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Kenny & the Dragon #1

Kenny & the Dragon

What do you do when your new best buddy has been designated a scourge by the community and marked for imminent extermination? Just ask Kenny Rabbit. When the simple folks in the sleepy little village of Roundbrook catch wind that there's a dragon running loose in the countryside, they get the wrong idea and the stage is set for a fight to the death. So it's up to Kenny to give his neighbors front-row seats to one of the best-known battles in history -- the legendary showdown between St. George and the dragon -- without losing a friend in the fray.

151 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2008

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About the author

Tony DiTerlizzi

91 books2,278 followers
#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Broken Ornament and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries. He teamed up with Lucasfilm to retell the original Star Wars trilogy as a picture book and his collaboration with celebrated author Mo Willems created the bestseller The Story of Diva & Flea. The Norman Rockwell museum’s retrospective, “Never Abandon Imagination”, featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi’s career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR the BBC and The Today Show.

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5 stars
2,097 (34%)
4 stars
2,215 (36%)
3 stars
1,326 (21%)
2 stars
293 (4%)
1 star
116 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 773 reviews
Profile Image for Miranda Reads.
2,326 reviews165k followers
March 25, 2020
description

"A full stomach allows the brain to be hungry for common sense."

Kenny is a rabbit and just loves learning.

And when there's someone new who settles nearby, he's ecstatic (at first)...but it turns out that the new person is actually a DRAGON.

Oh no.

And the local community decides that the dragon has to go.

...Only the problem is that Kenny became friends with the Dragon.

No one knows, he just wants to save his friend...but with the community rising up against the dragon, will he even have a chance?

So, this book was okay...but I wasn't wowed by it.

It was alright, and I think I would've enjoyed it quite a bit more if I was younger but as it stands, it was just okay.

I wish there was more "dragony" bits involved in the book, but I suppose the main premise is that the Dragon is not like other dragons.

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Profile Image for Sharnie.
12 reviews19 followers
February 9, 2012
After another night of reading six picture books to my five year old sister, I decided that I should try her on a chapter book. So I set out to find her first chapter book, and on that day I found Kenny & the Dragon. I borrowed it on the spot and we began that night. I am so glad that this book found us, it was the perfect introduction for her to long books.

I knew of Tony Diterlizzi's other works, however I had never read them.

The characters are endearing to the extremes, the story sweet and the illustrations breathtaking.

My little sister was anxious about the idea of reading a book with dragons in it, she was relieved and pleasantly amused when Grahame made his entrance.

While some of the humor of the book were lost on Tia, and the language occasionally baffled her, she loved every part of the book.

It was a quick read, we read it in a week.
I would definitely recommend this book as a read aloud, the words flow wonderfully and each of the characters has a unique voice written for them which certainly helped my sister cope with the number of characters talking per page. The language does create a bit of a barrier, but so long as you stop and explain the essential words, it can only help, right?

To finish, Kenny & The Dragon was an experiment for us, and seeing as today when we went to the library Tia actively partook in the selection of her next chapter book without any pushing from me, proves the experiment a success.
Profile Image for Jessica.
Author 32 books5,990 followers
October 15, 2009
An adorable book with fun illustrations about a bookish young rabbit who befriends a very large dragon. Great for reading aloud.

Reread 2016: Got a new copy for Christmas, as ours had inexplicably disappeared! Love this book. The illustrations are so beautiful, and the story is a great take on The Reluctant Dragon. The kids loved it, too.
Profile Image for AJ (the.booknerd.reads).
821 reviews10 followers
August 21, 2017
This book was so WHOLESOME and honestly the perfect pick-me-up after a tough few days. My heart is literally so happy you have no idea.
Profile Image for Heather .
393 reviews
July 11, 2018
I picked up this book mainly because of the sweet cover! I love dragons!
And it only doubled my excitement to see that it was written by Tony DiTerilizzi a co-author of my favorite children series, Spiderwick Chronicles.

Besides being about dragons, I loved that Kenny was a 'stand-up' kinda of rabbit! He had friends of all types including adult friends. He stood up for what was right and saw value in solving his own problems with his own brain power! And his solutions are thought out, fair and had favorable outcomes.

In this new age of electronic devices, it was refreshing to see characters that still read and have old fashioned values of family and friends. Hurray Kenny! Hurray Grahame!

Last but not least --- The drawings in the book are just fabulous!
Profile Image for Wanda.
653 reviews
September 14, 2020
13 SEP 2020 - Complete cover love! The dragon, Grahame (like the cracker, except with an "e" at the end) is ever-so-handsome. Kenny and his penny-farthing are to die for.

