Kenny & the Dragon

Kenny & the Dragon tells the story of Kenny, a young rabbit who discovers a dragon named Grahame living near his family's farm in the medieval countryside. While the townspeople fear the dragon's presence, Kenny learns that Grahame is a civilized creature who loves books, poetry, and picnics. Kenny finds himself caught between protecting his new friend and supporting the town's dragon slayer - a gruff badger named George who happens to be Kenny's other close friend. As tension builds in the village, Kenny must find a way to prevent conflict between the two. The tale draws inspiration from Kenneth Grahame's "The Reluctant Dragon," updating the classic story for modern young readers. DiTerlizzi's illustrations enhance the medieval setting while bringing warmth to the cast of animal characters. This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, prejudice, and the importance of looking beyond surface appearances. The story demonstrates how creativity and understanding can triumph over fear and misunderstanding.

Readers note this children's book provides a gentle retelling of Kenneth Grahame's "The Reluctant Dragon" with charming black and white illustrations. Parents and teachers report it works well as a read-aloud for ages 7-10. Readers liked: - The focus on friendship, prejudice, and peaceful conflict resolution - Detailed artwork that enhances the story - Accessible vocabulary for young readers - Humor that appeals to both children and adults Readers disliked: - Pacing felt slow in the middle sections - Some found it too similar to the original source material - A few noted it was too advanced for early chapter book readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (230+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "Perfect for teaching kids about looking past stereotypes," wrote one parent reviewer. A teacher noted: "Students connect with Kenny's dilemma between loyalty to old and new friends."

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo A mouse befriends a princess and battles palace rats while learning about honor, courage, and unlikely friendships.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin A young girl embarks on a quest with a dragon to change her family's fortune through Chinese folktales and mythology.

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis A dragon transforms into a human and pursues her passion for chocolate-making while navigating the complexities of human relationships.

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke A silver dragon teams up with a human boy to find a safe haven for dragons while evading a dangerous creature determined to hunt them down.

The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame A poetry-loving dragon and a boy challenge stereotypes by proving that dragons and humans can be friends rather than enemies.

🐉 Author Tony DiTerlizzi was inspired to write this story after reading Kenneth Grahame's "The Reluctant Dragon," a tale that similarly features a bookish young rabbit and a poetry-loving dragon 📚 The book's main character, Kenny, is named after Kenneth Grahame, paying homage to the author who inspired the story 🏰 The medieval village setting combines classic fairy tale elements with modern touches, like Kenny's love of books about rockets and science 🎨 DiTerlizzi, who illustrated the book himself, is also known for co-creating "The Spiderwick Chronicles" series and winning a Caldecott Honor for "The Spider and the Fly" 🤝 The story's central message about friendship and understanding others before judging them was partially influenced by DiTerlizzi's own childhood experiences as someone who didn't quite fit in with his peers