Kenny & the Dragon
Written and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
2008
With my second read from the library’s children’s department for the year, it appears that I’m regressing rather than aging. Which might not be all bad. But when Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings reviewed this homage to Kenneth Grahame’s The Reluctant Dragon, I knew I had to read it. Immediately. Fortunately, I was on my way to the library, and fortunately the library had a copy available.
Kenny & the Dragon is a charming tale of friendships, misunderstandings, and overcoming preconceptions: after a dragon, Grahame, shows up in town, our hero Kenny (short for Kenneth, of course) must convince his family and friends that Grahame isn’t like any other dragon before the king’s knight arrives for an execution.
It is an adorable tale, but although I enjoyed the literary allusions (from Wilde to Shakespeare) and the friendship between a rabbit and a dragon, what really made the story—the reason I think to read it—are the lovely illustrations. (In many ways, after all, this is just a new version of Kenneth Grahame’s tale.) Just paging through the brief tale is a delight.
And the best part? Kenny and Grahame both love books!
Simpler Pastimes 
This looks like the most adorable book EVER! (Forgive the superlative, I’m just too charmed by the illustrations and the concept). It sounds like something my nieces would appreciate. 🙂
The whole book is charming and adorable, but it’s definitely the illustrations that win my heart.
I am so glad you enjoyed it. I always worry when I recommend children’s/YA books because I am less sure than any other type of book whether a person will have the kind of connection I had with it. It sounds like you did. It is a very charming book, and beautifully illustrated.
Oh, I did enjoy Kenny and the Dragon very much, and I’m very glad that you posted about it so that I knew to find it. Of course, I have a fondness for dragons (friendly ones, at least), which you couldn’t possibly have known about. 🙂 But yes, very charming, and the illustrations are the making of it!