The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Cummings, Phil

Boy

32 pp. | Kane Miller | March, 2018 | Trade ISBN 978-1-61067-739-4 $12.99

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shane Devries. Immersive watercolors enliven an original fairy tale about a little deaf boy who uses his unique communication skills to save his village from an angry dragon and a belligerent king. The illustrations, in a warm coral-and-lavender palette, incorporate common signs ("'Thank you,' they said with dancing hands"). Despite its disability-as-heroism device, the engaging story is worthwhile for its different protagonist and message of tolerance.

Reviewer: Robyn Bahr