A Campfire Tail

by Sarah Glenn Marsh, Ana G mez (Illustrator)

Overview

Ever been stuck with a friend who’s totally uncool—and worried that it will rub off on you?
Welcome to Camp Wildwood! It’s Dragon’s first day, and his buddy would LIKE to show him a good time. But Dragon doesn’t seem to fit in with the boys and girls. He overturns the boat, ruins the puppet show, and even sets the tent on fire. Then, just as his buddy is about to give up, Dragon comes through in a pinch. This sweet, funny picture book teaches an important lesson about the true meaning of friendship—and in accepting the strengths and weaknesses of others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454919933
Publisher:	Union Square Kids
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	310,223
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 18 Years

About the Author

Sarah Glenn Marsh writes fantasy and horror novels for young adults, as well as children's picture books. She received a master’s degree in education from the University of Mary Washington before deciding to pursue her dream of being a writer. She lives in Richmond, VA, with her husband and four greyhounds. Her debut young adult novel, Fear the Drowning Deep (Sky Pony Press), was released in September 2016. Visit her online at sarahglennmarsh.com or on Twitter: @SG_Marsh.

Ana Gómez is an illustrator living in Madrid, Spain. She is also the illustrator of Bow Wow Meow, El Amigo Perfecto, and the hilarious Hedgehog and Rabbit series.

Editorial Reviews

2018-03-04
There's s'more to camping with a dragon than meets the eye. Lots of kids are scared at their first day of sleep-away camp, and dragons are no different. Taking pity on a quaking reptile, the human narrator offers to be his buddy. A dragon should be a fun companion, but when swimming, sailing, tug of war, archery, horseback riding, and even a puppet show go wrong, the two become the camp pariahs. The narrator even begins to rethink their choice of buddy. When Dragon's attempts to remove a spider get a bit incendiary, it's the final straw, and the narrator throws him out of the tent. Then Dragon disappears. All the campers go searching for him, becoming frightened by the growling of something big and scary in the forest. Then Dragon appears, and "the angry creature is gone." The bulk of the book is a pedantic tale advocating patience with those who are different, while the climax is simply confusing: Was Dragon the "angry creature," or did he scare one away, as the campers believe? Happily the bright and cheery illustrations compensate for the text. Though the dragon remains mute, the art renders him expressive and emotional. The narrator is a blond, pigtailed, bespectacled white child, while the other campers display some diversity. In the end, the most notable feature of the book may be that the setting is a sleep-away summer camp rather than a backyard. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews