal, the owl is all too familiar with difficult sleeping conditions such as noise and heat. However, the owl sleeps peacefully each day by taking a deep breath and imagining all the places she would like to visit. With the owl’s advice, Arlo finally drifts to sleep. Feeling excited and rejuvenated the next morning, Arlo mistakenly wakes up the owl. After apologizing, Arlo repeats the owl’s advice to her. Soon enough, the owl is sound asleep.

Arlo, the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep is a sweet bedtime story perfect for restless readers. Parents who may share Arlo’s dilemma can also benefit from the owl’s advice. Along with its central message of how to get a good night’s sleep, the book teaches the importance of supporting your friends. Just as the owl helped Arlo with his problem, Arlo returned the favor at the end of the story.

The book is a short and easy read, with only one to four sentences per page. The story is brought to life by Rayner’s beautiful mixed-media illustrations. Characters and backgrounds are drawn with pencil and colored in with various shades of watercolor paint. Each illustration is a double-page spread, emphasizing the environment’s vast, sweeping landscapes and the scale of its towering animals. Rayner also makes an excellent use of color. Arlo’s restless days are drawn in vibrant shades of yellow and orange, conveying the sun’s harsh heat. The peaceful nights are drawn in shades of dark blue and black, evoking a sense of much-needed calm and quiet.

If you are looking for a gentle bedtime story with a strong central message, Arlo, the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep is an excellent, beautifully illustrated choice. To help reinforce the importance of sleep, pair Arlo’s story with The Pout-Pout Fish and the Can’t-Sleep Blues by Deborah Diesen.

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Dino-Gro

Cole is very excited about his new Dino-Gro toy. He can’t wait for it to reach its full size! But when Dino-Gro becomes much larger than intended, Cole goes so far as to put Dino-Gro on a liquid-free diet and an exercise regimen, which don’t seem to make a difference! As Dino-Gro becomes so big that he can’t fit in the house, Cole learns that growing up and getting bigger can have advantages too, even if you’re not a dinosaur.

Dino-Gro is a super sweet story about Cole and his Dino-Gro. When the cute blue dinosaur first begins to grow, Cole has fun playing with him. But soon Dino-Gro is so big that he can’t fit into the house. This makes Cole and Dino-Grow sad, but when Cole gets stuck in a tree house during a terrible storm, Dino-Gro’s size makes him the perfect dino to save Cole. In the end, Cole realizes that “Dino-Gro stayed big. And that was just fine.”

Cole and Dino-Gro’s relationship is heartwarming and humorous. Readers will laugh when Cole tries to get Dino-Gro to stay out of the water, and they will cry when Dino-Gro leaves because he is too big to stay in the house. However, the conclusion will have readers cheering when the two friends are reunited. Plus, the ending has a silly surprise.

Dino-Gro is a quick and fun story to read out loud. Dino-Gro is an adorably cute blue dinosaur who has wonderfully expressive facial expressions. In addition, readers will have fun seeing Dino-Gro interact with Cole and his family. The large illustrations use primary colors and cartoonish illustrations that are packed with emotion. Each page has one to four short sentences that use easy vocabulary. Matt Myers’ humor shines through in both the text and the illustrations.

Young readers will have so much fun reading Dino-Gro that they will want to read it again and again. Even though no one wanted Dino-Gro to grow so big and so strong, it is these very characteristics that make him the hero of the story. Dino-Gro uses the concepts of little and big to humorously show that growing up includes changing, which is “just fine.”

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I Am Extraordinary

It’s the first day of school for Zoe, a young girl with hearing loss who dreams of playing on her school’s soccer team. But, self-conscious of her hearing aids, Zoe is too nervous to try out. With the help of and perspectives from new friends, what begins as a bumpy, anxiety-filled start for Zoe, soon transitions into an eye-opening experience about what it means to be different—and what it means to be extraordinary.

With her friends’ encouragement, Zoe learns that “Your dedication to practicing soccer and your hearing aids are what makes you extraordinary.” Zoe gains confidence, and with practice, she makes the team. To reinforce the theme of being extraordinary, the book features several people with disabilities. For example, a boy in a wheelchair is playing baseball, and a girl with a prosthetic foot is running.

While the book has a positive message, the story is not well developed, and it’s difficult to determine the target audience. Zoe and her friends look like elementary school students, but Zoe is trying out for soccer and is worried about not making the team. Getting cut from a team usually doesn’t happen in elementary school, so younger readers may not relate to Zoe’s conflict. The book begins with Zoe’s first day of school, but it’s unclear why she is attending a new school since her brother has already been attending the school, and he offers to show Zoe “the ropes.”

