When a king discovers that there are still singing moon dragons high up on the mountainside, he offers a room full of gold to anyone who can bring one to him. The beautiful dancing dragons only reveal themselves to Alina, a young peasant girl, but she preserves the secret of their whereabouts, knowing that there are some things far more precious than a room full of gold. The Moon Dragons is an enchanting fable with coupled with gorgeous pictures.
I’m liking
This book is one of those gems where it’s almost impossible to say whether the text or the images is better. The story has a clear moral but it’s subtle and carefully woven. There’s nothing heavy-handed or moralistic about it. My daughter and I had quite a conversation about whether it’s ok to tell lies and the consequences of our actions. I also loved the brave and strong female protagonist.
The images in this book are absolutely outstanding. they have almost a photo quality to them and I loved the use of angles and slight blurring to the images.
The conclusion
This is my children’s current favourite picture book and it stands up to many repeat reads. It’s rich and moving and will be one that we return to many more times, I’m sure.
The Moon Dragons is published by Andersen Press and has a RRP of $29.99
