Book Review || Kenny & the Dragon

Kenny & the Dragon
Tony DiTerlizzi (illustrated by author)


Published: 22 September 2008

Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 160p.
ISBN: 9781416939771

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.

Kenneth is a little rabbit with a very big problem. His two best friends are heading for a battle of legendary proportions - with each other! In one corner there's Grahame, a well-read and cultured dragon, with sophisticated tastes and no stomach for battle. In the other, there's George, a retired knight and dragon slayer who would be content to spend the rest of his days in his bookshop with a pipe and a good book. But when the townsfolk catch wind there's a dragon running loose in the countryside, and call George out of retirement, the stage is set. And it's up to Kenny to avert disaster. A fun-filled, thoroughly theatrical spin on a classic tale of subterfuge and showmanship. 

Found this book in a thrift shop for $1 and couldn't resist.  I love all things dragons, and when it is combined with a gorgeous cover and sketch illustrations... well, I had to buy it.

The story follows the shy and introverted, Kenny, who is a bookworm at heart.  He doesn't really have friends at school, and when his father comes rushing home to inform the family that a mean and vile dragon has moved into the neighbourhood what does Kenny do?  He consults a book. 

It is this kind of atypical behaviour in our main character that I found endearing.  As a bookworm myself, I find it is a trait not often portrayed in a positive light.  DiTerlizzi however, manages to make this part of the charm of the book. 

Like most good children's books there is a moral, or two, that shine through and the main thoughts I took away from Kenny & the Dragon were

a) never believe everything you hear/read
b) never judge a book by it's cover

I won't go into where, or how, these morals are implied as that just might spoil the book for you.  But there is a real undertone in this book that shines through and a good example to use in a discussion with children about how not to judge people, and why you shouldn't believe everything just because it is printed in a book.

As with most fantasy books there is some action - a dragon-slayer is called upon to rid the town of the vile dragon! - but rest assured, it is not scary, and I would have no hesitation in recommending it to parents of young kids. 

On to the artwork.  The author has generously dotted sketches throughout the book.  A small character study here, a full page there.  They are so adorable.  Kenny, this scrawny little rabbit is so sweetly drawn that you just want to pat him (I used to have a pet rabbit and it brought back all the feels).  Grahame is not your typical dragon and the dragon-slayer riding in in all his glory was just delightful.

This is my first book by Diterlizzi, and I found it to be smashing.  Will definitely be checking out The Spiderwick Chronicles.

My rating:

Hope you enjoyed this review.  I would love any recommendations for similar books so please leave any suggestions in the comment area below.

Until next time,

 

Cat's meow

Trying to take a photo of a cat that can't seem to stay still is a pain in the butt!  However, I did manage to snap this one a little while ago.  This is the first time I've seen it since I took it, and I just had to share it as I may never get her to sit still again ;-D

Cute squatter

I just finished watering my pot plants on the balcony and picked up a plastic bucket (to water my wisteria) and found a beautiful green tree-frog mooching in the bottom.  It jumped up my arm and wandered onto my shoulder, watching me fill the bucket.

So cute, I put him back onto the fern.  Fingers crossed he hangs around.

Spider Update

Oops, nearly forgot.  Remember that funky spider I spotted on my rose?  Well, it turns out that she was just a large, but common variety of garden spider.  My bad! {hangs head in shame}  I finally got a good look at her after sunset.  She was not the best subject to photograph as she kept moving or curling up into a tight ball so the quality of the photo isn't that great.

PS - she must not have liked the fact that her picture was going to be posted online as she scarpered the next day.

Weird spider

This has to be the weirdest spider that I have ever seen.  She has built a nest in the petal of my rose bush.  Her green colouring meant that I nearly touched her when I went to wipe what I thought was a catapillers silk off the leaf.  It gave me one heck of a shock I can tell you.

I called out to my aunt, who is an ex-Pest Inspector, to find out if she recognised it.  All she could tell me was that it was a garden spider of some variety.  It's like nothing we've ever had here.  She is a pretty apple green colour with black dots on her thorax similar to a ladybeetle.  On her butt on either side of her spinners are 2 black dots that look like eyes.  Do you recognise what kind of spider she is?  If so I'd love to find out.

How Cute!

Australia Zoo,on the Sunshine Coast has welcomed a baby white Rhino calf in the wee hours of this morning.  The newborn - who weighs in at more than 60kg (ouch!) - was born at 3.15am to mother Caballe.  This is her 4th calf, but the first born to the zoo.  Incidentally, Caballe is originally from Hamilton Zoo, NZ.  I've been watching 'The Zoo' on Gem that shows a behind the scenes look at the Hamilton and Auckland Zoo's.  Don't remember seeing her yet, but maybe in future eps.

The SMH has posted an online article with some photos of the new bub here.