Such a cute book! I loved the underlying message of girls can do anything boys can do. I also really enjoyed Freya’s creativity when she faced the dragon head on.

The illustrations were bright and fun to look at. The book kept the attention of both of my kids (5 Boy and 2 Girl)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ebook copy of the upcoming book The Dragon Slayer.

Tatyana Feeney has an original illustration technique that is absolutely charming in this text The Dragon Slayer, the drawings feel contemporary while also possessing a child-like whimsy.

My toddler was a big fan of the dragon and the girl with the curly hair.

Freya our main character and princess longs for an adventure and wants to desperately find a dragon like all the knights seem to do in the kingdom. The dragon believes that the knights are too crunchy and wants to find something more delicate for his palette. The marshmallow climax of the book had my kids and me giggling up a storm. I (the grownup) would have liked there to be a bit more substance in this kingdom, but the story is delightfully fun and the pages have just the right amount of text to engage and entertain kids.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Very cute book about a dragon and friendship. I enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone with a little adventurous and curious girl.
This book will show them that they are as brave and clever as boys and that they can do anything boys can.

Very nice and uplifting book

This is a really cute story with a fab ending!

The book is well written and easy to follow for the age range - my daughter falls within the target audience and she really enjoyed the story.

The story centres around Freya, and a Dragon. The Dragon wants to eat a girl and Freya wants to slay a Dragon... you can guess where this is going!? Well the story has a bit of a fun twist that made us giggle - will leave you to read it yourself to find out more.

The book has some cute illustrations too and we will be reading it again later tonight.
It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon- very highly recommended!

I adore this book and can't wait to get a physical copy to read with my daughter and to share with my class!

I love this illustration style as a whole so I was immediately captured by the cover. It's beautiful all the way through in that fun, sketchy way that allows kids to still use their imagination and see that not all art has to be hyper realistic.

The story was charming and sweet. I loved how the split narrative had mirrored elements and think that's so valuable for children to hear/read now to become familiar with different ways to structure their own future writing.

The element of "girlpower" with the titular character being a girl was handled so well. I love the balance of strength and gentleness.

I love a good subversive princess tale, so was very excited to read The Dragon Slayer. The art is simple, eye-catching and downright adorable. The premise is fun. I think youngsters will love it's simplicity and charm. Unfortunately, I was left wanting a bit more.
Either way, a great option for princess lovers and parents looking for a party gift on the way to the party!

Moral of the story: Make friends with girls to have a better life even if you are a monster who wants to have girls for food.

No, please don’t tell the story like this to the kids.

Just read the story with the kid and show them how cute the entire book actually is to the kid! And yes tell the kids why it is better to treat a person like a human being with kindness rather than thinking about hurting them.

Well…. This book would surely help in doing that I am telling you!

Thank you, Kids Can Press, for the ARC.

Freya is a feisty princess who doesn’t want to stay in a castle and be lovely. She wants to have an adventure. She wants…to slay a dragon. Unbeknownst to hear, a nearby dragon is tired of eating crunch, tough knights, and he’s heard that girls are sweet and tender. When the two set out in search of their prey, they find more than they’ve bargained for. Fans of The Paper Bag Princess and Bethan Woollvin’s fairytale retellings will love this story about courage, friendship, and chasing your dreams. Not to mention, they’ll get a few chuckles out of the delightful illustrations.

What a captivating and adorable story. I found myself smiling throughout. This book would be really useful for talking with children about stereotypes and judging people

The illustrations were whimsical and delightful. This book would be perfect for an early childhood classroom!

A little girl, Freya, wants a dragon to slay. And a dragon wants to find a little girl to eat!

The Dragon Slayer is a funny feminist fairytale retelling with fantastic page turns and surprising plot twists. It is thoroughly entertaining with a positive message seamlessly woven into the plot. Beautiful, whimsical illustrations support the text. I loved this book!

As an adult fantasy reader I absolutely adore this book for children! I love the concept and story line. I love the playfulness and whimsy. I love the illustration style.

This is such a charming story about finding friends in unlikely places and most importantly, GIRL POWER! Love it.

What a fun book empowering girls and breaking stereotypes.
My son loved the book, he was obsessed with the dragon and I loved how fun and sweet the book is.
The stick illustration is adorable and overall, it is written extremely well.

This was a book where the cover drew me in from the beginning and I know the kids in my classroom will absolutely enjoy. The tale of a brave little girl facing her fears with creativity and courage is both engaging and inspiring. The simple yet expressive illustrations beautifully enhance the story's message, making it easy for young readers to connect with the characters. It’s a wonderful book that not only entertains but also empowers children to believe in themselves—perfect for sparking discussions and imagination in the classroom!

The Dragon Slayer was a cute and imaginative story featuring a girl and dragon trying to live out their dreams. I found this to be a fun take on the ‘knight slaying a dragon’ stories with the girl going out to slay a dragon instead of staying at home. We also enjoyed the friendship bonding over toasted marshmallows. The story was short yet engaging enough to keep my kids’ attention. They loved the illustrations. I also felt the illustrations were well done with the mixture of childlike art and gorgeous watercolors. This is a book we will be adding to our shelf at home.

This book is very sweet and shows that people (and dragons) are not always who we think they are, and that friends can come from unlikely places.

"The Dragon Slayer" is a picture book by Tatyana Feeney. Freya is a princess who just wants a dragon to slay, and Dragon is a dragon who just wants to eat a little girl. They find each other and discover that they had the wrong idea about each other and become friends. Feeney's artwork is bright and simple and adds to the humorous nature of the book. A recommended purchase for picture book collections.

A story about a girl who wants to slay a dragon and a dragon who wants to eat a girl, until they realize it's more fun to be friends. It's a cute story with adorable pictures. The story starts with both characters having violent intentions, which might not be great for younger children, but it turns around with friendship and a happy ending.

I loved this picture book and would buy it for my daughter! This illustrations are beautiful and engaging yet muted, which helps children focus without becoming overstimulated. The story itself is inspiring and whimsical.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for an advanced reader copy of this book. All views and opinions are my own.

Freya wants to slay a dragon. A dragon wants to slay a girl. Freya and dragon bond over marshmallows! All is well.

This book is cute and sends an important message about finding alternative solutions and being willing to be the first to extend an olive branch. Also, Tatyana takes a unique approach to illustrating her books. She uses simple crayon and colored pencil drawings which may be inspiring to young children because they look at this picture book and think, "I could do that. Could I make my own book and story?" Which is a super cool concept. That said, I can't help but recognize that, as a child, I would be sad not to experience bright, colorful, eye-popping art to go along with this story. Dragons and princesses? Pop that art all day long!

Additionally, this is something of a trope in that the princess ends up befriending the thing she planned to destroy

Cute book. It was okay. But I can't personally say I would go out of my way to recommend it to moms with kids. I wouldn't have been particularly tickled by this book as a kid either. It is what it is and just love it for being that.

I'd rate this a G.

Original review published 7/30/24.