Shelf Awareness--Rory the Remarkable Dragon

PB Review: Rory the Remarkable Dragon

Rory the Remarkable Dragon by Kathryn Rammell (Orchard Books, 40p., ages 4-8, 9781339043159)

Rory the Remarkable Dragon is the lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek tale of a small, white chicken in a big dragon world.

Rory, a "remarkable dragon," attends the Dragon Academy with "all the other remarkable dragons." On her first day, the students "take a loooong look at her..." because, well, clever readers will immediately notice that Rory is not a dragon--she's a chicken. Even though Rory's flight lessons and Pyro PE go poorly, she's embraced by her classmates and teacher, and becomes "the most popular dragon in the school." But the suspicious principal feels that something isn't right. When Rory doesn't eat the roast chicken served for lunch, the principal growls, "I knew from the start something was afoul with you! You're not a 'remarkable dragon.' You're a.../ VEGETARIAN DRAGON!" Rory's great discipline means she is ready to become the "youngest treasure guard in dragon history!"

Debut author/illustrator Kathryn Rammell presents an amusing tale of mistaken identity, and the fact that Rory is so clearly a chicken should make it easy for little ones to be in on the joke. Digitally created characters are full of personality: Rory's mismatched eyes somehow manage to convey multiple feelings without really changing; her orange teacher over-emotes; and the principal, with her oversized pink glasses and matching lipstick, is grumpily suspicious. Prominent text bubbles advance the waggish text and the fun-yet-valuable message that being true to yourself means you get to guard the treasure--or, actually, that simply being yourself is the greatest treasure of all. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.