This unique counting book will be a hit with children who love looking at finely detailed illustrations and searching for hidden items on each page. … The book is illustrated in pen and ink in a picture-book style that is reminiscent of the late 1950s to early 1960s. The drawings are produced in black ink only, except for the highlighted object on each page. A map on the endpapers outlines the route the boy takes throughout the city. All in all, an excellent offering.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Drawn with a fountain pen, Light’s distinctive illustrations have a bold, thick line and deep texture and are highlighted with dashes of color to help identify objects to count. His cityscapes capture the bustle of New York City, and little readers will have as much fun exploring the city as they do trying to spot the sneaky dragon hidden within. A rough map of the city serves as the book’s endpapers, so little eyes can follow along.
—Booklist
Expressive line drawings fill the pages of this counting book, a love letter to the streets and sights of Manhattan. … Light’s creation will appeal to Manhattanites and those outside the borough alike.
—Publishers Weekly
Black line pen-and-ink drawings in finely patterned detail depict a vital, lively New York City of the imagination. … Lots for young readers to see and count.
—Kirkus Reviews
The simple journey and even the counting are merely excuses … to take in the lavish cityscapes of the pen and ink illustrations: each spread features detailed black and white drawings using thick and thin nib techniques to achieve a calligraphic effect. The countable elements are washed over with a single colorful pigment, setting them apart for easy picking out. … This is one for poring over, so that youngsters can not only count the color-coded hot dogs, balloons, and subway cars but also spot the dragon sneakily hiding just out of our narrator’s view each step of the way.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Counting has never been so much fun. Detailed pen and ink illustrations splashed with color will keep young readers engaged as they try to spot the adventurous dragon.
—The Huffington Post
Inspired by the steam coming out of New York’s manhole covers (which the young author’s father said was dragon’s breath), Light offers up a winding story of a young boy wandering through a bustling cityscape in search of his dragon. The book does a great job of contrasting intricate black and white line drawings with a bold use of color that will draw kids in, not just to look for the dragon, but to explore the curiosities of the city itself.
—The Huffington Post
Lithe and lovely, overflowing with good will and copious details, expect the sentence, “Have you seen ‘Have You Seen My Dragon?’” to appear on the lips of parents and children everywhere.
—Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ blog)
Adventure, color, numbers, maps… just a few of the captivating features of this wonderfully fun-for-the-whole-family book.
—PBS Parents
Little ones will love finding the creature in each picture, while Steve Light’s intricate drawings of the city will impress readers of all ages.
—Parents Magazine Tablet Edition
Steve Light’s masterful pen-and-ink illustrations, decorated with meticulous splashes of color, elevate this counting book (numbers 1-20) to new heights.
—WAMC Northeast Public Radio
Counting has never been so much fun. Detailed pen and ink illustrations splashed with color will keep young readers engaged as they try to spot the adventurous dragon.
—Afro Times
Counting has never been so fun!
—Meridian Magazine
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