Strong

A gentle dragon learns self-acceptance.
Maurice, who’s white with pale-blue wings, isn’t like the other dragons, who love to show off their magnificent horns and their ability to breathe huge fireballs. Much like the protagonist of Munro Leaf’s The Story of Ferdinand (1936), Maurice prefers flowers to displays of machismo. He swoops through billowy grasses, a blossom tucked behind his ear, smiling serenely, as he seeks flowers to arrange into lovely bouquets. Every year, the dragons take part in a competition to see who’s the strongest. Maurice’s brother, the aptly named Gruff, usually wins. This year, Maurice decides to try his luck, too. Unfortunately, his fireball is no more than a tiny puff, and his floral-embellished horns don’t impress the judges. “I’m not strong, or brave, or scary,” Maurice reflects sadly. “I’ll never be like the other dragons.” Then Gruff goes missing during the final phase of the tournament. In a delightful twist, Maurice’s flower-weaving skills suddenly save the day and make him the star of the show. Even Gruff begins to realize that strength comes in many forms. Readers will be pleased to see that just like his beloved flowers, which flourish among the hard rocks, Maurice opens up and blooms, too. Soaring overhead perspectives and images of wide, outstretched wings capture the essence of these aerial beasts and their habitat.—Kirkus Reviews

Strong is the story of Maurice, an atypical dragon who differs from all others in his desire to be peaceful, gentle, and non-threatening, despite his fire-breathing heritage. Just because he cultivates serenity, however, doesn’t mean that Maurice isn’t strong. He can be strong in different ways, which come to light when his brother needs help. This may be the perfect opportunity to transmit better ways to others around him—those who would rather use fire than peace to solve problems. Lovely illustrations assure visual attraction and interest in a read-aloud story that parents and care givers will want to use to reinforce discussions about peace and strength.—Midwest Book Review