Billy is a dragon series by Nick Falk
Ill. by Tony FLowers. Random House, 2014.
First Bite. ISBN 9780857983053. ebk ISBN 9780857983060.
Werewolves Beware. ISBN 9780857983077. ebk ISBN
9780857983084.
Billy's life changes the day he walks into Benny's Pet Shop because
they are having special discounts for 10th birthday presents for
boys named Billy. Billy already has Bertha, an ageing bulldog whom
he loves very much, so he thinks about a fish or a parrot. But Benny
leads him towards the lizards, and even though Billy knows both his
mum and sister are terrified of them, he is captivated by one which
Benny tells him is called the dragON lizard. Determined to know what
it feels like he sticks his finger in the cage and it bites
him. With a painfully swollen finger which keeps swelling, they head
home and eventually Billy goes to bed nursing it as it continues to
swell and thinking of his upcoming birthday party. Next morning,
while his finger no longer hurts, he's amazed to discover it has
turned green and grown an enormous black claw! And that's just the
start of it. even though Billy might find being a dragon protects
him from bullies, teachers and his sister Becky, when his parents
decide that dragons belong in a zoo he has to make a critical
decision as well as an agonising discovery. Is he a Shifter who can
change shape or a Plain who stays stuck as he is?
Written at a fast clip, interspersed with eye-catching fonts to
emphasise the mood and the meaning, this is a new series from the
creators of Saurus Street written to capture the imaginations of
those on the cusp of being independent readers and moving onto
novels. Billy's adventures will appeal to all those who can think of
better ways to spend their days than being at school, secretly
wishing the teacher would disappear in a puff of smoke - which is
almost what happens when he sets her hair on fire as he morphs into
a dragon in the classroom. And his new persona is very helpful when
dealing with bullies. Who wouldn't want to be able to do that? With
the continuing popularity of characters with super powers and
creatures from the realm of fantasy, the series is a great
introduction to a new genre that ventures beyond the more
traditional witches and wizards.
Tony Flowers' quirky illustrations are more than just decoration -
they are an integral part of the story that teach as much as they
tell. While they have a cartoon-like appearance, the detail in the
diagrams and the accompanying text not only explain the story but
also provide a model for the reader to produce their own. Not only
has Tony Flowers tapped into his imagination, but he has offered an
opportunity for the reader to get inside theirs. For example, just
what does a bully look like on the inside? How else would you
explain the characteristics of a shifter or a squiff? How empowering
it would be for a child to dissect their own fears in such a way.
Perhaps there is even an outlet for the writers and drawers in the
class to co-produce their own story about being a dragon, or
persuading the principal that such a creature would be an asset to
the school.
Series are a perfect way to support the developing reader as they
already bring their knowledge of the characters and circumstances to
the sequels, providing a familiarity that helps them cross the
bridge to independence just that bit more easily. This series is
sure to capture the attention and imagination of a clientele who can
be hard to engage.
Barbara Braxton