Leonardo's Dragon product reviews

When I first looked at the cover graphic, I realised immediately that this would be a book about Leonardo da Vinci. It was not the title but the picture that gave it away as the style mirrors that of the Mona Lisa! The quality of the illustrations throughout the book continues to stun the reader, from the rich colours to the intricate detail to the dragons and sea images inspired by Oriental artworks. I found myself wishing that the format had been hard cover because this is a volume that will be treasured and revisited constantly due to its visual appeal.

The narrative is equally creative. It follows the format of the Thousand and One Nights in which a storyteller links a series of loosely related stories. In this book, the narrator is Caterina, a kitchen maid at the Belvedere Palace, and the common theme is the dragon. The sources are far reaching, ranging from the story of the Unfortunate Soldier and the Dragon from Japan - evoking the Norwegian fairytale of the Three Little Billy Goats Gruff - to the Pasifika outrigger voyages in A Dream of Dragons. There is even a passing reference to a dragon in Caledonia, presumably the Loch Ness monster, although this is not expanded into a story.

Woven into the book are topical themes, thought-provoking for older readers in particular. Gender equality is at the forefront with the protagonists equally divided between male and female. The cobbler girl in The Shoemaker and the Dragon competes against the men of Krakow to defeat the dragon and win the hand of the princess, causing a conundrum in the process! Caterina herself becomes the "dragon" or taniwha in A Dream of Dragons, and it is she who finally discovers the secret of Leonardo's own dragon in the last chapter. The remaining stories feature male heroes interacting with their dragons.

Also important are the themes of good vs bad, not judging by appearances, and Fake News! Traditionally, dragons have been cast as the enemy, but the Pasifika dragon is a force for good as she saves the sailors, and Leonardo's own dragon could be regarded as his support animal. Saint George's dragon is presented in an entirely new light! As Bixley explains (through the character of Leonardo), legends change each time they are retold. Much depends, therefore, on the charisma and personal agenda of the storyteller.

I asked Miss Seven and Mr Six to give me their feedback. It was interesting to find that Mr Six loved it whereas Miss Seven found it quite challenging. She is a capable reader, but the text was a little too advanced for her although it will not be long before she can read it without assistance. The text size was an issue; a larger font might have made it more accessible. Mr Six, on the other hand, was fascinated by the graphics. The dragon topic appealed to him; since his parents read it to him over several nights, he was able to get the most out of each story, leafing through the book after each reading to revisit the illustrations. His favourite story was the last one, where Caterina discovers the secret of Leonardo's own dragon. and his favourite picture was the winking lizard!