Picture Books about Honesty

November 7 – Tell the Truth, Dragon Book Tour Stop

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About the Holiday

I’m thrilled to be celebrating with Bianca Schulze, Samara Hardy, and Clever Publishing as they add a new book to the beloved Dragon series. They couldn’t have chosen a better time as November is not only Picture Book Month and Family Stories Month but also offers Family Literacy Day (Nov. 1), Book Lovers Day (Nov. 5), Young Readers Day (Nov. 8), and National Young Readers Week (Nov. 14 – 18). To make the most of all these special days, both kids and adults are encouraged to stock up on new books as gifts and for the snuggly fall and winter reading seasons! Today’s book is a great place to start!

I’d like to thank The Children’s Book Review and Bianca Schulze for sharing a digital copy of Tell the Truth, Dragon! with me and offering a small stipend to write a review. All opinions on the book are my own. As part of the tour I’m also excited to be participating in a giveaway of the book. See details below.

Tell the Truth, Dragon!

Written by Bianca Schulze | Illustrated by Samara Hardy

 

From the Publisher

Acknowledging and owning up to a mistake is a very difficult task for children—and it’s not always easy for adults, either! In this most recent installment of the popular Dragon series from Clever, Tell the Truth, Dragon! introduces a situation in which Dragon blames someone else for the mistake she makes. Gentle text prompts readers to encourage Dragon to tell the truth and apologize for her mistake, even though it’s a tough thing to do. Dragon realizes her mistake and offers an apology—and then more than makes up for it!

Designed to be a read-aloud, parents will take pleasure in the playful text as much as children will enjoy following the prompts to interact with Dragon. The whimsical and colorful illustrations enable the dragon to jump off the page and will delight readers with her personality on every page.

My Review

Dragon has discovered “a scrump-diddly-icious-smelling cake” in the kitchen. Her snout gets closer…and closer. Cat and the mice tell her “paws off!” but it’s just sooo…. And now the cooks are mixing the frosting (Dragon’s favorite part!) and spreading that pink sweet yumminess on all three layers! There are sprinkles too! 

While the cooks, Cat, and mice “sweep-etty-sweep-sweep!” the crumbs and sprinkles from the floor, Dragon gets to lick the extra frosting from the bowl and spoon. She loves it “soooooooo much! Lick your lips if you do, too.” The cooks decide they better hide the cake, because you-know-who might just not be able to control herself, but they can’t find the perfect spot and need readers’ help. Of course, you found a terrific hiding place. Now they need your help to distract Dragon. Hey! That stuff you’re doing? It’s working! You’re good at this!

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Image copyright Samara Hardy, 2022, text copyright Bianca Schulze, 2022. Courtesy of Clever Publishing.

Well, it didn’t take long for Dragon to discovered the cake is missing, and just as we all feared, she’s searching everywhere for it. Everywhere. (You know what that means!) Oh no! When the cooks bring the cake out of the fridge to give to the “very special” person it was made for, they see that someone has taken a bite out of the top layer! “Dragon, was that YOU who tasted the cake?” they ask. 

Dragon looks ashamed, but she says, “No?” And then she points at Cat! The cooks stare angrily at Cat, while the mice stare perplexedly at Dragon. Then readers are asked, “Do you think Dragon should tell the truth? If you agree, say… Tell the Truth, Dragon!” With your help, Dragon apologizes and gives Cat a big “I’m sorry” hug. 

But “Oh, no!” Now Dragon is creating a huge mess in the kitchen! What is she making? All I can tell you is that it’s going to be “scrump-diddly-icious” and the first slice is for someone very special. Can you guess who that is?

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Image copyright Samara Hardy, 2022, text copyright Bianca Schulze, 2022. Courtesy of Clever Publishing.

The newest book in Bianca Schulze’s Dragon series is a cause for celebration, and she’s given us just the cake to do it with! As in her previous Dragon books, Schulze’s conversational, smoothly flowing storytelling engages kids to interact with the story in fun and meaningful ways. In Tell the Truth, Dragon, Schulze’s vivid writing is infused with feelings and motivations we all share, allowing kids to recognize and understand the complex emotions surrounding the events in the story.

