Review: Bunny and Bird: How To Hatch A Dragon


Few of us are strangers to the quirky works of author illustrator, Nick Bland (think The Very Cranky Bear series) which is why it’s always a delight feasting upon his latest creations. Bunny and Bird are best mates and as incongruous as that pairing may sound are the stars of Bland’s new picture book series.

How To Catch A Dragon introduces us to the cute couple as they meet in park dressed in warm autumnal colours. Bunny has something special for Bird, a present. His gift-giving motivation is simply because of his regard for Bird as his best friend. Ahhh. Ten points straight up for such beautiful sentiment.

Bird is curious and Bunny can’t help himself; he unwraps his present and reveals it’s a dragon egg. If you’re curiosity wasn’t already tickled, it surely is by now. Bird is briefly sceptical but Bunny assures him it’s a bona fide dragon egg because it comes from the dragon-egg shop. No faulting logic there. It also comes with an instruction booklet which describes the kismet aspects of acquiring a dragon egg: one can’t be exactly sure what type of dragon one owns until ones egg hatches.  This unpredictability excites Bird and together they pour over the instructions trying to determine fate.

Turns out Yellow Dragons grow faster than a speeding bus and just as big. They have ferocious appetites and a penchant for burning things. In other words, yellow dragons are a veritable handful, making poor pets. Blue Dragons are cute, slow to mature and dine on fish and chips; a much better prospect.

Upon learning all this, Bunny is overcome with regret. How thoughtless of him exposing his best friend to a life of potential exasperation and danger with this poor gift choice. But it’s too late to change anything because in the time it’s taken them to learn about dragons, the egg hatches. Will Bird become the owner of a fantastic new pet or an unmanageable demise?

How To Hatch A Dragon is frothing with comedy, dramatic irony and an engaging unreliable narrative that gives both kids and adults reading with them much to chuckle over. Kids will delight in seeing what Bunny and Bird are too involved to notice what we the readers humorously see unfolding behind them. The hatching of the egg invites a thrilling sense of expectation, realisation then relief for the reader while the friends chatter on naively.

This is a series that is sure to charm and entertain in big doses thanks to this winner-beginner. I mean dragons … what’s not to love! Along with a lovely smothering of warming friendship, a clever title, glistening scaly cover and inviting tones throughout, this is a picture book you’ll want to gobble up again and again.

Title:  Bunny and Bird: How To Hatch A Dragon.
Author Illustrator:  Nick Bland
Publisher:  HarperCollins, $24.99
Publication Date:  6 September 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781460764053
For ages:  3+
Type:  Picture Book

Buy the Book: HarperCollins, Boomerang Books, Dymocks

 

 

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