If I Had a Dragon: Si Yo Tuviera un Dragon
Written & Illustrated by Tom & Amanda Ellery
Children's Picture Book Ages 3-7
Rating: 4/5

A little boy dreams about what it would be like if his "boring" baby brother were a dragon!

Opinion: This book is very humorous and has great illustrations that really show expression and detail throughout the story. The little boy lists all the things he could participate in if his brother were a dragon: Play hide and seek? Go for a swim? Go to the movies? The only problem is that the dragon is large, clumsy, and accidentally breathes fire, which messes with the boy's motives! The dragon and his mannerisms remind me of the book Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber, which I absolutely love. The thing that is great about this book is that underneath the English lines the book is written in Spanish, which is great for ELL learners or for children who only speak Spanish. As a reader, I very much enjoyed this book and the ending was satisfying: he'd rather play with the baby!

Curriculum Connection: This book is great for both Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers. It can transfer both ways; Children learning English can compare the words because they are written right next to each other. Seeing it like this is very good for visual memory and can help the child process it step-by-step. The subtle hint of multiculturalism is just enough to get keep kids interested without overshadowing the plot line.