Izmelda the Fairest Dragon of Them All!

by Joan Marr, Lala Watkins (Illustrator)

Overview

For fans of Interstellar Cinderella, here is a delightful and humorous fairytale twist that turns the tables on princesses and dragons!

When Izmelda and Princess Penelope have a chance encounter, they are quick to measure each other up. Until they realize the best way to make a new friend is to sprinkle in a shift in perspective. This delightful story is an endearing twist on fairy tales where happily ever afters begin with being true to oneself—and accepting others for who they are.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454943525
Publisher:	Union Square & Co.
Publication date:	01/10/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Joan Marr spends her days editing words for grown-ups and her nights writing stories for kids. She has a degree in English from the University of Notre Dame, where she learned how to properly punctuate dragon dialogue. She currently lives in West Bradford, Pennsylvania, with her husband, two kids, two cats, and one very energetic dog. This is her debut picture book. Learn more at JoanMarrBooks.com and on Twitter @joanmarrbooks.
  
Lala Watkins is the illustrator of I Love You More Than Ice-Cream by Becky Davies and Bus Stop by Angela H. Dale. With a degree from Ringling College of Art and Design, Lala has also worked as a product designer, product developer, illustrator, and graphic designer at Sanrio, Paper Culture, and Cartoon Network. She invites you to visit her at acaseoflala.com. 

Editorial Reviews

Whether readers empathize more with fairy-tale–loving Izmelda or independent Penelope, they will enjoy the humorous dynamic, the eventual friendship, and the reminder that it’s important to make time for cupcakes . . . . A cheery subversion of fairy-tale tropes.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-10-12
A dragon really wants to meet a princess, but the princess has her own agenda.

Izmelda, a chubby green dragon in a pink princess dress and pearls, flies off to the nearest kingdom in search of a princess—but Penelope, the princess she finds, is on her way to jester class, and she’s in a hurry to get there before the witches catch up to her. Penelope has brown skin, black hair, polka-dot overalls, and sneakers—not glass slippers—and she’s frustrated by Izmelda’s enthusiasm for typical fairy-tale princess tropes and by the many fans who follow her around. However, Izmelda’s dedication—and her wings—comes in handy when the witches catch up to them, and a friendship is born. Some illustrations are full bleed, while others are vignettes. Izmelda is downright adorable—even her teeth are rounded, not pointy, making for a very gentle story. (The witches’ hats are pointy, but even they don’t pose a threat worse than a delay.) Whether readers empathize more with fairy-tale–loving Izmelda or independent Penelope, they will enjoy the humorous dynamic, the eventual friendship, and the reminder that it’s important to make time for cupcakes (the endpapers feature an array). The ending isn’t quite as satisfying as the buildup, but readers will be pleased to see that it leaves room for a sequel. Human characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A cheery subversion of fairy-tale tropes. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews