We enjoy lots of books in our house, having everything from board books (Nosy Norman still gets used even though the kids are far too old for it, but they still love it) to historical dramas and reference books. We still have (and use) a large collection of picture books, with titles like Giraffes Can’t Dance and Julia Donaldson books that will always be here. So it is no surprise when we still read picture books with the kids – after all, a good book will always remain a good book.
Scarlet Underpants Meets the Dragon, by Catherine Muir, is the second book in the Scarlet Underpants series. Scarlet Underpants is a girl, who is not too little but at the same time, not too big, who is always teased about her unusual name, sadly leaving her with no friends. In the first story, Scarlet met the Tooth Fairy and now for her second outing she meets the Tooth Fairy’s friend, the sensitive, liquorice loving dragon. In this book, her new friends help her to learn that not everyone is how you might expect them to be and what true friendships are all about. A captivating and engaging read for children everywhere.
In Scarlet Underpants Meets the Dragon we see Scarlet visit her treehouse at the bottom of her garden. Here she meets Penny Moneytree’s (aka the Tooth Fairy) friend, Rarajaja the Dragon. But with misconceived ideas about what a dragon should be like, it causes some upset.
Overall, Scarlet Underpants Meets the Dragon is a well-written story that teaches children about friendship and not judging others before you have even got to know them. To accompany the story are some beautiful illustrations by Sevilay Akcay, and they really do complement the story perfectly.
This is a wonderful short story about true friendship and taking people as you find them, not what you have decided they will be like or what you think they should be like. It is a book that is perfect for story time or even bedtime reading, and children will just adore it.
As it contains some words that may be unfamiliar to younger readers, the author has put thought into this and put them in a larger font and highlighted them so that they are easily recognised and can be discussed, introducing new vocabulary. This encourages better vocabulary and use of language, creating discussions on the meaning of the new words.
Not only is it an excellent magical story, but it also has beautiful illustrations, and the educational value is perfect. The message the story delivers is one that all children will learn and hopefully keep throughout their lives.
We have all enjoyed reading this story and thought the look, story and message within makes it a perfect book for any child’s library.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (paperback)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
