Written by Bianca Schulze
Illustrated by Samara Hardy
Age Range: 2-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1949998641
Publisher: Clever Publishing (July 28, 2020)
What to expect: Interactive Adventure, Bedtime Story, and a Dragon
Shh! Get ready for quiet (and not so quiet!) fun with DON’T WAKE THE DRAGON!
It is bedtime in the castle, and Dragon is snoozing peacefully. Thank goodness! But what’s this? You’ve turned the page, and now the bedroom door has slammed shut! Will Dragon keep sleeping? It’s a castle full of hijinks, with boisterous cooks banging around pots in the kitchens and friendly Knights celebrating a birthday party way too loudly. You’ll be singing Happy Birthday, dancing a Knightly-jig, and interrupting all the mayhem by tapping on the drum with your little one as readers try – and fail! – to keep the noise down and Dragon fast asleep. So what’s to be done when Dragon wakes up? Why, sing a well-loved Dragon lullaby, of course!
This delightfully fun story is ready for bedtime. Children will sing, dance, and interact with the sweetest burnt-red Dragon around. Talented debut picture book author Bianca Schulze’s story dances off the page, inviting young readers to join in the zany world of Dragon’s castle. Perfectly paced, DON’T WAKE THE DRAGON starts the story on a rambunctious note but works its way down to a smooth, calm ending that will tuck little readers right into bed. Schulze has a way with pacing that helps lull tiny tyrannical dragons children to sleep.
Samara Hardy’s illustrations are magical. There’s an adorable cast of characters, including charming little mice, scampering over the pages. And the human characters are superbly diverse and engaging. Even the page numbers get the royal treatment with tiny crown embellishments. The cover boasts fun, shiny silver stars and a darling Dragon that begs to be taken off the shelf.
Schulze and Hardy make a dynamic duo, pairing the best of charming prose and illustrations to excellent effect. Full of laughs, singing, and a few wiggles, DON’T WAKE THE DRAGON is a fantastic addition to a child’s library—highly recommended.
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About the Author
Bianca Schulze
Bianca Schulze is the founder and editor of The Children’s Books Review – a resource devoted to children’s literature and literacy. Bianca is also the bestselling author of 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up, an Amazon “Book of the Month” in 2016. She is a reader, reviewer, mother, and children’s book lover. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Bianca now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.
biancaschulze.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
About the Illustrator
Samara is an experienced freelance illustrator and designer who creates artwork for greetings cards, stationery, homewares, children’s books, and much more. She has worked with clients across the globe to create tailor made design solutions for a varied customer base. She is represented by Plum Pudding Illustration.
samarahardy.com | Instagram | Twitter
Don’t Wake the Dragon, written by Bianca Schulze and illustrated by Samara Hardy, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like Don’t Wake the Dragon by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Bedtime Stories, Bianca Schulze, Dragons, Interactive Books, Picture Book, and Sleeping Books.