Picture Book Review – There are NO Dragons in this Book

THERE ARE NO DRAGONS IN THIS BOOK

Written by Donna Lambo-Weidner

Illustrated by Carla Haslbauer

(NorthSouth Books; $19.99, Aged 4-8)

I’m happy to share my review of There are NO Dragons in this Book, the debut picture book written by Donna Lambo-Weidner and illustrated by Carla Haslbauer. If you’re looking for a story with re-readability, this is it!

As a reader and dragon fan, you might wonder if there really aren’t any dragons in this book. “See for yourself. Turn the page and have a look.” This invitation comes via the picture book narrator who has vehemently denied their presence as noted in the title. But note the plural. You’ll quickly see from the cover art, even before opening the book, that one clue is right there on the roof.

Filled with energetic, detailed art, this interactive picture book challenges young readers to look carefully at the illustrations for clever comical surprises that contradict the narration. The children in the first two illustrations and the readers can spot toenails and orange claws from behind an entry bench. So who is that hiding behind a bulky coat?

Of course, the narrator wants readers to ignore the sparks in the fireplace too. The giggle-worthy gaslighting continues in more and more outlandish scenes. Kids get a hilarious peek at the dragon in the toilet staring up at them, or leaving a messy trail from his spiky tail. No matter how hard the narrator tries to convince readers that there are no dragons in the book, they are witnesses to the wild antics again and again. Best of all, the kids are never scared.

In this apartment building, the close-knit residents (primarily the children and the one dad who hosts them) get involved as depicted in the illustrations. They carry on with household chores as if nothing unusual is happening! That is until the kids follow the tail up to the attic and the dragon narrator reveals himself and his sad backstory. He explains that there had been other dragons but they were swallowed up into the well of the book.

With a couple of shakes and a good “JIGGLE!” the dragons that have vanished can be saved. As you can see from the engaging art with its textured, colored-pencil style, it’s easy to get pulled into Lambo-Weidner’s whimsical story. The book ends on a positive note as the missing dragons, now back in the picture, request a title change! What a delight to read this tightly crafted picture book that will entertain both reader and listener alike. And before you book the book down, check out the undies (the art under the dust cover, and also the endpapers) for a treat.

Read a preview here: There Are No Dragons in this Book : Carla Haslbauer, Donna Lambo-Weidner – Book2look