Here, it’s easy for children to empathize with Dragon’s excitement and impatience to try this cake that has all her favorite elements. But when she’s caught and blames Cat, it’s up to readers to convince her to tell the truth. Schulze’s directly addressing young readers in this way provides an opportunity to get them thinking and talking about why Dragon should be honest, what’s holding her back, and why she lied in the first place. From there, adults can add more personal examples to the conversation to get children making their own connections.

And the icing on the cake is that this story is also just plain fun, with plenty of giggles, the return of much-loved characters, and lots of chances for kids to join in the action.

In Samara Hardy’s fresh and vibrant illustrations, kids will love seeing these beloved characters having a new adventure with Dragon. As the batter and frosting are mixed and the sprinkles fly in the cooks’ cozy kitchen, children will be as excited as Dragon, and when they’re asked to help hide the cake, the cooks’ first attempts will generate lots of laughs and reasons why certain hiding places just won’t do. The cooks’, cat’s, and Dragon’s facial expressions give kids clear evidence of their feelings while providing opportunities for them to talk about how they know a character is excited, sneaking, surprised, upset, sorry, or forgiving and why. Dynamic typefaces prompt kids to join in on fun-to-say phrases as well as the interactive elements of the story.

Humorous, fun, and sure to inspire thoughtful conversations, Tell the Truth, Dragon! is a must for all home, classroom, school, and public libraries. 

Ages 3 – 7

Clever Publishing, 2022 | ISBN 978-1954738034

Meet Bianca Schulze

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Bianca Schulze is the founder and editor of The Children’s Books Review – a resource devoted to children’s literature and literacy. Bianca is also the bestselling author of 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up, an Amazon “Book of the Month” in 2016. She is a reader, reviewer, mother, and children’s book lover. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Bianca now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

Discover more about Bianca Schulze and her books at biancaschulze.com. You can connect with Bianca on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Meet Samara Hardy

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Samara Hardy is an illustrator and designer who has created artwork for clients across the globe for greetings cards, stationery, homewares, children’s books, and much more.

To learn more about Samara Hardy, her books, and her art, visit her at samarahardy.com  You can connect with Samara on Instagram | tumbler

Tell the Truth, Dragon Giveaway

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Click the image below (or click here and scroll down) for a chance to win a 4-book set of the Dragon series—including a copy of Tell the Truth, Dragon! autographed by Bianca Schulze—a framed ‘Growing Readers’ print illustrated by Samara Hardy, and a $50 Bookshop.org gift card!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

  • An autographed 4-Book Set of the Dragon series, including:
  1. Don’t Wake the Dragon, signed by Bianca Schulze
  2. Just Be Yourself, Dragon!, signed by Bianca Schulze
  3. Who Loves the Dragon?, signed by Bianca Schulze
  4. Tell the Truth, Dragon!, signed by Bianca Schulze
  • A framed ‘Growing Readers’ illustration by Samara Hardy (Art Size: 7″ x 7″; Final Frame Size: 12.88″ × 12.88″)
  • A $50 Bookshop.org gift card

Two (2) winners receive:

  • A copy of Tell the Truth, Dragon!, signed by Bianca Schulze

To Enter just click the image below, scroll down, and follow the directions!

Tell the Truth, Dragon! by Bianca Schulze | Awareness Tour

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This Tell the Truth, Dragon! Book Tour is sprinkled with lots of treats and surprises! Don’t miss a day!

Book Reviews of Tell the Truth, Dragon!

Upcoming Reviews

Interviews with Bianca Schulze

A Tell the Truth, Dragon! Book Activity

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You can find Tell the Truth, Dragon! at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop 

Picture Book Review

April 12 – D.E.A.R (Drop Everything And Read) Day

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About the Holiday

National D.E.A.R. Day is celebrated every year on April 12th in commemoration of Beverly Cleary’s birthday. D.E.A.R. stands for Drop Everything And Read and encourages families to set aside at least thirty minutes to enjoy reading together. Beverly Cleary, who recently passed away at the age of 104, gave the world such unforgettable characters as Ramona and Beezus Quimby, Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy, and the motorcycle-riding mouse, Ralph S. Mouse. You can learn more about D.E.A.R. Day and find resources and tips for reading with children on the Reading Rockets website.

