Henry and the Chalk Dragon
Author: Jennifer Trafton
Published April 27, 2018
Page Count: 223
When imagination is allowed to run wild sometimes it can take on a life of it’s own. When Henry Penwhistle (also known as Sir Henry Penwhistle, Knight of La Muncha Elementary School) draws an amazing dragon with chalk it decides it wants to leave his canvass (his door with chalkboard paint) and go to the school. Henry and his friends Oscar and Jade must figure out a way to stop the chalk dragon before something terrible happens. Can they vanquish this destructive artistic foe before he destroys their school, ruins the food art show, or eats a board member?!?! Find out in this whimsical book in the vein of Roald Dahl that will tickle children’s imagination and help adults remember how to imagine again.
Reading Audience:
This book series is advertised for five to ten year olds. I would guess a eight to ten year old might be able to read it on their own. The chapters aren’t long and its a shorter book, but there are some big words. The audio book is around 4 hours long.
Stuff to be aware of:
One character used words he learns from the dictionary as insults to hilarious results. The kids chase down a dragon and fight it during most of the book. That’s about it.
Overall:
Trafton’s writing reminds me of Roald Dahl books (Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, etc.) and is dramatic and full of magic. This is a children’s book at heart that teaches some good morales while having lots of fun. I enjoyed this short read and would suggest it to younger readers or families that read out loud together. Some of my favorite parts were that many adults can’t see the dragon because they are busy being adults and there is a damsel that rescues boys in distress. Older children and adults may not get into it much because of the targeted audience.
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