Magoon's exuberant art recalls classic characters, most particularly Max in his wolf suit. . . . Fanciful pretend play for the dragon-slaying preschooler.
Kirkus Reviews The dark color palette and mischievous nature of the text are reminiscent of Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back (2011)—albeit with a different final outcome.
Booklist Magoon’s bold, angular, digitally rendered drawings capably juggle action, ... Read moresuspense, and comedy. . . . By focusing on Theodore’s thoughts and perspective, Lehrhaupt adds unexpected nuance to this David and Goliath story—it’s not clear who’s the aggressor and who’s the victim. What is clear is that size doesn’t matter and laughter trumps fear.
Publishers Weekly Smartly designed, the book features bold digital illustrations full of amusing characters and suspense. For much of the book, only Theodore’s eyes shine out of the cave’s darkness, but they convey everything readers need to know to catch the spirit of the story. As the well-paced, entertaining tale unfolds, the seasons quietly change in the background, and the endpapers show the meaningful transformation of the gray leafless area surrounding Theodore’s cave into a lush and colorful landscape—a metaphor for Theodore’s own blossoming through friendship
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