A Dignity of Dragons by Jacqueline K. Ogburn

A Dignity of Dragons by Jacqueline K. Ogburn, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli

Rating: G; 5 stars

Summary: You know that a group of lions is a pride, and a group of fish is a school. But did you know that a group of dragons is a dignity? This short book is filled with group names for both common and obscure fantasy creatures. There were many creatures that I hadn't even heard of (and I say that as an avid reader and writer of fantasy). The back of the book includes descriptions of each creature mentioned.

Opinions: Conceptually, this book is really cool. It's quirky and clever, and I feel like there's been a place for this book within fantasy for years. But what really drew me in were the stunning illustrations. They are absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to find some more books illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli. There are many books that can be boiled down to either writing/concept or illustrations, but I don't think that's the case with this book. Both work together seamlessly to create a picture book that is sure to be well-loved. At the risk of sounding like I'm gushing, let me make this clear: I don't read many picture books, at least, not when there aren't small children around me. I was nearly late to class in my rush to check this book out from the library. It was worth it. I enjoyed this so much. It took me maybe five minutes to read. Maybe. But the beauty of this book and the lasting impression is wonderful. The excellent concept was handled deftly, and that combined with the illustrations made this a wonderful book. It was such an excellent experience that I almost forgot it was indeed a book that I read. Silly me. So seriously, this is a good book.

And, since this is such a short review (sorry, I'm not used to reviewing such short books!), time for some housekeeping things. No, this blog is not dead. I'm back at school now, so I'm trying to catch up on actually reading books and writing reviews. I'm definitely doing at least one a month now. I'll try to do every other week and hopefully build up to every week again. I miss being able to update every week. I'm trying, guys. Please bear (bare?) with me.

Also, it's Banned Books Week! Yay! This is my favorite week of the year (although the fact that it's necessary is upsetting). I would have loved to do a detailed post on book banning, but again, I am back in school, and that means that ALL THE TIME is gone. So here's a substitute: read banned books. They are good for your character and are filled with fiber.

Again, I'll try to stay on top of things from now on. I love you all, my dear readers!

The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech

The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech

Rating: G; 4 stars

Summary: The Castle Corona is a lively tale about a royal family (king, queen, princess, and two princes) and two orphan peasants. The king loves sleeping and hates his itchy robes. The queen hates always being less than the king. One prince is a poet, the other, a warrior. The princess is spoiled and rude, but doesn't seem to enjoy being this way. The two orphan siblings work hard for a mean master, just as many fairytale characters do. The book starts out with the peace in the kingdom being disturbed by a thief, the first in its history. As the book goes on, certain circumstances bring the royal family and the two orphans together. They all grow to love each other and...well that would be giving away the ending.

Opinions: This book wasn't at all what I expected. It was shelved in my library with teen books, when it probably really belonged with independent reader books, such as The Tale of Despereaux (more on that comparison will follow). However, despite it being a children's book, it was an excellent read. It reminded me a lot of Despereaux, which I absolutely devoured when it was released, and still find occasion to read at least once a year. It seems to me that they have the same target audience in mind: same genre, vocabulary level, themes and morals, etc. They were both printed not only with reading in mind, but also with sharing: each chapter of Corona is headed by a full-color illustration. And though the illustrations didn't appeal to me as much as Despereaux's (after all, who can resist a cute and cuddly mouse?), the fact that they were there was a delight. The book may have been told simply, but I feel that it is an excellent book for all ages nonetheless. It is a perfect "bedtime story" type of book: read a chapter or two a night, perhaps even alternate the parent and the child reading.

Now as for the 4-star rating, there was nothing in particular I didn't like about it, there just wasn't that "wow" that expect from a 5-star book. It is an excellent book, and I think readers of all ages and types will enjoy it to some degree.