Upon first meeting Grahame, Kenny believes Grahame will kill him. Grahame replies, " ... I am more what you'd call a 'Renaissance fellow.' I like to see the world and savor it, not destroy it." There is a lesson to be learned here.

14 SEP 2020 - Grahame shares his thoughts on Beowulf - "Hmpf! This Beowulf fellow had a severe anger management problem."

And you know what they say: "Come not between a dragon and his wrath."
Profile Image for Alyisha.
1,010 reviews31 followers
January 28, 2025
I read this for Bookwyrms Book Club, my newly-minted fantasy book club for kids at the library. It’s based on “The Reluctant Dragon”, a short story by Kenneth Grahame (which, admittedly, I’ve never read). It was super sweet — basically “Ferdinand” made mythical, about a cultured & sensitive dragon who would rather read, paint watercolors, play the piano, eat creme brûlée, and put on plays than fight.

The kids all loved it! I asked them to put up one hand if they liked it, two if they loved it, and none if they wished they’d never read it. They all put up two hands…except for one girl who put up both hands and one of her feet. 😅 I’d say that’s a success!
Profile Image for Mauro Martinez.
98 reviews6 followers
July 27, 2020
Como salto desde las lecturas adaptadas a lecturas sin adaptar, está bien por ser una historia entretenida y corta, aunque para un nivel B1-B2 requiere demasiado el uso del diccionario (casi en cada frase hay alguna palabra que buscar). Ahora bien, sin ese uso del diccionario, la historia también se puede seguir perfectamente, por lo que no es un gran problema si, a ratos, quieres dejarte llevar más por la historia que por la práctica del inglés.
La narración es excelente. El lector, Alan Cumming, interpreta distintas voces para los personajes. En las escenas más dinámicas abusa un poco de la velocidad, para mi gusto como lector extranjero. El natural acento inglés a ritmo natural no ha sido tan fácil para mí como con otros lectores, pero bueno, ahí está el entrenamiento del "listening".
Profile Image for Melissa.
690 reviews169 followers
December 4, 2012
There are dozens of books about kids making new friends and looking past outward appearances, but this one takes the cake. A bookish rabbit named Kenny meets a dragon named Grahame and the two become fast friends. Things get complicated when Kenny’s only other friend, George the local bookseller, is hired by the king to slay the dragon.

The short book is packed with great life lessons: finding nonviolent solutions to your problems, respecting your parents, talking out your problems with others, not judging people before you get to know them, etc.

The lovely illustrations and sweet story made this one an absolute delight. I particularly loved Kenny’s parents and their development. It’s been added to my permanent collection of kids’ books.
Profile Image for Meg Mueller.
201 reviews13 followers
February 4, 2021
If you are looking for a fun chapter book series to read with your young readers, then look no further! DiTerlizzi's Kenny & the Dragon was a delight for our entire family. We read a chapter a day (sometimes two or three when we were really into it) and my dragon-princess-knight-loving child was obsessed from beginning to end.

The thing I love most about this book is the detailed way DiTerlizzi depicts tough emotions--something kids can struggle with. From the reader's perspective, you could really feel how the characters felt throughout the entire book. You had a front row seat to all of Kenny's experiences, and I feel like that is so important for young readers. We cannot wait to dive into book 2 and see what new adventures await Kenny!
Profile Image for Praise Reads.
428 reviews14 followers
April 23, 2026
There’s a cozy, old-fashioned charm running through Kenny & the Dragon that makes it feel like a modern fairy tale. The story follows Kenny Rabbit, a gentle and curious boy who befriends a poetry-loving dragon named Grahame, only to find their friendship threatened when the townspeople call in a dragon slayer, George, to hunt Grahame down. Caught in the middle, Kenny tries to find a peaceful solution that doesn’t involve anyone getting hurt.

The book leans heavily on themes of understanding and looking beyond appearances, with a calm, thoughtful tone. It moves at an easy pace, though it may feel a bit quiet for readers wanting more action. Still, it’s a sweet, reflective story with a strong message.

RATING: four out of five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Kailey (Luminous Libro).
3,707 reviews580 followers
September 16, 2026
Kenny is dismayed to discover that there is a fire-breathing dragon in the back field of their sheep farm. But when he confronts the dragon, he finds that the dragon is kind and gentle. They become friends through talking about books and history and art. But the townsfolk have called for the king to send his best knight to kill the dragon! Can Kenny save his new friend when no one seems willing to listen?

