A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey

 

              A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey is an easy reader book about a friendly blue dragon named…well, Dragon. He is lonely and would like a friend, so he goes on a search for one. While he is sitting under a tree, an apple falls into his lap. A sneaky snake decides to play a trick on Dragon and pretends to be the voice of the apple, telling him that he wants to be friends. Dragon is overjoyed to find a new friend, but will it be possible to be friends with an apple?

              I have to admit, I am not very familiar with popular easy readers these days, so I once again looked at a teacher’s blog for some suggestions. The Dragon series was highly recommended by several blogs, so I decided to give the first one a try. The story was simple yet enjoyable.

              Like I said, this is a simple book, and that goes for the plot as well. It’s almost predictable at times, but I think it’s one young readers will really enjoy. The storyline is humorous and will keep readers laughing as Dragon tries to get his apple friend to participate in activities he thinks good friends take part in. The simplicity is what makes it perfect for children who are in their early stages of reading. The plot doesn’t take a lot of thinking, they can just sit back and enjoy.

              The main character, Dragon, is also a delight. I would describe him as being a little dense, but that doesn’t make him any less loveable. There are moments where I wanted to hit the palm of my hand on my forehead because of some of the choices he made, but these silly choices also made the story more humorous. I think readers will have no choice but to support Dragon in all his antics.

              Pilkey’s illustrations have signature style that I don’t know how to describe, there are just a certain way his pictures always look. The illustrations did a great job of reinforcing the text he wrote. Like during the part where Dragon makes a meal for himself and his apple friend, he is dismayed when the apple doesn’t eat its share. After feeling sad, his feelings quickly change to longing for the apple’s portions. The reader can easily see the look of desire on Dragon’s face as he stares at the heap of food.

              This is a fun and entertaining book that is sure to be a favorite among young readers. I know reading the first book in the series left me wanting more, so I can see children feeling the same way. Dragon is a sweet character that kids are sure to feel many emotions for. I give this book four out of five stars.

Pilkey, D. (2019). A Friend for Dragon: An Acorn Book (Dragon #1). Scholastic Incorporated.