McAlister, Caroline. John Ronald’s Dragons: The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien. Illus. by Eliza Wheeler. Roaring Brook Press, 2017. $18.99. unp. ISBN 978-1-62672-092-3. Ages 6-8. P9Q9
As a lonely child, later at a boarding school, and then fighting in the first world war, Tolkien loved dragons, a lifelong interest that led him to write the famous Lord of the Rings fantasy series. Wheeler carefully illustrates the connection between his real world and the one he creates, explaining the sources and similarities in notes at the end of the book. Fluttering curtains, fireplace flames, and plumes of smoke and steam evoke the mythical beings that later populate Tolkien’s Middle Earth, accompanied by simple text about Tolkien’s early life and dreams, culminating in the huge, elegantly menacing Smaug.
Verdict: Lovely illustrations reveal Tolkien’s feelings and ideas for his stories in an exploration of a mostly-isolated child who shared his dreams with the world. An excellent introduction to the classic Tolkien writings.
May/June 2017 review by Nel Ward.
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