I loved this book so much! The whole story is so charming and whimsical! I loved the adorable characters, and the writing is utterly enchanting in every chapter.

There are a couple of places where the writing had really lovely poetic sentences, but in a concise and meaningful way so that it doesn't overwhelm the charming simplicity. There is one place where Kenny is looking up at the sky in the back field, and it says that he couldn't tell which lights were stars, and which were fireflies. Just a small description, but with a lot of power behind it to immediately put the reader into the cool night. There is also a description of Kenny having a "river-stone-in-the-stomach feeling" when he is afraid. I thought that was such an excellent description that puts you right into Kenny's shoes. A simple phrase, but it says so much! All of the writing was like that, simple and concise, but imaginative and vivid and powerful.

I adored Kenny's character. He's really quite young to be dealing with such big concepts, but the adults in his life give him some space to figure things out, telling him to rely on his intelligence and common sense to find a solution. His parents are a central part of the story, and I loved how they offer him wisdom and caring, but then let him make some of his own decisions within protective parameters. The whole family relationship is brilliant!

Kenny's father is especially a complex character. At first, he just seems like a comic relief character, but later in the story, we see these touching scenes of the father passing down generational wisdom to his son.

I completely fell in love with the delightful dragon, Grahame! He is intelligent and gracious and full of humor and friendliness. I loved the whimsy of seeing a dragon doing delicate things like flying a kite, or painting a watercolor sunset.

This book has been screened on the Screen It First website. https://screenitfirst.com/book/kenny-...
Profile Image for Babi.
126 reviews26 followers
July 7, 2017
Um livro que conseguiu despertar o interesse pela leitura no meu irmão. Muito bom para crianças que se encontrem no 1.º ciclo :)
Profile Image for Megan Kurus.
43 reviews1 follower
November 3, 2021
Such a cute book.
I read this with my 9yo and we appreciated the illustrations.
Good storyline with a good lesson behind it.
Profile Image for Andrea Wright.
1,050 reviews18 followers
May 20, 2025
I want all the artwork on my walls please! How can anything be better than bunnies and dragons?! So happy to see there is another book ❤️
Profile Image for John.
82 reviews
December 27, 2021
"I think he's a better illustrator than author, but the story was still entertaining and the drawings were, of course, excellent."
Profile Image for Addison.
93 reviews10 followers
April 9, 2024
I read this because a student asked me to and I couldn’t say no. This was a rough one to read but since it was their favorite, I had to give it a try!
Profile Image for Ahalya.
47 reviews9 followers
March 22, 2018
yet another inspiring book from the kid's school!
kid's takeaway :
1. Read books
2. discuss books with friends
3. Question the facts
4. Apply knowledge from book
5. if nothing works use your own brain
Profile Image for One Man Book Club.
1,009 reviews58 followers
February 26, 2018
Check out my blog, One Man Book Club

The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

Each school year, our school district picks one book and gifts a copy to each district family for a community read-along. It's my favorite program! Sometimes the books are duds, but they generally do a pretty good job with their selection. This year's read was Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi of Spiderwick Chronicles fame.

It's a winner!

Kenny would rather read and hang out with his friend George, the librarian. The other kids don't really get Kenny, Kenny doesn't really get them, and so it goes...until a dragon moves into the pasture where Kenny's dad keeps the family sheep.

When Kenny investigates, he finds this dragon is more interested in Creme Brulee than roasted sheep, and he'd rather read a book and put on a play than horde gold and terrorize maidens fair. His name is Grahame (like the cracker, but with an 'e'), and suddenly Kenny discovers he's found a kindred spirit and another best friend!

Unfortunately, the town's people aren't nearly as accepting of a dragon living near by. Even worse, Kenny's friend, George the librarian--who was a dragon-killing knight in his younger years--is called upon by the king to rid their town of the vile beast!

Can Kenny keep his two best friends from meeting in a battle to the death? Can he find a way to show everyone that kindness and acceptance is better than assumptions and misunderstandings?

Of course he can!

The kids loved it, it was easy to read aloud, and even I was looking forward to the big showdown at the end.

This is a great read aloud, but is also accessible to the grade-school set who are comfortable with chapter books.

Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Emory.
61 reviews9 followers
January 29, 2013
I saw "Kenny & thee Dragon" at my local library and picked it up solely based on the fact that it was by Tony DiTerlizzi. I have been a fan of his artwork since my days of Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. His illustrations have an unmistakably recognizable style, and even things that are supposed to be disturbing have a warmth and familiarity to them when he puts them on paper. So of course I had to see what kind of story he could attach to that.

