I am a Dragon! A Squabble & a Quibble
In this story, a cohort of frogs encounters a dragon in their pond. Based on what they see and what they have heard, they decide with certainty that the dragon is, in fact, a frog. When the dragon becomes so frustrated that he emits a burst of fire, the frogs are finally convinced and apologize for their misjudgment. Watercolor illustrations, handwritten text, and honest and expressive characters will draw readers into this tale of listening and understanding. The frogs say this book is a great choice, but don’t take their word for it. You need to find out for yourself!
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
To set the stage for reading, adults can talk with children about the characteristics of both frogs and dragons. What characteristics are the same? Which ones are different? One of the frogs in the story thought he fell off a rock when he really fell off a turtle! What characteristics are similar between the rock and the turtle? What are their differences?
In this story, the dialogue is shared among the dragon, the turtle, and many of the frogs. Reading with expression increases children’s interest and engagement in the story and helps them understand the emotions of the characters. Adults can practice different voices and tones they feel are a good fit for each character in the story. Upon repeated readings, children may want to try voicing one or more of the characters, too.