cover image Killian and the Dragons

Killian and the Dragons

Paula Franklin. Silver Burdett Press, $0 (26pp) ISBN 978-0-382-09180-3

This bright and cheerful picture book tells of young Killian, a would-be knight who sets out to rescue a princess from a ferocious dragon. When he finally gets to the dragon's lair, however, he discovers that he has been misinformed: the charming princess and the affable dragon are the best of friends. Although Sauri's pictures are cute almost to the point of preciousness, they are nevertheless imaginative and whimsical. The story itself isn't wildly original, but the text is lively; Gonzales has a good sense of the kind of language that young listeners respond to. (""Suddenly, in the darkness, Killian could see two gleaming dots. Was that the dragon? It must be!'') (3-8)