The Bakery Dragon

by Devin Elle Kurtz (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The heroic tale of a tiny dragon with a heart of gold and a taste for treats! A scrumptious picture book for fans of funny fairytales and fantastic beasts.

Ember has always been different from the other dragons. His fearsome roar sounds more like a polite sneeze, and when he breathes fire, the villagers just pat his head and say awwww.

Ember fears he'll never collect a respectable hoard of gold until a chance encounter with a baker causes his fortunes to turn (and his stomach to grumble). As the little dragon soon discovers, the gold you make is way better than the gold you steal--and gold that is shared? That's best of all.

Magic shimmers on every page of Devin Elle Kurtz's feel-good picture book that celebrates baked goods, dragons, and generosity in equal measure. Filled with adorable illustrations, this is a perfect read aloud for bedtime or brunchtime!

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Hardcover
$18.99

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Like all dragons, little Ember loves gold. He first appears curled up on a huge glowing pile of coins and other glittering objects, a cache that belongs to one of the big dragons who regularly rob the local village. When Ember tries his claws at theft, though, he's a complete washout ("How adorable!" a child responds). Tired and reluctant to return to the lair empty-handed, Ember falls asleep in front of a warm bakery window. After a massive storm rolls in, the kindly local baker offers shelter, and teaches the dragon to make golden loaves of bread so delicious that the other dragons are willing to pay anything for them--and maybe even give up their larcenous ways. Kurtz (Mother of Sharks), making a polished solo debut, leavens digital illustrations reminiscent of classic animation with smart narrative pacing and a wry sense of humor. Chef's kiss panels devoted to Ember's apprenticeship and skill at breadmaking (even his hand-washing seems purposeful) are so winning that readers may well clamor to get their hands on some dough. Ages 4-8. Agent: Seth Fishman, Gernert Company. (Oct.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Kirkus

Standout visuals bring a delectable tale to life. 

Devin Elle Kurtz
Devin Elle Kurtz lives in Pasadena with her dog, Kira, and her thirty-three houseplants. She's been painting in Photoshop since the age of two when her artist mom first offered her a tablet pen. Her focus is magical scenes that combine fantasy elements with environments that feel visceral and real. She has worked in the animation industry as a background painter/designer and visual development artist since 2017. She was the lead background painter on "Disenchantment" at Rough Draft Studios from 2019-2021, and has contributed to publications such as Beasts of the Four Nations, Escape from Atlantis, How to Heal a Gryphon, and Mother of Sharks. The Bakery Dragon is her first picture book as an author-illustrator.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593710968
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date
October 01, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV002270 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical
JUV050000 - Juvenile Fiction | Cooking & Food
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Dragons
Baking
Bakers and bakeries

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