Oh No, Little Dragon!
Oh No and Uh Oh! Little Dragon has accidentally lost his spark. One moment, he was huffing and puffing, streaks of fire here and there, and the next, he swallows a little too much water in the bathtub—just enough to douse his flame. He tries valiantly to rekindle the flame, using tactics like eating hot chili peppers and dressing in his warmest clothing. Just when he thinks that nothing can put a spark back in his heart, he receives a gentle kiss on the snout from his mother, which does the trick. Don’t be afraid to pick up this book and get your hands sooty—meeting Little Dragon is well worth it.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Dragons can sometimes be a little scary—but not when you can have fun becoming one yourself! Children will love pretending to breathe fire just like Little Dragon. The sounds of this action are exciting to repeat, and as children “phoosh!” and “phoo-phoosh” they are immediately drawn into the story. Prior to reading the story, talk with children about the characteristics of fire, and the ways a fire can be put out. This book also provides a nice opportunity to talk about Little Dragon’s expressions and when he might be feeling brave, worried, sad, or happy. Children may want to make connections to when they feel these emotions as well. Another fun activity to try might be using red and yellow paint and some glitter so that children can design their own fiery creations!
Many adults who have helped wipe the tears and comfort a child will feel a warm spark in their heart when reading this story. Children need reassurance and help in solving problems, and as adults we can help them work through these problems. Ask parents to think about this when they are reading the story, so that they can talk to their child about the way Little Dragon may be feeling during various parts of the story. How did he lose his spark? What did he do to try and get his spark back? Why is he wearing a snorkel for bath time at the end of the story? Asking children questions can help them build problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are important for school success, and it provides families with wonderful insight to hear children's responses and how they view the world.