Jeanette Stampone (text) and Novia Heroanto (illustrator), Dragon Guest Handbook, Wombat Books, August 2024, 30 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781761111686
If a dragon should happen to unexpectedly arrive at your home, this handbook aims to guide you through their visit!
Step-by-step, many different scenarios are described as the boy and the dragon get to know each other and explore places and different activities. Together, they catch different modes of public transport and visit the museum and the zoo. They go surfing, hang gliding and ballooning, then have dinner at a restaurant. Of course, communication is an issue as the boy and the dragon do not share the same language or customs, so much of this involves a fair amount of chaos, which continues once the pair are home and preparing for bed. A friendship develops, despite the obvious difference between the two characters.
Young children may find humour in the dragon’s behaviour, and it does afford opportunities to discuss issues such as language barriers and social practices.
The final page portends the next event, as three more dragons who have been watching the first dragon with the assistance of IT, swoop down to join the fun!
Reviewed by Bronwyn Joseph