Thanks to Lerner Books for sending me a copy of Pirates vs. Monsters for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Pirates vs. Monsters

Written by David Crosby | Illustrated by Lee Cosgrove

 

“Three pirates met up at the old Parrot’s Head, / to brag about monsters they’d each left for dead.” Over a few mugs of frothy grog, while the fog rolled in over the pier, Hector took the stage first. His gold teeth glinted in the light as regaled the others with his tale of besting the Hockler, who could “spit globs of poison straight into your eye.” While the pirates were enjoying deep belly laughs over Hector’s adventure, an eerie ship pulled into port.

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Image copyright Lee Cosgrove, 2021, text copyright David Crosby, 2021. Courtesy of Maverick Arts/Lerner.

Next up was Pirate Sue. She climbed atop a barrel and told a hair-curling story of defeating the Crunk, “‘…a two-headed beast” who’s heads took turns feasting and sleeping. The three pirates were laughing so hard that they didn’t see three shrouded shapes leave the spooky ship. Finally, it was George’s turn to tell his story. Holding his peg leg aloft, he began. “‘The Muncher,’ he snarled, / ‘bites pirates on sight. / He ate my left leg but did / not get my right.” To beat him, George tricked the Muncher into swallowing an anchor festooned with sharp points all around by dressing it up like a pirate scarecrow.

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Image copyright Lee Cosgrove, 2021, text copyright David Crosby, 2021. Courtesy of Maverick Arts/Lerner.

The pirates were rolling on the floor in hysterics when a “BANG!” shook the door. The piano player screamed as in burst the Hockler, the Crunk, and the Muncher. The three pirates ran for their lives from the Parrot’s Head. Hector dove off the pier, Sue took off down the pier, and George leaped through the window.

With grog in their claws, “three monsters met up at the old Parrot’s Head, / to brag about pirates they’d faced and had fled.” But who told the truth and who was a liar while telling brave tales in the glow of the fire?

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Image copyright Lee Cosgrove, 2021, text copyright David Crosby, 2021. Courtesy of Maverick Arts/Lerner.

David Crosby’s story of three pirates and three monsters who love bragging about their exploits will have kids guffawing along with Hector, Sue, and George as they crack each other up with their tales of daring do. Crosby’s madcap rhymes are a joy to read aloud, especially using dramatic inflection to wring out all the arg-mosphere and suspense of this surprising story.

Lee Cosgrove’s cozy Parrot’s Head, with its crackling fire; wooden barrel tables; swords, swordfish, and skeleton décor; and scruffy piano player is the perfect pier-side hangout for a jovial tankard of grog. Even the dog wears an eyepatch. Images of the pirates and monsters will have kids giggling, and close examinations of the pages reveal plenty of humorous details like the island map on the wall of the Parrot’s Head that looks suspiciously like the “globs of poison” the Hockler spits, the curly hair sprouting from the skull on Sue’s hat that mirrors her own, and George’s heart-print underwear.

A treasure for kids who love pirates, monsters, and a funny story with an unexpected ending, Pirates vs. Monsters makes a fun go-to book for boisterous story times at home, in the classroom, and for public library collections.

Ages 4 – 9

Maverick Arts Publishing/Lerner, 2021 | ISBN 978-1848867086

You can connect with David Crosby on Twitter.

To learn more about Lee Cosgrove, his books, and his art, visit his website.

D.E.A.R Day Activity

CPB - Bookworm Book (2)

Bookworm Bookmark

 

For all you bookworms out there who love to read, here’s your very own Bookworm Bookmark to color and put between the pages of your favorite story!

Supplies

  • Bookworm Bookmark template
  • Heavy stock paper (optional)
  • Colored pencils or markers
  • Scissors

Directions

  1. Print out the Bookworm Bookmark template
  2. Color the bookworm
  3. Cut out the Bookworm
  4. Cut the Bookworm’s mouth at the dotted line. The top part of the bookworm’s mouth hangs over the page and marks your place!

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You can find Pirates vs. Monsters at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review