Derek Anderson (1969–2024)

"Waking Dragon" was a sweet and simple book, which I enjoyed. Jane Yolen writes about what dragons do when they rise. The story is set up like a poem, there are many rhymes and phrases. For example, "Then all dragons skip and scamper down the hall on four big feet to the kitchen where they eat." There are many sections like this in the book that have a playful and entertaining tone. The book also has the capability of getting into the imagination of the inner child in you. Everyone once show more believed in dragons, and Jane Yolen does a great job of brining your imagination to life. The illustrations, done by Derek Anderson, take up the whole entire page of the book, there is no room left for white. Also, the illustrations take up more space than the actual text of the book. The boy and his dog are very tiny , while the dragons fill up the page. Lastly, Anderson did a wonderful job at making the dragons look sweet and fun, because no body wants a mean dragon. I do not believe that there is a specific message to this story besides that if you have a pet you should take the best care of it, no matter what animal it is. show less

"Waking Dragons" by Jane Yolen is a creative and delightful piece of children's literature. I enjoy the characters and their perspective because it is very unique to have a young boy and his dog help large dragons with their morning routine. I enjoyed the cute details of this book, like the fire extinguisher that the dog had when brushing the dragon's teeth that read "in case of dragon's breath." The creativity of the author and illustrator are evident in the relatable events of the book by show more the ties made between morning routines for people and the suitable way dragon's morning routines work. I also really enjoyed the personification of the dragons. The main idea is one of togetherness and common experience between creatures. show less

When a little knight is tasked with waking the dragons for school by his mother, it proves to be quite the endeavor. Not only do stubborn dragons have to be rousted out of bed, but they must be fed a breakfast of waffles with syrup, and of course, they must be outfitted with the proper gear (goggles and a scarf, if you were unaware, is proper gear for a dragon). Eventually, though, despite a slow start by the disgruntled dragons, the little boy’s tenacity pays off: the dragons are ready show more and able to fly the boy to Knight School as well as go to their own school.

In addition to a rhyming scheme that allows for children to predict the next few lines, the text often takes the shape of whatever is happening (i.e., when dragons skip and scamper, the letters skip and scamper across the page). However, this may cause a problem for children with dyslexia or one that has difficulties with the printed word. Even without the text, though, the illustrations tell a perfect story: the vibrant, bold colors of the acrylic paint illustrations are perfectly suited for a book about beginning the day, and the colors just add to the overall energy of the book. Children will also be amused by the tiny details in the illustrations: for example, when brushing the dragon’s teeth, the little boy’s dog is holding a spray can with the label “In Case of Dragon Breath.” As the dragons become more energized for the day, so will readers, and so this book would be best left to the mornings or afternoons, when settling down isn’t the main goal. Recommended. Ages 3 to grade 1. show less

A note taped to the castle door before the title page reads, "Don't forget to wake the dragons before school. Love, Mom." A little knight does just that, and the dragons provide a ride to knight school! Rhyming text, and a cute twist on a knights and dragons story.