Thank you publisher, author, and Netgalley for the ARC. Honestly, I didn’t love this one. The story wasn’t told great and the writing didn’t keep me interested. I did, however, love the illustrations! Great pictures and colors!

3.5 stars rounded up! This was a very well illustrated book with clear direction and strong messages. I think that the metaphor will likely need to be explained in order for the book to get the most understanding. The beginning felt a bit rushed, and I wanted maybe a page or two more of the community rallying together, and an example of how to ask for help. There were actions shown but I think a bit of dialogue could have furthered it. This was an excellent lesson in asking for help when you need it, and there was room for a clear-cut piece of dialogue that shows a child how to ask for help. I loved the diversity and inclusion in this book. It showed that we all have our own strengths and they all can be utilized in a time of need. This can open up a conversation about your own strengths, such as “what would you do to help slay the dragon?”

Thank you Orca Book Publishers and Netgalley for this ARC!

This book had great ideas and a great concept; however, it wasn't very well executed. While the ideas of asking for help and including others and even fighting past adversity were there, the story felt a rushed and vague about how to actually go about working through these plot points.

The illustrations were amazing and inclusive.

This story is so beautiful! A small girl sees a dragon and recognizes how dangerous it is. She doesn't panic, she doesn't cry or scream -- she tells her friends and family and neighbors so they can help. The pictures were cute and the language was simple, so anyone could understand this story where anyone, no matter how small or what other qualities you have, can make a difference.
What a terrific way to help kids start thinking about what they want to change!
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This is a cute book that I think my Kindergarteners will love! The illustrations are great, and it has a great moral tongo along with it. Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review!

What an amazing picture book for children! "When You Meet a Dragon" is about a child who spots a terrifying dragon that is about to overtake the city. Knowing they can't defeat it alone, the child calls on their family, friends, and neighbours to help get rid of the dragon. It's a great story that touches on leadership and bravery, and calls on the importance of having a strong support system during times of challenge and hardship.

It's accompanied by colourful and bright illustrations by illustrator, Udayana Lugo. They're fun and filled with detail that fully captures the imaginative and action-filled story, which is sure to engage young readers as they flip through!

This book is appropriate for its targeted readership of children ages 6-8 and I would definitely recommend this book!

This is exactly the kind of children’s book I will want to read with my little niece! The illustrations are lovely and the characters are inclusive and diverse. I particularly appreciated seeing positive disability representation in the character artwork.

The message of those story, that all fears (dragons) can be vanquished when the community comes together is an excellent message to share with young readers!

Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for the ARC

When you meet a dragon is a very cute children's book about the importance of coming together to defeat what scares us. The dragon of course being symbolic of our fears, worried and concerns. They can be as simple as a monster under the bed, or as large and intimidating as what is going on with current events.

I loved this book because it's a bright and colorful way to help children see that even though they may feel it, they are never alone. There will always be someone to help them any way they can. It also teaches the importance of coming together as friends, family and community to fight for what we believe and do everything we that we can to bear the dragons of our world.

Once this book gets published, I'm going to pick up a copy for my kids and my nieces and nephews!

Thanks NetGalley for the copy to review!

I love DRAGONS and most people who attended my storytime know that; for this particular book, however, this metaphorical dragon isn't the same. I love the themes and messages of fear, community, and helping one another! Do I think that children will understand this as a metaphor? Possibly- but definitely depends on the age group and maybe the narrator explaining the scenarios to them.
The art and story were very cute, and it was a very simple read!

I received an ARC of “When You Meet a Dragon” from NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Written by Tanya Lloyd Kyi and illustrated by Udayana Lugo, this book will easily find a place in libraries around the English speaking world. Lloyd Kyi’s message to children is universal: people are really never alone. However, the author teaches a more subtle lesson—that change can only happen if we make it so. By teaming up with others, we can overcome any dragon that appears.

Lugo includes lots of diversity, including ethnicity, ages, and disabilities. She really did an excellent job making this book inclusive to everyone. And her illustrations are absolutely beautiful. I especially love how Lugo used art to show the dragon’s body overhead through the use of shadows.

This PB holds an important message not just for kids, but also for the adults in their lives. I absolutely encourage people to read this book and apply the lessons in their own lives. It’s never too late to take action!

A fun new picture book with a dragon! Dragons are so popular with little readers and this one has the dragon as the villain. What do you do when you meet a dragon - a scary and enormous dragon? Do you have to fight the dragon alone? Who will help you battle?
A fun way to introduce kids to positive thinking, teamwork and facing your fears. The illustrations are full of action and energy. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful illustrations!! Honestly, I kept thinking the dragon would turn out not to be the enemy after all... A misunderstood stranger of sorts. The text conveyed the teamwork involved in overcoming challenges, but I wish it was more heavyhanded in the metaphor. Kids know the world is full of challenges to overcome and distilling it into a simple Dragonslayer story felt like a bit of a copout to me.

Normally, my favorite thing about children’s books are the illustrations. I am a sucker for good illustrations. And the illustrations for “When You Meet a Dragon” are spectacular! However, I am in love with the message behind this book. This book truly demonstrates the message that “it takes a village”. A child may be going through something rough in their life. Reading this book may help them realize that with people around them, they can get through it.

Sometimes it takes a team to get a task done. This book explained how people worked as a team to vanquish a dragon and in the process became friends.

Great illustration and story!

I have to start off by saying the illustrations in this book are amazing!!!

I loved the message this book brings to children. The dragon representing danger, a dilemma or even trauma... The neighboring people show the goodness of people. It teaches kids to trust others and to lean on them in time of need because THEY CAN!

The ending also leaves you with a feeling of taking things day by day. The dragon might come back but he's gone for now and your support system will always be there.

Read this with my 7 year old. It is a cute story with beautiful illustrations. The lesson is about the importance for asking for help, and that sometimes there are battles we can't fight alone. This is a great lesson, but I don't think it comes across particularly well in the story. It's a bit vague and felt a little forced. It hits you in a sort of abstract "this is probably a good thing to do" type of way. All in all, however, my son enjoyed the story and pictures (I mean, who doesn't love a good dragon story?)

Loved it for my child. Fun read. He enjoyed it a lot too. Definitely recommend.the stories were cute and great for hi.

What a visually stunning book! The first page is captivating and I have to imagine it will have a child using their imagination to see beyond that beautiful illustration. The metaphor of the dragon is effectively used here - it represents danger or trouble and our hero rallies their community to come together and stay safe. I think addressing danger with children can be difficult and this book could be a very nice gateway to conversations about how kids can react in situations that might be scary.

The illustrations here are detailed, colorful, and have great representation. I could see a child spending a lot of time taking in all the details.

This children's book is a lovely introduction to advocacy work (using the metaphor of fighting dragons), with engaging and inclusive illustrations. The storyline invites kids to think about how everyone can play a role and everyone has different strengths. It also notes that big problems are rarely easily solved, but that can be okay when you have gathered a group of supportive friends to work alongside.

What a good children's book! Lovely illustrations with diversity of characters working to help a little girl get rod of a dragon.
Solid 4 star book
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC