Customer Reviews

Kenny & the Dragon

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed reading "Kenny & The Dragon" to my students (k-5th grade) almost as much as they enjoyed listening to the story. I am slightly biased as one of my most favorite books/cartoons as a child was "the Reluctant Dragon." The book opens in a unique way that pulls you into the story - "Many years ago ...Hold on, I know what you are thinking. You're thinking a book about a dragon should start with 'Once upon a time.' " begins the opening line. My students started laughing out loud as I read through the introduction titled "Before I Forget."
In the story, the little bunny named Kenneth (Or Kenny as he likes to be called) is very imaginative, creative and intelligent. He learns that a lot of research must go into something before it can be stated as fact when he meets Grahame ("like the cracker but with an E") the dragon and sees he is nothing like what the bestiary book describes. The book follows the same story-line of "The Reluctant Dragon" with a few changes here and there to embellish it. Boy meets dragon - dragon is a lover of nature & literature - boy introduces dragon to knight - Dragon and Knight put on a grand show of a fight - everyone loves the dragon in the end. My students' attention was held from the beginning to the end. The bonus: Thanks to DiTerlizzi's clever mentions of a few other subjects and book titles throughout the story, my students have now requested I read "Wind in the Willows" as our next book among a few other titles and subjects.

What an adorable story. This book is written by Tony DiTerlizzi, who also wrote "The Spiderwick Chronicles", so you know that this author can write. It is a story of a rabbit named Kenny who befriends a peace-loving dragon. Seems simple enough, except that the other villagers have some misconceptions of what a dragon is and decide to dispatch the dragon. My 8-year-old dragon loving son found the story very enjoyable. He could have read the story himself, but since his 6-year-old sister also wanted to hear the story, I read it to them. My daughter also throughly enjoyed the story. Her only complaint was "there should have been more girls in the book" :) The chapters are short so that makes it nice when reading outloud. (Personally, I could not stop at just 1 chapter, I think I enjoyed reading this story as much as my kids enjoyed hearing it)

Author/illustrator DiTerlizzi should be patted on the back for his latest work. This book, based on the story of the Reluctant Dragon, offers the adventure of a young rabbit who loves to read and finds a friend in a similarly-minded drake. The story is full of whimsy and clever jokes that, coupled with the beautiful interior sketches, will make both child and parent adore reading the book aloud. Perhaps the best thing about this is that is shows how imagination can save the day. Highly recommended.

Kenny Rabbit has always been a little different. While most in the tiny farming town of Roundbrook are, indeed, farmers, he is a perpetual bookworm and dreamer, always with one fanciful notion or another in his head. But now it appears that he may be just a little too different for the citizens of Roundbrook - after all, who on earth has a dragon for a best friend?

When the villagers learn of the dragon running loose over the countryside, they immediately designate it a scourge and mark it for imminent extermination, to be carried out by a dragon-slayer! Can Kenny figure out a way to make the villagers see the truth? Can he save his best friend?

KENNY & THE DRAGON is a touching tale of friendship that draws inventively from the classic story of St. George and the dragon. Kenny Rabbit is a protagonist you can't help but root for, and the illustrations in this book are simply adorable. While the prose in KENNY & THE DRAGON is a little cumbersome at times, it is not enough to detract from the charm of the tale, and the lessons taught are an effortless part of the story.

Children will be drawn in by the unique and lovable characters of Kenny Rabbit, Grahame the dragon, and George himself, and take away heartfelt lessons of courage, friendship, and diversity.

Reviewed by: Rebecca Wells

This book is both written and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi. This is a fantastic story of a young bibliophile named Kenny. Kenny has always felt a little on the outside - he loves books, and his pursuit of knowledge is almost relentless. At school when he has to do presentations the other students become bored and have even fallen asleep. Then his life changes drastically for his father finds a dragon in his pastures on their farm property. Kenny goes to investigate.

Kenny's only close friend in town is a retiree named George who owns a bookshop in town. It was from George's shop that he has borrowed a book called The King's Royal Bestiary. This book had a section on dragons so Kenny took it with him when he went to investigate the dragon his father found. The dragon was not at all what he expected. First the dragon's name is Grahame, and Grahame loves books, poetry music and dessert.

Kenny wants George and Grahame to meet but something gets in the way. The town finds out about the dragon, and The King has commissioned his champion to kill the beast. Kenny must find a way to save his friend.

This is a great adventure. Kenny is a smart young boy who loves books. He also loves adventure and he faces a battle. DiTerlizzi has created a wonderful story. It would be nice to meet Kenny again in further adventures.

In this charming book for young readers, a little rabbit named Kenny befriends a dragon, and then has to convince the terrified villagers that this particular wyrm has no plans to put them or their crops on the menu.

