100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli

A refrain-like structure and boldfaced numerals chronicle a series of dragon subtractions and additions in this mathematical word problem turned picture book. After a “tremendous wind” whisks away the first 50 of 100 mighty dragons “all named Broccoli,” LaRochelle (How to Apologize) reveals the fate of the remaining half: for starters, “10 dragons sailed away on a cruise ship and became professional surfers in Hawaii. This left...// 40 mighty dragons, all named Broccoli.” The remaining creatures’ adventures include rocking out as a New York heavy metal band, riding a scooter in Paris, rocketing to the moon, and playing for the Green Bay Packers. Freewheeling acrylic and colored pencil illustrations by Cho (It Began with Lemonade), which portray a wide diversity of dragon types and colors, render their arrayed fates in pages that evoke a nonstop dragon party. The migrations leave one lonely, red-horned dragon dwelling in the once-bustling mountain habitat, but not for long; when she eventually emerges as a mother of dragons, a final spread reveals monikers for the 100 new youths. Comically specific outcomes and locale shout-outs make a close look of this bustling read irresistible. Human characters are portrayed with varied skin tones. Ages 3–7. (Apr.)