The book moves through events, but it’s difficult to keep track of the time changes. For example, one page shows Zoe at recess, and on the next page, she is at soccer practice, and then she is at a city park. In addition, one page races through events: “Zoe practiced every day. . . Soccer tryouts were held on the big field, and Zoe made the team with ease. In a few weeks, the season began.” The very next page shows the team making it to the championship game. The time lapses are confusing and make the plot difficult to understand.

I Am Extraordinary comes to life through illustrations that have bright colors. The illustrations show Zoe’s facial expressions which helps readers understand her emotions. The characters’ thoughts and emotions are in quote bubbles and the narration is in regular text. Each page has one to ten sentences which include the use of complex sentences.

Readers with disabilities will see themselves in the pages of I Am Extraordinary. The characters include children with different abilities as well as diverse characters. The story encourages readers not to give up and to accept their differences. However, the confusing plot and underdeveloped story take away some of the enjoyment of reading the book. To help young readers understand the importance of self-acceptance, read these picture books: The Mermaid with No Tail by Jessica Long, Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith, and I Am Enough by Grace Byers.

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Time for School, Little Blue Truck

Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad are excited to meet a bright yellow school bus on the road. They see all the animals lined up in the school bus’s many windows, and Blue wishes he could be a school bus too. What a fun job—but it is too big a job for a little pickup like Blue. Or is it? For when somebody misses the bus, it’s up to Blue to get his friend to school on time. Beep! Beep! Vroom!

When Piggy misses the school bus, Little Blue zooms in to help. Since the bus is so far ahead, Little Blue takes a different path—through a forest full of animals that readers will have fun finding. Little Blue makes it to school at just the right time and when the school bus sees Little Blue Bus, he says, “You’re not big, not yellow, not long and wide, but you had room for a friend inside. You did this job your very own way. We needed a tough little truck today!”

Get ready to use your animal voices, because Time for School, Little Blue is full of fun words to say! The book is full of animal sounds and other onomatopoeia. It also rhymes, which makes it great to read aloud. Each page has two to four short lines of large text, and each number and onomatopoeia is in a different color font. The illustrations use bright colors and are full of details, showing the wonder of nature with flying bugs, flowers, and animals that appear on almost every page.

Young readers will love how Little Blue helps his friend get to school. In the end, the yellow bus and Little Blue both get student to school, but they do it in their own unique way. Time for School, Little Blue is a great read to get young readers excited about going to school.

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The Library Fish Learns to Read

The Library Fish is very happy living in her fishbowl on the desk of Mr. Hughes, the librarian. Library Fish loves welcoming visitors and seeing the books come and go as they are borrowed and returned.

All the children seem so happy reading stories of faraway places, castles, and unicorns and listening to Mr. Hughes read at Story Time. Library Fish wants to read, too! Night after night, after Mr. Hughes says good night and locks the door, Library Fish gets busy. She learns the alphabet, puts sounds together to make words, and practices reading with all the wonderful books in the library. For Library Fish, a new world is opening up—and she is ready to explore!

The Library Fish Learns to Read doesn’t have the same whimsy as The Library Fish; however, readers will still enjoy watching Library Fish learn to read, especially because the fish is so obviously proud of her accomplishments. It takes Library Fish “hour after hour, night after night,” to learn every letter and the sounds they make. As Library Fish learns to read, she has favorite words such as glub, wiggle, and bubble. Library Fish’s persistence pays off and soon she is reading books about oceans, vampires, and more!

Library Fish is an adorably cute fish who encourages readers to learn to read on their own. One positive aspect is that Library Fish doesn’t learn to read quickly. Instead, she has to practice letters first, and then words. All the hard work makes Library Fish’s accomplishments even more rewarding in the end.

Even though The Library Fish is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. While some pages have no words, others have up to seven sentences. A few pages are text-heavy, but short sentences keep the pace going. Most of the story focuses on Library Fish, but the illustrations showcase humans with different skin tones.

The Library Fish Learns to Read introduces the library to young readers and shows how reading can be an adventure. If you’re looking for a picture book that shows the joy of reading, then both Library Fish books are perfect for you.

To teach young readers important library etiquette, check out If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, DON’T! by Elise Parsley; the book will leave readers giggling as they learn.

