Kitty and Dragon

This book consists of three stories. The first is about a kitten who leaves because it is too noisy. The second is about having a cold. The third is about living with someone messy. The books all se to have a different age group in mind with the first being most appreciated by younger audiences but no clear message. The second book was my favourite as it had a clear message. The illustrations are very cute. This is the type of book I would have enjoyed when I was younger.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

I loved this book! There are three mini stories in it about Kitty and Dragon. The first one is how they meet and become friends. The second is them taking care of each other. The third is how they overcome a problem in their friendship. This book will be ideal for grades 1 - 3.

My kids enjoyed this book. It was interactive for the kids. There are several stories in this book and each are different. I myself enjoyed the cleaning portion! Hopefully it helps getting kids to clean!!

Three short stories in what is presumably an ongoing series of such adventures on this publisher's website. The first shows Kittie desperate for peace and quiet – ever since birth she is hounded by noise, and is not at all put off by word of how nasty the neighbourhood dragon is. The second story has Kittie with a cold, after which a moral of collaboration closes out a tale of not trying to change someone to fit your purposes. All three, nicely-presented, little works are quick to read – just a sentence or two per page generally, with at most four when a bit of routine, or recipe, is included in the proceedings. They all end with a noise for a punchline, or a snappy out, which could have been made more of, but this is a success. Great for the under-sevens.

<i>arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

This was adorable! I am instantly drawn in to anything that has a cat on the cover or is about cats so I took the opportunity to read this one immediately.

I am so glad that I did! This collection of stories about Kitty and Dragon brought me some much needed joy. I just know that this book will make anyone happy, no matter their age.

The messages included in this were great, the art was adorable and overall this experience was so joyful.

I recommend this if you’re needing a little pick me up, you like cats or you have kids or all three!

5/5 🌟

This beginning reader is playfully illustrated in a cartoon like style. The text is just right for early readers and has enough repetition and familiar words so that readers will feel competent as they make their way through the three stories in the book.

In the first, readers will find out why Kitty wanted a new home and how she met Dragon. Was she afraid? Can their friendship work? No spoiler really to say that they are perfect for one another and attentive to each other’s needs.

In the second story, children see how Dragon cares for Kitty when she gets a bad cold while in the third Kitty and Dragon try to find the right balance between messy and neat. All three stories look like fun, humorous reads for the book’s intended audience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

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Oh my gosh, this story was <em>so damn cute!</em> I wanna write a story like Meika Hashimoto's <em>Kitty and Dragon</em>. Illustrated by Gillian Reid, this was honestly one of the most adorable stories I've ever read. So much so that I would just <em>die</em> if it was made into a kid's show (anyone up for making that happen?). I would definitely make my nieces watch it just to have an excuse to do so myself.

<b>Kitty Just Wants Some Quiet</b>

In the beginning, Kitty and Dragon have never met. In fact, Kitty lives in a barn. But Kitty can't stand to be around all the noise. It interrupts her sleep. Thus, Kitty sets out to find a quiet place to live.

Meanwhile, as Kitty journeys through the land she meets a variety of creatures all warning her away from the <em>silent</em> dragon. Despite how scary everyone makes the dragon out to be, one thing sticks with Kitty. That dragon is <em>silent</em>.

Next thing you know Kitty has arrived at the dragon's cave. Within moments she realizes she has found an amazingly <em>quiet</em> place to live. And she is <em>thrilled</em>.

<b>Kitty's Got the Sniffles</b>

As if this series couldn't get any more heartwarming, after living with dragon for some time Kitty catches a cold. Dragon quickly grows sad since Kitty's cold means that she won't be around to join him in kite flying. But, instead of responding in any selfish manner, dragon instead decides to go to his library and read about how to take care of a sick Kitty.

Thus we are presented with an adorable little montage of dragon being the best caretaker ever for his new roommate. Also, I just <em>loved</em> that library. Ultimately, I don't think Kitty could have ever found a better friend to live with. And, even better, I don't think dragon could have met a better roommate than kitty.

<b>Living with Mess-Makers</b>

Oh my gosh, I <em>laughed so much</em> at this one.

I didn't realize that I could relate so much to a simple kid's story. But, here I am, just dying with laughter at Kitty's most recent problem with Dragon. Turns out Dragon is a giant mess-maker. He leaves his dishes out when Kitty cleans up hers. He treks mud all over the cave after Kitty had just cleaned. In general, Dragon just sucks at being neat when Kitty is the cleanest there ever is.

Now, I won't claim to be the cleanest ever like Kitty. But I definitely know what it's like to live with someone who leaves their messes <em>all over the place</em> and treks in all kinds of nonsense from the backyard that I will then have to clean up. Dishes and paper towels are left all over the place when they belong in the dishwasher and the trash, respectively.

So, how will Kitty deal with the messy, messy Dragon? In one of the best ways ever.

<b>Art, Message, and Readability</b>

The strongest piece of this series is the artwork. Hats of to Gillian Reid because she drew some of the cutest characters I have ever seen. I <em>loved</em> everything about the visuals in Kitty and Dragon. Not only was it all absolutely adorable, but everything was bright and colorful. Wide-eyed Kitty and long-tailed Dragon were engaging throughout.

Each little story included in this volume had a simple, but important message in it. I loved that so much. There's something for children to learn on nearly every page, resulting in a book that I can definitely get behind supporting.

