cover image The Mysterious Misadventures of Foy Rin Jin: A Decidedly Dysfunctional Dragon

The Mysterious Misadventures of Foy Rin Jin: A Decidedly Dysfunctional Dragon

Jim Friedman. HarperCollins Publishers, $15.95 (40pp) ISBN 978-0-06-028000-0

In this cursory, possibly offensive tale, a ""dysfunctional dragon"" runs away from home in shame because he spouts water instead of fire and ends up in a village whose human residents wear kimono-style tunics and live in pagodas. This might lead one to presume that ""Foy Rin Jin"" is an Asian moniker, but this is a very red herring. Instead, the villagers call out ""Foy! Rin! Jin!"" when the unlikely hero quells a fire with his hydrantlike breath: he's a ""fire engine,"" as a transformative closing image demonstrates. Stren (Hug Me) draws with unsteady lines that give the characters a tottering appearance. Her skinny, scarlet beast sports an alligator snout, pointy toes and pathetic posture; he's not at all the muscular dragon of fantasy (a little yellow bird often urges him to ""chin up!"" or offers a tissue to dry his tears). First-time picture book writer Friedman's narrative, presented in a chatty manner, is as long-winded as the scaly protagonist. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)