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Summary
Summary
Wouldn't it be fun to have a dragon for a friend? But that's not going to happen if you don't know the rules. Simon's big sister, Emma, knows them all: DON'T poke a dragon when he's taking a nap; he might sneeze fire. DON'T be surprised if the dragon fries some eggs with his breath. DO be sure to wear a seat belt should you ever ride on his back...Simon is determined to master every last rule, because then maybe, just maybe, he'll get the chance to embark on what is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime.
Author Notes
Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky and the Big Bad Wolves and Where Is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky and the Big Bad Wolves and Where Is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Simon, a mischievous little boy, is a big fan of all things dragon. He would like nothing better than to become friends with a "real" dragon. His older sister, Emma, an adorable, bespectacled know-it-all, offers him many rules for befriending one. Starting with not scaring the dragon and being nice, her guidelines include wearing a seatbelt when flying on his back, not poking the sleeping creature in the nose with a stick, and saying "thank you" when he fries up some eggs in his mouth. The beast, initially portrayed as an oversize green plush toy in Simon's arms, becomes enormous but friendly looking in the "rules" pages, with tufted ears and horns and an affable expression. Bright, mostly full-page watercolor and ink illustrations in Gorbachev's characteristic style are brimming with gentle humor. Pair this book with Jack Kent's classic There's No Such Thing as a Dragon (Golden, 2001) or David Biedrzycki's Me and My Dragon (Charlesbridge, 2011) for a fun, fire-breathing storytime.-Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Young Simon "loved everything about dragons." But when it comes to achieving his ultimate goal-as articulated by the title-he must rely on his older sister, Emma, for pointers. "If you ever meet a dragon, don't show that you are scared of him," she decrees, as Gorbachev (Shhh!) offers a splendid watercolor-and-ink image of Simon's first encounter with a supersized green beast that breathes fire but has kindly eyes. If readers think that the story's going to be Simon's show after that, they're in for a strange ride. Emma continues to issue a long list of befriending instructions; Simon assents to each one, though he is often seen breaking the rules in the illustrations, swinging from the dragon's tail or waking him up with a poke to the nose. The dragon, who lives in a stately castle and wears a chef's apron when he fries eggs in his mouth, indeed seems like a friend worth courting. But with Emma controlling the strings, Simon's fantasy feels more like a marionette show than something he owns. Ages 4-7. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.