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The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School

Mr. Fish’s biggest worry was his first day of school. When he arrives, Mr. Fish feels out of place. Every other fish knows exactly where to go. They go to their lockers and classes in a fixed routine.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fish, a new student, does not know what to do. He wanders into a writing class, but he does not know how to write any letters. He wanders into a math class, but he does not understand long division. At the end of the day, Mr. Fish swims towards the exit, tired of school.

But Mr. Fish’s mind changes when a teacher, Miss Hewitt, stops him and says that all students begin this way. She says that with her help, Mr. Fish can learn. Miss Hewitt takes Mr. Fish to a classroom of new students who are each just as confused as him. By listening to Miss Hewitt, Mr. Fish begins to understand each subject. Finally, Mr. Fish is enjoying school!

The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School is a fun and light-hearted picture book that is sure to connect with young readers who are dreading their first day of school. The book teaches readers that although school may seem overwhelming and challenging at first, it can be a rewarding experience if they are patient and attentive.

The book is an easy read, with only one to six short sentences per page. Diesen uses a unique rhyming scheme to keep readers engaged. Like other Pout-Pout Fish books, this book includes a four-stanza chant (“Trouble One: I’m not smart! Trouble Two: I’ll never get it! Trouble Three: I don’t belong! So four: I should forget it!”) which Mr. Fish repeats throughout the book. At the end, he chants a positive, altered version (“Fact One: You are smart. Fact Two: You can get it. Fact Three: You belong. So Four: Don’t forget it!”).

The art in The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School is drawn by series regular Dan Hanna and has a beautiful variety of colors. The hallways of the school are decorated with student drawings. Several jokes are hidden in the background too; the best of which is a series of posters with inspirational quotes from such names as “Shark Twain” and “Sharkspeare.”

If your young reader is nervous for their first day of school, or simply having trouble learning something new, The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School is an entertaining story with a lesson about the importance of patience when facing a new experience.

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Stacey’s Remarkable Books

Stacey’s favorite day of the week is Thursday because on Thursday the whole class goes to the library and she gets to lose herself in her beloved books.

But on one of these special days, Stacey discovers a new student named Julie has trouble reading in English. So Stacey and Julie begin sharing books and stories to practice reading. Soon, more students start to join them. The group goes on magical adventures through their books, exploring other worlds and cultures—but best of all, the books bring them together as friends.

Stacey’s Remarkable Books is beautifully written and shows the power of books. At first, Stacey spends her recess reading books alone. But once Stacey meets Julie, everything changes. Julie has a difficult time reading because she recently moved from Vietnam, so Stacey helps Julie practice reading in English. Stacey and Julie connect through stories. Both girls believe that “Maybe if we read together, we can make our dreams come true.” The girls’ experiences reinforce the idea that friendship can be built by sharing a common interest, such as reading.

Another student, Haddy, moves from Gambia, and Stacey and Julie quickly bring her into their group. Soon, the book club grows to include several children of different cultures. While the girls connect over books, they also share their unique perspectives: “Each brought their own words and different histories.”

Stacey’s Remarkable Books highlights the importance of inclusion and respecting each other’s differences. But the lessons don’t end there! Even though Stacey loves to read during recess, her friendship with Julie gives her the ability to try something new. Stacy realizes, “If she tried, she could be out on the playground too. Spinning in circles and running like a cheetah. Laughing and having fun. Like her favorite characters in her favorite books.”

Stacey’s Remarkable Books is an engaging story that uses full-page illustrations to show Stacey’s love of books. Some of the illustrations also include fun details that bring books to life. For example, when Stacey and Julie are reading a book about an octopus, the octopus is shown playing a violin. Many illustrations show Stacy’s friends, who are a diverse group. Each page has three to seven sentences and many of the sentences are complex.

Anyone who wants to introduce young readers to the magical world of books should read Stacey’s Remarkable Books to their child. The story is beautifully written and teaches the importance of inclusion and practicing a skill. The back of the book includes a two-page author’s note and a “List of Stacey’s Remarkable Books,” such as Hair Twins by Raakhee Mirchandani, I Am Enough by Grace Byers, and Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’O.

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My Pet Goldfish

In My Pet Goldfish, prolific children’s author Catherine Rayner recounts her first experience owning a goldfish. Rayner was only four years old when she got her goldfish named Richard. Although Richard was no bigger than her hand, Rayner quickly realized that caring for a goldfish is not as simple as it may seem. Rayner had to learn about the proper tank size and food type for goldfish to provide her pet with a suitable environment. Regardless of these challenges, Rayner grew attached to Richard. With the help of her friend, Sandy, Rayner learned how to properly take care of a pet fish.

