The Bakery Dragon

by Devin Elle Kurtz

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Ember can't understand why he's constantly overlooked — even if he is more adorable than formidable. Whet your appetite and join this little dragon on a quest to find himself.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The heroic tale of a tiny dragon with a heart of gold and a taste for treats! A scrumptious picture book for fans of funny fairytales and fantastic beasts.

Ember has always been different from the other dragons. His fearsome roar sounds more like a polite sneeze, and when he breathes fire, the villagers just pat his head and say awwww.

Ember fears he’ll never collect a respectable hoard of gold until a chance encounter with a baker causes his fortunes to turn (and his stomach to grumble). As the little dragon soon discovers, the gold you make is way better than the gold you steal—and gold that is shared? That’s best of all.

Magic shimmers on every page of Devin Elle Kurtz's feel-good picture book that celebrates baked goods, dragons, and generosity in equal measure. Filled with adorable illustrations, this is a perfect read aloud for bedtime or brunchtime!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593710968
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	10/01/2024
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	335
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Devin Elle Kurtz lives in Pasadena with her dog, Kira, and her thirty-three houseplants. She's been painting in Photoshop since the age of two when her artist mom first offered her a tablet pen. Her focus is magical scenes that combine fantasy elements with environments that feel visceral and real. She has worked in the animation industry as a background painter/designer and visual development artist since 2017. She was the lead background painter on “Disenchantment” at Rough Draft Studios from 2019-2021, and has contributed to publications such as Beasts of the Four Nations, Escape from Atlantis, How to Heal a Gryphon, and Mother of Sharks. The Bakery Dragon is her first picture book as an author-illustrator.

Editorial Reviews

★ 07/08/2024

Like all dragons, little Ember loves gold. He first appears curled up on a huge glowing pile of coins and other glittering objects, a cache that belongs to one of the big dragons who regularly rob the local village. When Ember tries his claws at theft, though, he’s a complete washout (“How adorable!” a child responds). Tired and reluctant to return to the lair empty-handed, Ember falls asleep in front of a warm bakery window. After a massive storm rolls in, the kindly local baker offers shelter, and teaches the dragon to make golden loaves of bread so delicious that the other dragons are willing to pay anything for them—and maybe even give up their larcenous ways. Kurtz (Mother of Sharks), making a polished solo debut, leavens digital illustrations reminiscent of classic animation with smart narrative pacing and a wry sense of humor. Chef’s kiss panels devoted to Ember’s apprenticeship and skill at breadmaking (even his hand-washing seems purposeful) are so winning that readers may well clamor to get their hands on some dough. Ages 4–8. Agent: Seth Fishman, Gernert Company. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

★ "Chef’s kiss panels devoted to Ember’s apprenticeship and skill at breadmaking are so winning that readers may well clamor to get their hands on some dough." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Standout visuals bring a delectable tale to life." —Kirkus Reviews

"[A] sweet, luminous picture book....This cheerful, friendly story of someone small accomplishing something big should resonate with little readers." —Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

2024-07-04
Ember the dragon realizes that his true skill isn’t stealing gold, but rather baking and sharing it.

Try as he might, tiny, adorable Ember doesn’t measure up to his fellow dragons, who excel at scaring villagers into handing over their gold. After a kind baker offers him shelter during a storm, he learns her trade and bakes a batch of droolworthy, toasted golden loaves. Once the other dragons get a taste of his delicious baked goods, Ember and the baker establish a successful business arrangement, and he finally finds his (baker’s) gold. Ember is an approachable dragon, with a glint in his eye, deep-red scales, and a confident, pint-size stance. Little readers will appreciate his tenacity and triumphant discovery of a special talent. The illustrations are a feast for the eyes—in particular, a scene depicting a giant chamber filled with piles of gold, even a golden toilet! Images of the cozy bakery, the sumptuous baked goods, and the gleaming sunrise are suffused with an appropriately golden glow. The message is clear, the story well told, and the dragons and baked goods appealing and fun. The red-haired baker presents white; villagers of color appear as well. The dragons vary in size, color, and features.

Standout visuals bring a delectable tale to life.(Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews