Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon [Paperback]

Jules Bass (Author), Debbie Harter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

All the dragons in the forest of Nogard like nothing better than raiding Castle Dark and carrying off princesses to eat all the dragons, that is, except one. Herb is at his happiest tending his vegetable patch, for Herb is a vegetarian. So it is unfortunate that he is the one captured by the castle s knights in armor. Treacherous Meathook and his dragon cronies will only help Herb if he agrees to eat meat will he give in to their blackmail? Jules Bass s lighthearted story combines with Debbie Harter s jaunty illustrations to make this a hilarious picture book that also offers young readers plenty of food for thought.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A decidedly moral tale involving a bevy of knights, damsels, and dragons, as well as a brave girl named Nicole. The only vegetarian dragon in a land full of carnivores, Herb peacefully tends his garden while others of his species munch on the castle's inhabitants. When the knights decide to catch and behead any dragons they can find, poor Herb is easily apprehended and imprisoned. He is about to be wrongly executed for the murders when Nicole steps in (and into his mouth) to prove his innocence. Using Herb as an example, the king makes a bargain with the rest of the dragons: if they agree to stop eating people, then the knights will stop hunting them. The carnivores agree, and there is a happy ending, as "dragons and people, meat-eaters and vegetarians, live together in peace and harmony." Some of the scenes are a little scary, especially the one in which Herb is tied down in preparation for beheading by a man in a black hood. However, the tone of the text remains light and the cartoon illustrations are humorous, with googly-eyed dragons and people being eaten without apparent pain. Herb is the goofiest dragon of all; he always seems to be gazing lovingly at some living thing. Lush with growing plants and green grass, the artwork is filled with details that readers will pore over.
Susan Marie Pitard, Weezie Library for Children, Nantucket Atheneum, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A magical read for all new readers, young and old; Herb's story tells the tale of the future." --Sir Paul McCartney

"Lush with growing plants and green grass, the artwork is filled with details that readers will pore over." --School Library Journal

"The book's case for vegetarianism and understanding of differences is further enhanced when accompanied by the author's Cooking With Herb: A Cookbook for Kids.... Amusing illustrations characterize both works; the recipes and safety tips in the cookbook will help kids enjoy cooking while learning good kitchen habits." --NAPRA Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (July 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905236476
• ISBN-13: 978-1905236473
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #590,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't eat people, December 6, 2004

By 

Clarissa Belle "connoisseur of children's music" (Gill, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon (Barefoot Books) (Hardcover)

I adore this book, and my five year old delights in it as well. The message is excellent -- some people (and dragons) like to eat meat, some people (and dragons) like to eat veggies, and no one should eat people. I like that it isn't the least bit preachy. I happen to be a vegetarian, and my husband and child are not, and it isn't about one kind of eating being better than another, just different. If you have a "mixed" eating family like mine, or if your meat eating child has vegetarian friends, or your vegetarian child has meat eating friends, or if you enjoy any well-written, well-illustrated children's book, then this book belongs on your shelf.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars beautiful art but mixed messages, December 28, 2002

By 

AineMama (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon (Barefoot Books) (Hardcover)

...is just beautiful--the art throughout the book is the same colorful, vivid style as on the cover. However--there's a lot of text which makes it somewhat tedious for beginning readers, and I was rather shocked by both the text and pictures--even though the protagonist is veg, the book's message is more about tolerance for others' choices then portraying any one dietary choice as better than any other. ... This book leaves out the "why" of vegetarianism, which is for many parents the main thing they are trying to make clear to their children when buying a pro-veg book such as this. My personal qualms with the foggy message and the violence depicted are such that if it wasn't for the AWESOME artwork I would consider actually getting rid of it....

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!!!, May 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon (Barefoot Books) (Hardcover)

I was amazed when a fellow friend and I stumbled onto this book. The details in the pictures are great and the book has an excellent message for children. At the time, I hesitated buying it, but after thinking about it for awhile, I have to get this book. Being a vegetarian myself and having numerous friends who are raising vegetarian children, this is a great book to give them. It shows that it is ok to be different. Thank you both for writing such a great book.