Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library

Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library is both humorous and practical advice. In this rhyming picture book, the protagonist wants to bring a dragon to the library–an authentic childlike aspiration providing wholesome imaginary fun (and good material for illustration). The majority of the book consists of explanations from the librarian as to why bringing a dragon to the library is inadvisable.

The illustrations are bright, colorful, and action-packed. Though it’s not clear why different types of dragons were used in each example of why dragons don’t belong at the library. Does the protagonist have a zoo full of dragons at home? The book promotes diversity, with two main characters of color. Readers who enjoy “Easter eggs” will get a kick out of clever image background details like the name of the library (Honalee).

The rhyme meter is mostly solid. Although the book does not offer any rising tension as the protagonist struggles to achieve his desire. And, in the end, it is not the protagonist who solves his own problem. The finale does offer a pleasing twist and conveys the theme that if you are creative, you can sidestep a rule.