How to Dragon, from Reycraft Books, Explores the Challenges of Trying to Fit In—and the Rewards
The picture book shows that friendships can begin in the most unexpected ways.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY, Feb 29, 2023—Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books is pleased to introduce Douglas the dragon, who defies expectations in the picture book, How to Dragon. Written by Judith Henderson, illustrated by Kelly Collier, and published on June 27, 2023, the book focuses on the fire-breathing Douglas, to whom most young readers will be able to relate, since he just wants to be accepted by his peers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Judith Henderson is a creator of children’s content. She is an author/illustrator, children’s television producer, and composer, having written the theme song for the Emmy Award winning PBS show, Arthur. Judith’s many books include Big Words Small Stories, This Is a Dog Book!, I Am My Name, and Stewart the Goodheart. She loves dogs, books, and coffee—and much more stuff too.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Kelly Collier lives in Toronto, Canada, with her daughter and husband. She is the author/illustrator of A Horse named Steve and The Imposter, and illustrator of Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle. Like Douglas, Kelly would love to learn the secret to being a proper dragon, if only to help her toast hot dog weenies in record time.
As readers will discover, Douglas doesn't fit in with other dragons. Instead of battling knights and scaring princesses, he likes to spend his time picking flowers and baking treats. Eager to be more like others of his kind—namely, more fearsome—Douglas goes to a dragon doctor, who prescribes some dragon exercises. They include slaying a knight, flying, and causing a princess to faint out of sheer terror. Once a clever and patient knight agrees to help Douglas, the dragon trains to become the scariest creature in the land. But along the way, Douglas learns that mean and frightening are hardly the only things that a dragon can be—and that true friendships can be forged anywhere, at any time.
“Even though Douglas looked like a dragon, I wanted him to be more than that, even if he didn’t know himself,” Henderson explained. “Like people, dragons aren’t all the same. Douglas became a lovely mix of everything I wanted in a friend: Kindness, compassion, loyalty, wisdom, vulnerability—and yes, being fierce, but in a good way. Being fierce doesn’t mean one needs to be scary. The ability to be fierce, and balance that with other qualities of compassion and good judgment, is a good mix. I want to be those things too, and that’s not always easy.”
According to Henderson, the illustrations by Collier capture the story in vivid, colorful, and charming detail. “Other than being an amazing illustrator, Kelly is a master at conveying, even in the smallest gesture, the tone of the text,” Henderson said. “She brings it to another level.”
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: Reycraft Books partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.