My Pet Goldfish is a straightforward story that provides new owners with instructions on how to care for a goldfish. Along with Sandy’s advice, the book features small captions with additional information in the corners of each page. For example, one caption reads: “Goldfish need plenty of space to grow properly, so you need a BIG tank to keep them in.” Along with these tips, each page features a piece of trivia about goldfish, such as, “scientists believe goldfish can remember things for up to five months.”

Along with Rayner’s story, the book includes a list of tips for caring for a goldfish. These tips include how to change the water in a tank and the proper tank size for goldfish. Rayner also provides a list of additional resources for curious readers, including a website all about goldfish and a recommendation to read How to Look After Your Goldfish, an instructional novel by David Alderton about tending to pet goldfish. Although this is an informative book, Rayner’s passionate narration invites the reader to look at this straightforward story with the same curiosity and wonder she felt as a child. For example, Reyner writes: “[Richard] would swim over when he saw me, wiggling his tail. If I gently touched the glass, he would follow my finger.”

By telling the story through a child’s point of view, Rayner turns the common experience of owning a pet goldfish into an exciting adventure. Rayner’s beautiful watercolor illustrations also create a sense of wonder. Rayner’s fish tank is painted in soft blues and greens. Fish of many species swim about with their own unique color scheme. The book is a relatively easy read, with one to five short sentences per page. My Pet Goldfish is a short, informative book written with a clear passion for its subject and is perfect for readers considering getting their first goldfish.

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One Tiny Turtle

Unlike their notoriously slow counterparts on land, sea turtles travel thousands of miles each year. This makes them very difficult to research, and much is still unknown about their mysterious lives. In One Tiny Turtle, zoologist and author Nicola Davies describes the known life cycle of the loggerhead turtle, one of seven species of sea turtles. Readers will follow the turtle from her time as an infant living beneath a patch of seaweed to her adulthood when she lays her own eggs on a beach before disappearing back into her mysterious life beneath the sea.

One Tiny Turtle is an informative book that grabs readers’ attention through Davies’ beautiful prose and illustrator Jane Chapman’s vibrant, realistic art. Like all books in the Read and Wonder series, One Tiny Turtle includes a fun fact about its subject on every page. For example, in a page describing the loggerheads’ swimming process, a small caption informs readers that sea turtles can spend hours underwater while asleep and only come up for air every four or five minutes while awake.

One Tiny Turtle is an accessible book for younger readers, with one to eight short sentences per page. A prolific children’s author, Davies captures young readers’ imagination through her rich and descriptive writing. For example, she describes a baby turtle as “not much bigger than a bottle top, she hides in the green shadows.” The colorful and detailed illustrations help readers understand the turtle’s life and habitat. Chapman’s photorealistic sea creatures blend beautifully with the greens and blues of the sea.

Although it is a nonfiction book, One Tiny Turtle is sure to engage readers’ curiosity and leave them wondering about a species whose mysteries are still being uncovered. As part of the Read and Wonder Series, One Tiny Turtle is meant for younger readers. It is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. The book is fascinating and educational and will help readers understand the mysteries of turtles.

Introduce your young readers to more lovable sea creatures by reading Otters Love to Play by Jonathan London. Sea-loving readers can also learn life lessons by reading the Pout-Pout Fish Adventure picture book series by Deborah Diesen. 

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Dinosaurs: The Fastest, The Fiercest, The Most Amazing

Which dinosaur could run as fast as a modern-day racehorse? Which dinosaur used its razor-sharp claws to rip apart its prey? Which dinosaur laid eggs as big as watermelons?

You’ll find the answers to these questions—and more!—inside Dinosaurs: The Fastest, The Fiercest, The Most Amazing. Readers will meet 21 of the most amazing dinosaurs ever to roam the earth. Spectacular illustrations bring all of the excitement and drama of the prehistoric era to life. Plus, there’s a combination timeline and comparative size chart that will help readers imagine how they would feel standing next to a Seismosaurus (which was half as long as a football field) or a Compsognathus (which was as small as a pigeon).

Dinosaurs is similar to a picture book because each page has a full-page illustration with a short paragraph about the dinosaur that appears on the page. The realistic dinosaur illustrations make readers feel as if they have stepped into the dinosaurs’ world. The illustrations also allow readers to see each dinosaur’s habitat. Several pages include fighting dinosaurs, but only one illustration shows blood.

