When You Meet a Dragon

PreS-Gr 3–When a dragon starts wreaking havoc on a city, what do its denizens do? Rally their friends, of course! Written in the second person, this picture book shows that a united community can tackle even the biggest, scariest problems. The prose does come off as a bit preachy and on-the-nose at times, but the illustrations tell a hopeful, dynamic story with a colorful cast of characters. The people fighting the dragon are a variety of ages, abilities, skin tones, and genders, while the main character looks young with dark skin and hair. Even a raccoon joins in! The ending is happy but not clearcut, and the story is more about the journey, regardless. The short sentences and narration make the book a good choice for readalouds, while bright, lively images provide plenty of visual interest. Possibly triggering to some children are the intense images of overturned cars and smashed windows, but the friendliness of the illustrations and a big dose of courage prevent the story from being frightening.