The dragon lived on Shepard's Hill
Just near the Parrish Creek
Young Kenny Rabbit ventured near
So he could sneak a peek

Grahame was the dragon's name
Like crackers with an "e"
He and Kenny soon were friends
And bonded happily

But far too soon the news got out
Spread by the town naysayer
The King issued a summons for
His trusted dragon slayer

So what on earth can Kenny do?
Is Grahame to be slain?
The rabbit has to find a way
To stop the hate campaign

According to the English tale
St. George defeats his dragon
But hopefully this time around
There won't be a toe tag on

Told in simple language and beautifully illustrated, this book would be fun reading for the 8 to 10 age group. It emphasizes the benefits of reading and creative thinking, the dangers of jumping to conclusions, while stressing the importance of a support network of family and friends.

(Note: I did think it rather strange that a rabbit who runs a farm and lives near a village of talking animals manages to own a flock of non-talking sheep, but I'll put that down to artistic license and maybe some dumb sheep)



Amanda Richards, September 13, 2008

I ordered this book to see if my grandchildren, who love to read, would like it. Well, I haven't seen them lately so I read the book. It is a delightfully entertaining yarn that our children can read without parents fearing that they may learn things that they might not approve. I am 61yrs old and am young at heart and always love to read light hearted fantasy tales. I have read the Harry Potter series at least three times. I will add to this review as soon as I get a book report back from my grand daughter. She reads lots of books and promises me that she will give me a book report. I will publish it here word for word (even the misspelled words).

"Kenny and the Dragon" is written by Tony DiTerlizzi, one of the people who brought us The Spiderwick Chronicles. The story isn't the most original, but well, there you are. It's a boy meets and befriends dragon, townspeople want to kill dragon story, it does sounds quite familiar, but it is well told and the illustrations are quite whimsical. This is a fantastic book for younger readers who don't yet have the ability to persevere through the Harry Potter series. At a short 151 pages it's a quick read. After reading it, I read it to our children at bedtime
Kenny Rabbit is a character that any introverted person reading can identify with, and his ingenuity does save the day, though not quite in the way that's expected. The dragon, Grahame, is an intriguing creature who shares Kenny's love of literature. He'd rather eat desserts than people, and is not a fighter. ). DiTerlizzi pays homage to "The Reluctant Dragon" not only naming the characters Kenny and Grahame but mentions it in the novel. DiTerlizzi has created a wonderful fantasy world filled with talking rabbits, dragons, badgers, possums and porcupines. Kenny is a great storybook character, he's brave enough to face the unknowns and to defend his friend, as well as smart enough to figure out a plan to save the day. Grahame is also a great character - a funny dragon that doesn't seem to realize that the people in the little farming town of Roundbrook are afraid of him. Children will be drawn into the story by the unique and lovable characters, and come away several heartwarming lessons of courage, friendship, loyalty and diversity.

Kenny and the Dragon is brought to us by half of the fantastic Spiderwick Chronicles team. The storyline isn't the most original, (boy meets dragon, boy becomes friends with dragon, townsfolk want to kill dragon...) but it is well told and the accompanying illustrations are delightful. This is a great book for middle readers who don't have the stamina or the stomach for (the suspense and violence of) Harry Potter. At 151 pages, it's a good size for graduates of books like The Magic Treehouse series.
Kenny Rabbit is a character who every introverted reader can identify with, and his ingenuity does save the day, though not quite in the way we expect. The dragon, Grahame, "like the cracker, but with an e" is an intriguing fellow who shares Kenny's love of fine literature. He'd rather eat creme brulee than people, and he has no desire to fight.

Kenny and The Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi, who, in part, brought us Spiderwick Chronicles sends us on a magical journey that will stay in our hearts.. a very long time.

Kenny, a young hare, becomes inquisitive about a Dragon that is said to be in the hills of his communty of Roundbrook, after his father claims to have seen the beast, with glowing eyes. Kenny wants to do his own field study for an oral report at school and sets off in search of the wild beast which he comes across early on in the book. The creature proves to be a rather intelligent and sort of Renaissance type fellow who endears himself to Kenny and his family. The towns people hear news about the Dragon and want it exterminated immediately! What is Kenny to do? He must find a way to help his new found friend.

The book is filled with friendships, loyalty, battles and the power of will. We meet some interesting Characters, reminisce of Narnia meets Pete's Dragon. The story kept my 10 year old asking "and then what happened" which is always good in my book.

I think DiTerlizzi does a great job at delivering exciting images and fantasy into young minds all over the world. Kenny & the Dragon is an adventurous story that teaches us about friendships, how they are developed, and most importantly, shares with us the gift of honoring, cherishing and defending the ones we love. Highly recommended read for children between the ages of 7-11.