Any readers who are interested in learning more about the dinosaurs who roamed the earth millions of years ago should read Dinosaurs. The book includes interesting facts about each dinosaur. Many of the passages explain details in easy-to-understand language. For example, the Gallimimus could race “as fast as any racehorse” and the Pterosaur was “as big as a small airplane.” The book is organized in a way that helps readers make comparisons. For instance, the fastest dinosaur and slowest dinosaur appear on the same two-page spread. Because the book’s format focuses on the illustrations, the book is a quick read that doesn’t go into extensive detail about each dinosaur; this makes the book perfect for young readers as well as reluctant readers.

Dinosaurs will take readers on a walk from the Triassic Era to the Quaternary Era. The wonderful illustrations will give readers a sense of being in the scene, and the facts are interesting and educational. Each dinosaur is only given a paragraph of facts, but readers can learn more by reading

Finding the First T. Rex by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and Ancient Animals: Plesiosaur by Sarah L. Thomson. However, if you want some fabulous dinosaur fiction instead, take a bite out of Don’t Disturb the Dinosaurs by Ada Hopper or The Dino Files Series by Stacy McAnulty.

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Dinosaurs’ eating habits are discussed. For example, “Tyrannosaurus attacked other dinosaurs by running into them with its jaws wide open. Then it used its tiny but strong front arms to hold on to its dinner.” The illustration shows the Tyrannosaurus stepping on a dead dinosaur.
The Deinonychus “held on its dinner with its strong fingers and used the big claw on each of its back feet to rip apart its prey.”
The Triceratops had “the biggest skull of a land animal ever found. Some skulls have been found with holes in them, which tells scientist that Triceratops also used their horns when fighting each other.”

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Attack of the Underwear Dragon

Cole’s wish comes true when he becomes assistant knight to Sir Percival, his favorite Knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. Cole learns how to ride a horse, swing a sword, cheer for Sir Percival when he goes to battle, and bandage his boo-boos when the battle is over. Cole loves practicing every skill a Knight-in-Training must master, and he is determined to be granted knighthood.

Sir Percival is a great knight in every way, except for one thing: He is terrified that an Underwear Dragon will come and destroy the kingdom. But when the unthinkable happens and Cole is the only knight left standing (and just an assistant knight at that!), Cole must use his newly acquired skills to battle the fearsome dragon and avoid catastrophe. Luckily, an unfortunate underwear mishap changes everything, and Cole triumphs.

Readers of all ages will love the hilarious story, which shows that even knights “cry at sad plays and bad plays, when they step on something sharp or run into a hard wall.” When Cole goes to work as an assistant knight, he has a lot to learn including, “How to ride a horse, and swing a sword. How to paint Sir Percival doing awesome knight poses.” When Cole finally faces the dragon, “he was scared,” but that doesn’t stop him from fighting the Underwear Dragon. In the end, Cole earns his place at Arthur’s Round Table, which will leave readers cheering.

Attack of the Underwear Dragon has a fun storyline with many interesting events. The story is perfect to read out loud because many of the words rhyme. For example, “Underwear Dragons can’t read letters . . . jesters’ sweaters. . . billboards. . . signs for Gil’s Swords. . . party invitations. . . poems about crustaceans. . . royal decrees. . . bath oil recipes. . .” Each page has one to four sentences, making the story a quick read. Not only is the text laugh-worthy, but the pictures give the story an extra dose of silliness. For example, when Cole learns to ride a horse, he slides to the horse’s underside and is clearly confused about how to get back in the saddle.

Readers will fall in love with Cole’s bravery. Despite the difficulties he faces, Cole never complains and keeps getting up even when he’s “knocked down by a knight, knocked over by a princess, and knocked out by a catapult.” Even though the Underwear Dragon is the villain, readers will feel slightly sorry for him and will be eager to see what new trouble the dragon gets into in the next installment of the adventure: Return of the Underwear Dragon. Introduce readers to the joy of reading by pairing the Attack of the Underwear Dragon with Clovis Keeps His Cool by Katelyn Aronson.

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While training, Cole gets “knocked down by a knight, knocked over by a princess, and knocked out by a catapult.” He is not injured.
When Sir Percival jousts with another knight, he is injured. The illustration shows the knight in a full body cast with a band-aid on his head.
The Underwear Dragon “destroyed the kingdom.” The dragon sits on top of the castle and the kingdom is shown with broken towers and smoke coming out of them.
Cole fights the dragon, who breathes fire at him. During the battle, Cole jousts, wrestles, and catapults the dragon. The battle is illustrated over five pages. No one is injured.

Drugs and Alcohol 