cover image The Dragon Who Wanted to Fly

The Dragon Who Wanted to Fly

Jeffery Comanor, Jeffrey Comanor. Turner Publications Inc, $14.95 (1pp) ISBN 978-1-57036-202-6

Unlike dragons in most storybooks, the dragons in debut author Comanor's universe are decidedly flightless (``Now, you know and I know that dragons have no wings!'' ). A mischievous condor has carried the dragon Fedge to a distant land, ``the Far Country,'' and the stranded dragon can think of no other way to return to his island home than by air. After a few misbegotten attempts to soar-via kite and firecracker-Fedge comes upon a balloon vendor in a park. ``I bet you know what is going to happen now./ Got it?/ You are right!'' the unseen narrator coaches the reader. Although Comanor's theme is indomitability, his doodles of Fedge are tentative, composed of flimsy ink lines and filled in with imprecise watercolor washes of pink, khaki green, soft turquoise and sandy brown. Hand-lettered text reinforces the art's consciously childlike quality. The total effect is, simply, coy. Ages 4-7. (Nov.)