Gramps and the Fire Dragon
Author | Bethany Roberts |
---|---|
Illustrator | Melissa Iwai |
Language | English |
Genre | Children's fiction |
Published | Spring 2000[1][n 1] |
Publisher | Clarion Books[3] |
Publication place | United States |
Pages | 32[3] |
ISBN | 0-395-69849-9 |
Gramps and the Fire Dragon is a 2000 book by children's author Bethany Roberts, with illustrations by Melissa Iwai. The book, which tells of a grandson and grandfather who must escape a dragon that emerged from the flames of their fireplace, was published to positive reviews.
Plot
[edit]One night, a boy named Jesse asks his grandfather (nicknamed "Gramps") for a bedtime story near their fireplace. The latter tells of a dragon within the flames, which grows in size and prompts the two to escape from its path until Jesse extinguishes it with a water hose.[3][4][5]
Development
[edit]Illustrator Melissa Iwai, who hailed from Lompoc, California, respectively modeled Jesse and Gramps after her husband Denis (via portraits from his youth) and Denis' own father.[1]
Reception
[edit]Amid positive press, reviewers noted the fast-paced proceedings in Gramps and the Fire Dragon,[3][4][5] and also noted that Jesse and his grandfather's victory was never in doubt for the sake of young readers.[3][4] Barbara Buckley of the School Library Journal commended the friendliness of the titular dragon's design, and "the use of two-page spreads [which] highlights the crisis spots in the text."[3] Shelle Rosenfield of Booklist said, "[Their] adventure ends on a warm, comforting sleepy-time note, as it celebrates both the delights of storytelling and the special relationship between grandparent and grandchild.... The exciting and sometimes silly story conveys a message about love and sharing".[4] In 2001, Gramps was honored as a Children's Choice selection by the International Reading Association and Children's Book Council.[2][6]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Poe, Brenda (July 11, 2003). "Woman enjoys working for kids". Santa Maria Times. Santa Maria, California. p. C6. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Kumar, Lisa, ed. (2010). "Roberts, Bethany 1949–". Something About the Author. Vol. 202. Gale Research. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-4144-3499-5. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c d e f Buckley, Barbara (November 2000). "Review: 'Gramps and the Fire Dragon'". School Library Journal. Vol. 46, no. 11. p. 130. ISSN 0362-8930. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d Rosenfield, Shelle (January 1–15, 2001). "Review: 'Gramps and the Fire Dragon'". Booklist. Vol. 97, no. 9/10. pp. 970–971. ISSN 0006-7385. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b "JS" (Spring 2001). "Preschool: 'Gramps and the Fire Dragon'" (PDF). The Horn Book. Vol. 12, no. 1. p. 22. ISSN 1044-405X. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Children's Choices for 2001: Young Readers: 'Gramps and the Fire Dragon'". The Reading Teacher. 55 (2). International Reading Association/Wiley: 178. October 2001. ISSN 0034-0561. Retrieved July 9, 2023 – via JSTOR.