As the title states, it's a boy meets mythical creature story, and has all the trappings that go with it. Ignorant adults, averted tragedy with the cunning use of the imagination, learning things from each other, correcting wrong impressions. Morality and do-good-edness from cover to cover.

He met my expectations. It is a children's story, yes. It comes complete with all that entails, such as an overly optimistic plot, but it's okay. It's a children's book. It is light, and fun, and easy to read. The artwork is gorgeous and sets off the writing nicely. The illustrations do not distract or overpower, complementing the narrative instead.

I really thought the dialogue was clever, and really defined the characters. You could imagine the dragon having a cultured received pronunciation, and the parents a heavy cockney. The kid could have any accent, he's the kid after all. Reading this book was like playing a Pixar or Dreamworks film in my head.

If you have kids, or are just a kid at heart grab this quick read. It's everything a family-friendly story should be in an incredibly attractive package. Go ahead and judge this one by the cover.
Profile Image for Stina.
72 reviews7 followers
April 15, 2014
You know those books that you really want to love, and you do like some little parts of them, but overall you just can't say you liked it? This was one of those books for me.

I liked the dragon, Grahame. He has amusing potential, and ought to have his own book.

The illustrations are lovely, charming and whimsical. It would have been great if the book included more drawings, because really, I enjoyed them more than the story.

What is the target reader age group? Young children (I'm thinking six/seven years old) would probably be thrilled with this. Friendship problems, a world of talking animals, a misunderstanding with potentially grave consequences, a kid having to save the day. And young kids would probably accept the solution to the problem with excitement and amusement. However, the language would likely be a big stumbling block for most kids of that age. I can just imagine one of my young siblings trying to read this to themselves and having to stop in every paragraph to ask what something means, or if we tried it as a read-aloud, they would interrupt and ask or just get confused and quickly turn their attention to other things. Yet I feel like if the reader was much older, they may be turned off by the inconsistencies in the way the townspeople talk about the dragon and their actions (or lack thereof), Kenny's family relationships, and the "children's book logic" solutions.
Profile Image for Dena McMurdie.
Author 8 books134 followers
February 4, 2013
Humorous and charming, Kenny and the Dragon has joined my list of favorite lower middle grade reads. It is bright and sweet. It has a beautiful feel to it that I miss in most middle grade books that I read.

There is a tiny bit of suspense, but nothing over the top or inappropriate for young children. I read this to my five year old and she absolutely adored it. Tony’s illustrations are fantastic, as always, and really add to the atmosphere and charm of the book.

I am really impressed with Tony’s work. He makes up half of the brains that brought us The Spiderwick Chronicles, and now he has delighted us yet again with another book entirely written and illustrated by himself. I’m a big fan.
Profile Image for Abby Johnson.
3,373 reviews360 followers
August 22, 2008
When young Kenny Rabbit finds a dragon hanging out on the hill behind his house, he's afraid at first. But once he gets to know Grahame, he realizes that he's found a kindred spirit and a best friend. When townspeople discover the dragon and insist on destroying it, Kenny has to figure out a way to save his new friend without hurting any of the townspeople. Gorgeous illustrations improve an uneven story. I liked the writing for the most part, but Kenny's voice and the tone of the book seemed to be a strange mixture of old-fashioned classic (a la The Wind in the Willows) and more modern lingo.
Profile Image for Mikayla.
77 reviews
May 27, 2015
Every once in a while you stumble upon a book that is yours. Yours in the sense that it occupies a teeny tiny piece of your soul and you have absolutely no chance of dislodging it.

It may be a children's book, it may be one of the shortest pieces on your bookshelf, it may just be a little bit silly, a little bit giggly, and yet you have to reread it every few months because this book is yours and it makes you happy in a way that dissecting Shakespeare doesn't quite reach.

Grahame and Kenny have stolen my heart over and over, and somehow I'm quite content to leave it in their possession.
Profile Image for Cole.
15 reviews
November 19, 2013
I adore this book because of the characters, Kenny a quiet young rabbit meets Grahme a peaceful dragon looking for peace.When people start learning about Grahme a chaotic twist starts. The author leads you on a journey that you realize Kenny has a plan! The story shows much more than just a cover and words, it shows an unknown adventure!
Profile Image for Bettie.
9,973 reviews
wish-list
March 23, 2014
Look at that penny-farthing on the cover.
Profile Image for Vojtěch.
868 reviews141 followers
November 21, 2018
Drak, který rád čte, jeho oblíbeným pokrmem je soufflé a který se kamarádí s králíkem? Jo, všechno je možné. A je to moc krásné.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 773 reviews

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