stephen parlato

“The World has not always loved dragons, / but Dragons have always loved the world.” So begins this fascinating tour of stunning dragons fashioned with intricate collage. Each double-page spread showcases a dragon created by a painstaking assemblage of detailed pictorial parts of the objects it admires. Frequent rhyme and occasionally playful wording help clue readers to the myriad items used to create the mesmerizing creatures. From the organic, with flowers, hummingbirds and eggs, to the man-made, with fabric, stained glass and books, Parlato produces a series of visual masterpieces sure to delight dragon aficionados and further impress fans of The World that Loved Books (2004). A feast for the eyes best taken one picture at a time, this book could become an inspiration for exercises in creative writing, crafting or wild imagination. The only thing remiss is the book’s overall lack of flow — especially the uneven verses that make up the text. But this is a small flaw for a title that aims to encourage “big dreams still worth pursuing.” (Picture book. 5-12)