Title: Ellie’s Dragon
Created by Bob Graham
Published by Walker Books
RRP: $27.99

The release of a new Bob Graham book is always a cause for celebration and Ellie’s Dragon is no different. Ellie was young when she first saw Scratch as a newborn dragon. She cared for him and looked after him. Her friends admired and welcomed him into their activities, although the adults in Ellie’s life could not see him. Scratch did almost everything with Ellie, but as she began school and other interests took over her life as she grew up, she seemed to also outgrow Scratch. Ellie still loved him, even though he began to fade from her life. But Scratch had not gone really, he just found another home.

This is classic Bob Graham. I don’t know how he portrays important and intrinsic aspects of a young child’s life so beautifully, in both words and visuals. His illustrative technique is recognisable, changing when Scratch first ventures into the night air for the first time in a double page spread of the city skyline, then returning the following page. Visually this heralds the beginning of the shift in Scratch’s and Ellie’s lives together. Avid readers many also spot some familiar characters and scenes!

Highly recommended for all school and public libraries, and all fans of Bob Graham and quality picture books, young and old!

Teacher notes can be found here.

Many thanks to Walker Books for supplying this book for review.