The Truth About Dragons

Maybe those old maps that show monsters in the margins along with the warning, "Here there be dragons," are right. They can be anywhere, everywhere. With the way they seem to take up all the room, it might be hard to navigate around them. They may have "terribly sharp teeth," but look closely and you will see that "their socks don't always match." 

I know what you are thinking. "Dragons wear socks?" These do. They also carry lunchboxes, "rattle and rumble" around the library, and need their rest. As you and your favorite young reader make your way through the story, you will slowly realize that these dragons are really just other children at school. They may roar and defend their territory, but they can also be great at follow-the-leader or make wonderful drawings.

As the protagonist overcomes her nerves and relaxes, she finds that the dragons transform into friends and playmates. They kick off their shoes at naptime, find treasures on a nature walk, and share the playground's clubhouse. And if another dragon comes along, they may just give her enough courage to venture out and learn that someone meeting her for the first time may see her as a fierce dragon, too.

These colorful beasts make the average first day of school seem tame in comparison. Perhaps a reader who is nervous about their own first day may feel a bit braver after embracing their inner dragon. The library scene with the titles of dragon stories cleverly included is especially appealing to book wyrms.