Customer Reviews

The Library Dragon

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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As a corporate librarian by trade and a public library volunteer, I had to buy this book for myself. However, as much as I (an adult) got tremendous pleasure from the book, it was even more enjoyable to see the rapt faces of the children to whom I read it at the local library. They loved the story, and were impressed with the bravery of Molly Brickman as she educated the Library Dragon on how children can responsibly enjoy the library. In my copy of the book, the dragon actually felt scaly, though I am not sure if it was deliberate on the part of the publisher. Great book, I highly recommend it!

"The Library Dragon" is one of a handful of titles that I read EVERY YEAR in our elementary school library. It is read at the beginning of each school year to first, second and third graders (and they never get tired of it).

While it is delightful, spellbinding story, my motives go beyond entertaining the kids. This hilarious tale is an excellent way to discuss proper care of library books. After all, my students don't want to see me, their librarian, turn into a fire-breathing DRAGON!

By the time the students reach third grade, I have them begin to look for the puns and plays on words pertaining to fire, heat and smoke. Author/illustrator Carmen Agra Deedy got all "fired up" with her "burning" sense of humor. To introduce the concept of puns, we make comparisons to the Amelia Bedelia books, that they already know and love so well.

I love "The Library Dragon"!! Why? It is so clever in illustrations but more so in word play. There is a flip doll The Library Dragon Flip Doll that goes with this book to show the dual nature of both the dragon and the librarian. I am burning to explain!

A dragon is hired by the principal to protect the library books. In order to do that, she gets rid of all the old books and replaces them with nice, new, clean books. Everyone knows the ONLY way to keep them that way is to keep them on the shelves. So Library Dragon institutes new policies: no books out, no children in. After weeks of no story time in the library, the children begin to suffer from withdrawal.

As often happens in fairy tales anything can happen and does. Molly Brickmeyer has lost her glasses and cannot see beyond her hand. She wanders into the library, a book drops into her hand--Library Dragon is fast asleep-- and she starts reading aloud. Little children hear her and wander into the library to listen. Then Library Dragon awakes and an ancient memory crowds her brain. She takes the book and begins reading.

What happens afterward is the stuff of happy endings. Suffice it to say that scales are involved and a tail and one lap.

Other related books to look at are:
The Shelf Elf
Mr. Wiggle's Library
Library Lion
Tomas and the Library Lady (Dragonfly Books)
Wild About Books (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards))

For the first time, my 4-year-old nephew sat enthralled and enchanted by a book that was not about construction or train equipment. He talks about the Library Dragon and wants to read it every day. The illustrations are beautiful, and the prose is right on target for children just beginning to understand the library and its vital function in communities. Perhaps the best message of the book is the emphasis on taking care of books for others to enjoy.

The first thing I look for when buying any book is "originality of the idea" ... and this one is THAT and more. This talented author is certainly her own woman ... the ideas are all her own, not a carbon copy of anyone else's.

I was excited to see what the Library Dragon, Miss Lotta Scales, was going to do next. Very interesting story with a happy ending that kids can relate to.

My "scales" are off to this very inventive writer!

My preschooler and first grader love this book, but best of all, so do I! It's one of those books that is entertaining to readers of all ages. You really just have to read it to understand how fun it is.

I think that all ages up to fifth grade would like this book because it is very interesting.I especially think that the upper grades should read it because there are words which are very difficult to understand. The book is about a dragon who is hired to guard the library. She replaced all the old books with brand new books. Her name was Miss Lota Scales. The children were not allowed to take any books off the shelves because the books were only on display. One day a little girl lost her glasses on the floor and ran into the shelf. A book fell on her lap. She put the book to her face and started to read it. Kids from all over the school were there to hear her read. It was just like storytime. Then Miss Scales took the book and began to read it. While she was reading, her scales came off. When all her scales were gone, she was a very nice person.

The Library Dragon is cute down to every detail. One must have the book in his/her hands to get the full impact. Before the book even starts there is an advertisement for a new librarian. No wonder a dragon applies for the job. They needed someone to set the library on fire! There are lots of plays on words that can be used with fourth and fifth graders. I have used it with third graders as an introduction to our library program. The Library Dragon is a fun read aloud book to start off the new school year. A must have for every library.

The main cahracter in this book, is Miss Lotta Scales. The two minor characters are Miss Lemon and Molly Brickmeyer. This story takes places in Sunrise Elementary School. Their only problem is that their new librarian is a dragon, who wouldn't let any of the children touch the books. She made sure that none of the students got close to the books, for fear that they would wreck them by getting their little, sticky fingers all over the pages of the books. She got rid of any book that made dragons sound horrible and mean. The children started to hate library day. The principal tried to compromise with her, But she wouldn't listen to him.
Miss Lemon, the kindergarten teacher, also tried to reason with Miss Lotta Scales. She told Miss Lotta Scales that the students miss storytime. Miss Lotta Scales just laughed and didn't really care about what the other teachers thought, especially sweet, Miss Lemon. That same day, Molly Brickmeyer found her way into the library on accident. She lost her glasses, and couldn't see anything without them, unless it was right under her nose. Molly ran into a bookshelf and a book fell off and landed in her hands. She opened it and began to read it out loud.
Soon all the children heard her reading the story, and gathered into the library. Everyone was listening to her, even Miss Lotta Scales. Miss Lotta Scales started to approach Molly and.... Read this excellent book to find out what happens to Molly and all the other children at Sunrise Elementary School. I thought this book was cute, and had great little side jokes if you look at the pictures. This book is something that the whole family can enjoy. It shows how some people can have a change in heart, with a little help from children.

This book is a realistic measure of librarians in the minds of young children. When first introduced to the library at their elementary school the list of rules can intimidate children. The person who personifies those rules can come across as a bit of a monster. However, once they are exposed to each other, the children warm to the librarian and soon consider her to be a dear friend. I was involved in the PTA where my daughter went to elementary school and witnessed this transformation firsthand.
Miss Lotta Scales is a real dragon and the new librarian. Her rules for library use are fierce and she backs them up with rhetoric that is fiery in the literal rather than figurative sense. However, once one little girl with bad eyesight takes a book and begins reading it to the other children, Miss Scales takes over and literally cracks up. The scales fall off and underneath there is a sweet Miss Lotty that the children adore. Library time is now a time to look forward to and enjoy rather than dread.
This is a delightful book about the fears that all children beginning elementary school have. I recommend it to all parents of such children.