Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Dragon's Child
Illustrator: Alan Marks
Fiction
For ages 8 to 10
Orchard Books, 2008 ISBN: 978-0545064682
There once was a dragon child who could not learn how to fly. Try as he might, he could not get off the ground. This became a big problem when it was decided that it was time for the dragon group to fly to their homeland forever. Dando's mother tried to carry her child on her back but he fell off and she kept on flying, not realizing that he was no longer aboard. And so Dando was left behind, all alone.
Soon after Dando fell to earth a ship full of fierce looking humans arrived. A friendly orphaned bird warned Dando not to have anything to do with the humans. He told Dando that humans are dangerous and not to be trusted. Unfortunately, one of the humans, a pitiful little girl captive called Manon, saw Dando and she immediately felt a connection with the little dragon. She kept his presence a secret but the son of the human chief, Lord Drum, saw Manon with the dragon and he sounded the alarm. Soon after Dando was captured and put in a cage. Manon was extremely sorry for Dando and promised that she would try to find a way to free him.
In this very moving and magical story readers will meet four lonely and lost youngsters who each need to find place in the world. What they discover is that they are strongest when they work together. This story was not only written for dragon fans, but it was also written for people who feel alone and who wonder if they will ever find a happy place where they can be themselves.
This beautifully written and comforting story is a real treasure.
