Imagine a Dragon - Hardcover

Laurence Pringle is the recipient of several awards for his body of work, including the Washington Post-Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award. He lives in West Nyack, New York.

Eujin Kim Neilan is the illustrator of The Best Winds, by Laura E. Williams. She lives in Natick, Massachusetts.

Grade 1–4—Pringle explores the history and traits of Eastern and Western dragons. He suggests why ancient civilizations might have believed in them and differentiates among their traits in different parts of the world. Illustrations, done in acrylic in a somewhat dark palette, invite readers, as the title suggests, to use their imaginations. All are filled with swirling colors, a few so kaleidoscopic that viewers must search for the creatures among the curves and lines. Patterns in backgrounds and borders reflect the various cultures from which they come. Among the eye-popping dragon books published recently, this one has a more scholarly feel. The summaries of stories about these mythical animals lack the richness of true storytelling, but the book will show young readers that there is much to learn about dragons and may lead them to research and dreaming of their own.—Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PA
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