When Ellie is very small, she finds a lovable newborn dragon on a carton of eggs in the grocery store. Ellie calls him Scratch, takes him home, and moves him into her dollhouse. Her mother can’t see Scratch, and her teacher doesn’t notice when Ellie brings Scratch to preschool, yet her friends are amazed. Ellie is lucky to have an affectionate, house-trained dragon like Scratch!
But dragons get quite large as they grow. And Ellie is growing, too, moving from dollhouses to dance parties, not noticing that Scratch’s brilliant green scales are beginning to fade a little... Beloved picture-book creator Bob Graham, with his signature gentle wit and warm, whimsically detailed illustrations, captures the bond between girl and dragon, as well as the changes that come with time’s passage. This charming story is a wistful, quietly thought-provoking tribute to the friends who appear when we need them most, even if it’s just for a little while.
"When she turns 5 and goes to kindergarten, Scratch stays home, and as years go by he gets harder and harder to see. Finally, when Ellie turns 13, Scratch slips away… to be found wandering the streets by little Sam. In Graham’s typically restrained, softly hued cartoon scenes, Scratch grows from mouse- to bus-size but always somehow fits, even in Ellie’s cozy bedroom, without crowding.... A low-key love story about growing and outgrowing." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 4 - 8 |
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Author | Bob Graham |
Illustrator | Bob Graham |
ISBN | 1536211133 |
Publication Date | Nov 10, 2020 |
Publisher | Candlewick |
Language | English |