As an educator who specializes in teaching children to read, I have a tendency to pay <em>very</em> close attention to reading levels. This is considered an early reader series, though I would caution parents who have struggling readers against starting with this book. If you've got a kid who doesn't quite have a lot of multi-syllables yet, it may be best to start with something a little different. That said, if your first grader already has an adequate grasp of how to decode those words, have at it.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

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Princess Fuzzypants here: I am in love with this book. It is adorable with sweet stories that go to show how sometimes the oddest of couples can become best friends. The other stories speak to ability to care for the other and to adapt so that both parties can feel happy. The way the lessons are told with the absolutely enchanting artwork is very subtle.

I think this would be a terrific book for children who feel they don’t fit in or for children who are having trouble getting along with other children. It is a gentle yet effective way to get across important life lessons. This book would be fantastic for young readers either to read on their own or to be read to them.

Five purrs and two paws up. ‘

Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for access to this arc.


Meika Hashimoto has written and Gillian Reid has illustrated three adorable short stories about pals Kitty and Dragon. When Kitty decides the barn is too noisy for her, she goes looking for a new home. Everyone warns her that the dragon is fierce and has claws but Kitty isn’t afraid. In fact, when she gets to Dragon’s cave, he’s delighted to get a new friend. He makes her a rug and brings her milk. In return, Kitty trims those long claws and chases away the mice (Dragons are afraid of mice). The two take care of each other when they’re sick (reading “Caring for Kitties with Colds” and “Caring for Dragons with Colds”), brewing some nice tea (served in a cat mug) and fixing delicious noodle soup. When Kitty gets frustrated with Dragon’s messiness (he doesn’t clean his dirty dishes and leaves toothpaste on the mirror), she tries to fix it but first asks Dragon’s permission to spritz him with a drop of magic potion. Kitty is polite that way. When she discovers she likes Dragon the way he was, they work together to keep things clean.

The illustrations are bright, colorful, and cute. The little touches like the “Mew, Mew Tissue” box are fun to spot and their developing friendship is a joy. I’d love to see further Kitty and Dragon stories. A

This was a very cute story (with super adorable illustrations) about a kitty looking for a quiet place to sleep, so she stumbles into the dragon's cave, who everyone warned her from, but the end up being the best friends ever and living together, and it really made me smile throughout the entire story!

I thank Netgalley for the digital ARC

This is the first book in a delightful easy-reader series about Kitty and all the animals she encounters. With beautiful illustrations accompanying three chapters, beginning readers will find loads of fun things to see and read about.

Kitty and Dragon is a super cute narrative about a pair of unlikely friends. I love the art and the proses. I would love a sequel to this picture book, because it was so damn cute!!!

This is a cute "chapter book" for early readers that's in a similar vein to the Dragon books by Dav Pilkey. There are three stories/chapters included: Kitty and Dragon, Kitty Gets a Cold, and Kitty Tidies Up. Each chapter is basically it's own picture book set in the same world. We read the first two chapters in one sitting (because my kids demanded we keep reading!) and then the last chapter the next night. This could be read all in one sitting, or chapter by chapter. The illustrations are really cute, and each of the stories is engaging. They're very simple because this is meant for early readers, but also complex enough that they were enjoyable for my kids to listen to as I read aloud. I'm looking forward to reading this again with my 6 year old so we can practice his reading skills.

Guest review by Jaime (age 6):
Which story was your favorite? "Cleanin' up a mess, I like where Dragon is cleaning under his tail."

Guest review by Link (age 4):
Which story was your favorite? "I like the too noisy one."
"There's some parts that I really like. I love when them was cute, like when they was kind of cute."

This was a really fun book to read. A cat decides their old living space is too noisy, so they decide to look for a new place to live. On their search many different creatures warn them about a dangerous dragon. Yet once this cat comes to this cave, it ends up being the perfect place for them. These new roommates have their disagreements, but they learn and grow through them together. This might not be a book for everyone, but kids should enjoy it.

I chose to read and review this book because I thought it would be something I could eventually show my nephews. I loved it! I thought it was perfect for children of most early ages. The pictures are engaging enough to fascinate toddlers, and the story is entertaining for kids eight and under. Each of the little stories in this book teaches a lesson in friendship and how to do the right thing. I would recommend this for any parent looking for something fun for their young kids.

Kitty and Dragon is reminiscent of Henry and Mudge. This is the adventure in the commonplace, the exploration of friendship and conflicting personality types. While the plots are fairly standard, the illustrations are absolutely charming and Hashimoto adds enough little quirks to make the stories memorable. The writing is easy for a child to follow and well supported by the artwork.

A purrrfectly sweet early chapter book that will make any child excited to read. I loved the friendship in the book and the style is really good for beginners who want to gain more confidence

Prose (Story): An early reader book for kids that combines three previously separate tales revolving around the unlikely friendship between a kitten and a dragon, who live and play and learn about the importance of friendship together.

Don's (Review): A sweet, colorfully-illustrated charmer for early readers that opens with young Kitty seeking a calm, quite place to live away from the city, finding exactly that in the home of what appears to be a fearsome dragon - who's actually gentle and friendly and fine with opening up his cave to the tiny cat. Story two involves Dragon fussing over a sick Kitty in the hopes of getting Kitty well enough to go kite flying (so cute, and nicely shows their developing friendship). But it's chapter three, my personal favorite, where kids will see the value of not just friendship but accepting and loving people for who they are, as Kitty resorts to magic to try and cure Dragon's messy, slovenly ways around the cave. Gillian Reid's illustrations perfectly suit the funny, sweet-natured characters and story, and while parents will probably find this a favorite that their kids will want to pull down from the shelf to read time and time again, there's enough humor and heart here to appeal to even the jaded adult, too. Well done, and hope to see more of this dynamic duo! 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.