How to Ride a Dragonfly

Kitty Donohoe ∙ Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

Hardcover

Published on May 23, 2023 | 40 Pages

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Ebook

Published on May 23, 2023 | 40 Pages

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Grades Preschool – 3
Ages 4–8

Like a laugh-out-loud spin on Thumbelina, this whimsical, beautifully illustrated picture book stars an adventurous little girl who shrinks down to the size of a bug and takes a tour of the swamp on a dragonfly’s back.

Have you ever wanted to ride a dragonfly? Well, there’s one problem… You’re too big! But if you follow these simple steps, you’ll be sure to have a fantastic journey:

Step 1: Put a rose petal in your pocket at sunrise, which will make you shrink. But don’t forget: you must return by sunset—or else you’ll stay shrunk!

Step 2: Pick a blade of grass and lasso the first dragonfly that buzzes by—we’ll call her Priscilla. Climb aboard!

Step 3: Joust a bumblebee, groove to the Beetle Band, dine with fairies, and have an adventure. Watch out for the frogs! They love to eat dragonflies, and Priscilla looks quite tasty...

Oh, dear! The sun is almost touching the mountains. Can you and Priscilla zip back in time before sunset?

With a delightfully funny text by an elementary school teacher and deliciously playful artwork by a beloved illustrator, here is the perfect picture book for any child in search of adventure!

"A child takes readers along on an Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland–esque adventure....A beautiful and interesting flight of fancy." —Kirkus Reviews

"Thin-lined watercolor and ink illustrations by Wilsdorf.... combine a Victorian floral sensibility with an action-packed arc, resulting in small-scale-focused visuals that are equal parts magical and impish." —Publishers Weekly

"Soft watercolor and ink illustrations match the text’s fanciful tone; the engaging pond creatures bring liveliness to this magical world." —The Horn Book

ISBN 9780593175644 (Hardcover)
Published on May 23, 2023
Published by Anne Schwartz Books
Pages 40
Dimensions 10 x 10
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 680L | Fountas/Pinnell: L

ISBN 9780593175651 (Hardcover Library Binding)
Published on May 23, 2023
Published by Anne Schwartz Books
Pages 40
Dimensions 10 x 10
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 680L | Fountas/Pinnell: L

ISBN 9780593175668 (Ebook)
Published on May 23, 2023
Published by Anne Schwartz Books
Pages 40
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 680L | Fountas/Pinnell: L

Kitty Donohoe

Kitty Donohoe has enjoyed teaching students in Santa Monica for many years. She received her BA as well as a Master’s in Education from UCLA. Every summer, she attends institutes at Columbia University’s TCRWP on teaching reading and writing to young people. Originally from the Great Central Valley of California, Kitty now lives with her husband outside of Los Angeles. HOW TO RIDE A DRAGONFLY is her debut book.

Anne Wilsdorf

Anne Wilsdorf has illustrated over twenty books for children, including Pat Zietlow Miller’s beloved Sophie’s Squash which received four starred reviews, in addition to an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor and a Charlotte Zotolow Honor. Anne also illustrated its sequel Sophie’s Squash Go to School, as well as Peggy Archer’s A Hippy-Hoppy Toad, Susan McElroy Montanari’s My Dog’s a Chicken, Elizabeth Bluemle’s Dogs on the Bed, and Eileen Spinelli’s The Best Story. She lives in Switzerland.