A warmly inviting tale starring a hero who’s cool under pressure.
A dragon who can’t breathe fire? Unheard of!
After Diego Fuego is born into a family of fire-breathing dragons living on Tierra del Fuego, the island group at the southernmost tip of South America, his extended family warmly welcomes him, but they soon realize something is amiss when Diego uncontrollably sneezes ice instead of fire. The family doctor delivers a surprising diagnosis: Diego is allergic to smoke! Determined to support him, Diego’s family members adjust their fiery habits, avoiding smoky outbursts and blazing roars as much as possible. Still, Diego, who can’t join in the flaming fun that the other young dragons enjoy, finds it hard to navigate friendships. On top of Diego’s smoke sensitivity, his frosty breath irritates family as he inadvertently freezes hot drinks and sprinkles snowflakes on his sister’s homework. Everything changes when Diego is caught in a house fire and discovers the unexpected benefits to his icy roar. This tale about the softer side of dragon lore wraps up a bit tidily, and some may be frustrated that Diego finds a happy ending only after what makes him different proves useful. Still, it’s a heartwarming story, featuring a supportive family and an endearingly resolute protagonist. Morales’ cartoonish images brim with goofy exuberance, and accessories such as earrings, hairdos, and hats give the characters personality. Spanish words and phrases are woven naturally into the dialogue throughout.
A warmly inviting tale starring a hero who’s cool under pressure. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 22, 2025
ISBN: 9780593750322
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
An immersive, charming read and convincing proof again that even small bodies can house stout hearts.
Can knightly deeds bring together a feathered odd couple who are on opposite daily schedules?
Having won over a dragon (and millions of fans) in the Caldecott Honor–winning Knight Owl (2022), the fierce yet impossibly cute nocturnal, armor-clad owlet faces a new challenge—sleep deprivation—in the wake of taking on Early Bird, a trainee who rises with the sun and chatters interminably: “I made pancakes! Do you like pancakes? I love pancakes! Where’s the syrup?” It’s enough to test the patience of even the knightliest of owls, and eventually Knight Owl explodes in anger. But although Early Bird is even smaller than her mentor, she turns out to be just as determined to achieve knighthood. After he tells her to leave, she acquits herself so nobly in a climactic encounter with a pack of wolves that she earns a place at the castle. Denise proves a dab hand at depicting genuinely slinky, scary wolves as well as slipping cheerfully anachronistic newspapers and other sight gags into his realistically wrought medieval settings to underscore the tale’s tongue-in-cheek tone. Better yet, a final view of the doughty duo sitting down together to a lavish pancake breakfast/dinner at dusk ends the episode in a sweet rush of syrup and bonhomie.
An immersive, charming read and convincing proof again that even small bodies can house stout hearts. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9780316564526
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
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