Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon

Gr 4-6–Equal parts travelogue and fantasy, this is a gentle coming-of-age story that introduces readers to the country of Iceland. Twelve-year-old Johan adores his grandpa Siggy, although the two of them seem quite different on the surface. Grandpa Siggy is tall with a red-and-white streaked beard, while Johan is small with dark hair and eyes. Still, they share a love of adventure—a love that takes them to Iceland on a mission to re-home Dreki, the dragon that has been living in Grandpa’s basement. When Siggy falls ill, Johan must confront his fears in order to return Dreki to his rightful place on the Arctic Ocean. Logue does a lovely job introducing readers to Icelandic culture, describing everything from the language to the food, stories, landscape, and family life while crafting Johan’s magical journey. This book has the whimsy of How To Train Your Dragon but also weaves in serious themes of aging, sickness, grief, and loss. It manages to be educational while also telling an endearing story about Johan’s connection with his grandfather and the little dragon who used to live with him.