The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell, Davide Ortu

Release: March 16th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Walker Books US
Source: Edelweiss+
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo

In a fast-paced and funny adventure, Kit must use the magic of books to save the library and its resident dragon from a power-hungry tycoon.

Kit Spencer can’t stand reading. She’d rather be outside playing and getting muddy than stuck inside with a book. But when her best friends, Josh and Alita, drag her to the local library, Kit makes an incredible discovery. She’s a wizard—and books are the key to her abilities. Unfortunately, a greedy businessman wants to tear down the beloved library, destroying all its magic. To make matters worse, there’s a sleeping dragon hidden there. Waking her up will wreak havoc due to her wild power. With the help of a friendly dragon-dog hybrid named Dogon, Kit and her companions will have to save the dragon in the library! A humorous romp full of library enchantment, with a diverse cast of characters and dynamic illustrations.

About the Author:

Louie Stowell started her career writing carefully researched books about space, ancient Egypt, politics, and science, but eventually, she lapsed into just making stuff up. Also, she likes writing about dragons, wizards, vampires, fairies, monsters, and parallel worlds. Louie Stowell currently works as the publisher of Ladybird Books and lives in London with her wife, Karen; her dog, Buffy; and a creepy puppet that is probably cursed.

Davide Ortu is an Italian artist who began his graphic design career before discovering children’s book illustrations. He is on a quest to conjure colorful and fantastic places where time stops to offer the biggest emotions to the smallest people. Davide Ortu lives in Spain.

The Dragon in the Library Review:

“The Dragon in the Library” story is so creative, and you don’t know how it will proceed. What’s fun about this book is that it encourages younger readers to read more and makes them passionate about books. The author writes the story in such a charming manner that it is hard to put down. I also enjoyed the references she makes to other folklores like Baba Yaga. Moreover, she also provides an excellent summary of the various book genres that younger readers can review to get into the habit of reading.

Similarly, the author wrote the characters nicely. The main characters, Josh, Alita, and Kit, are fun and dynamic. Even Hadrian Salt is enjoyable as the villain, and it was interesting to see how he went about with his plans. Faith is fun as the librarian who trains and guides them. I also loved Dogon, the cute, lovable, half dog, half-dragon. However, I wish we had seen more of Josh and Alita, as the story primarily focused on Kit.

The author also places the story nicely as we know more about the Wizard’s Council and the different types of Magic. Some of the memorable moments were when Kit stumbles upon the dragon and attempt to stops Salt by breaking into his office. There are enough Magic and adventure elements in the story to keep you entertained. The book also sets the pace for additional books in the series in a fluid manner. Also, the illustrations by Davide Ortu add brilliantly to the story and give the reader an excellent, whimsical feel.

Overall, “The Dragon in the Library” is a beautiful start to the “Kit the Wizard,” and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.