'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Saturday 14 May 2022

Review: Dancing with Dragons

Have you ever wandered through the trees and heard something strange? It’s probably just a rabbit or a bird, right? Maybe the wind?

But what if it wasn’t? What if it was dragons?

Well, this is exactly what happens to Rose!

While playing in the woods, she stumbles across two fearsome dragons with black eyes and terrible talons. But… 

It turns out these dragons aren’t scary horrible beasts. They just need Rose to judge their dancing competition.

So the dancing begins…

First was the dragon with horns of bright red,
flaring his nostrils and bopping his head.

Grooving and shaking and tapping his toes,
then spinning around on the tip of his nose.


Both the dragons are very good at dancing. How can Rose possibly choose which is best? But then one more contender comes into the mix and changes everything.

Dancing with Dragons is a super joyful rhyming picture book for kids who love a splash of fantasy with their stories. I am OBSESSED with dragons, so this one really speaks to me, and I love how the story encourages movement and dance.

Delivered in funky rhyme by author Amy Dunjey, the story flows from the tongue to the tips of your toes. Paired with stunning illustrations from Jesus Lopez, each turn of the page is colourful, bright and engaging. There are some gorgeous colours in this book, from golden pink morning hues to the purple-green forest palate and bright red dragon scales. It’s just really, really beautiful.

If you love fun rhyming tales and you love dragons, you’re really going to love Dancing with Dragons by Amy Dunjey and Jesus Lopez.

Title: Dancing with Dragons
Author: Amy Dunjey
Illustrator: Jesus Lopez
Publisher: Larrikin House, $19.99
Publication Date: February 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922503299
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book