One Little Dragon by Michael Yu and Dagmara Gąska
Published: Fat Moon Books, 2014
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Drake is a little dragon who likes to play outside. He observes a group of children who regularly meet in the same place and longs to join them but he’s afraid they might be afraid of dragons. His mother encourages him to approach them and a chance rescue from an apple tree brings the dragon and a boy named Bill together. Not everyone accepts the new friendship and Drake has to overcome that prejudice.
Although the message can be heavy-handed, the dragon is an appealing and earnest lead. I particularly enjoyed the quick glimpse into his home life when his mother advises him in a greenhouse big enough for a family of dragons. The story is told in rhyme, which is usually unnecessary, but Yu keeps the language simple so the verses don’t have to stretch to find the rhythm.
I was blown away by Dagmara Gąska’s color work, a journey in color-theory that makes every page pop. Most of Gąska’s professional portfolio is filled with dark and brooding fantasy concept work and Yu’s dragon books are an interesting departure. Drake’s brilliant shade of fiery orange stands out against trees and bushes in cool blues amid swirling clouds and blades of grass.
The formatting works well on digital devices. The illustrations, locked in horizontal mode, incorporate the text boxes to keep the display consistent. At the price point, One Little Dragon is a visually stunning way to approach topics like acceptance and overcoming shyness with children.