Return of the Library Dragon

The Library Dragon #2

by Carmen Agra Deedy, Michael P. White (Illustrator)

Miss Lotta Scales, a dragon also known as Miss Lotty the librarian, wants to retire from taking care of the school's library but will not willingly stand by and see her beloved books replaced by computers.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dragons, Books About Books, School, Fantasy, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Carmen Agra Deedy is an internationally known author of children’s literature, a storyteller and radio contributor. Born in Havana, Cuba, she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1963 after the Cuban Revolution. Deedy grew up in Decatur, Georgia and currently lives in Atlanta and has three daughters.

Reviews

[Tina Haigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a librarian who is retiring but is deadset on not letting technology take over once she's gone. I think every library needs a library dragon. I like technology but no amount of technology can ever replace the feeling of cracking open a book, the feel of the pages, or the wonderful smell. I would recommend this for ages 6-9.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

The library dragon lost her scales a book back and now she is going to retire. She is looking forward to retirement. It’s been a good career. She goes back to the library and finds that Mike Krochip the IT guy has removed all the books and set up nothing but screens. The dragon losses it and becomes a dragon again; destroy all the computers and gadgets. The day is saved by the new librarian, an old student who helped the dragon lose its scales. Once again this woman calms the dragon and its scales drop off. The new librarian says the books are coming back and there will be a blended library with books and Tuesdays are no gadget days.

I thought it was cute and it did a good job and extolling the love of books and updating a library to the 21st century. It’s not the best sequel, but it’s ok.

The nephew thought the dragon was sort of cool, but the book really wasn’t his cup of tea. He said it was an OK story, but he’s read better.(his phrase) He gave this 2 stars.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Library Dragon, now the beloved Miss Lolly, decides to retire. Since she's leaving the school, the IT department decides to replace the books with all kinds of reading technology.





Anyway, it turns out that the new librarian is Molly, the Library Dragon's former student, and she too loves books. She insists that the books stay in the library.

I wish the the ultimate solution weren't so one sided. I love books, but I also love technology. And while I read books to students, many of my lessons also involve research and using technology. Computers and technology DO belong in libraries, right along with those good old fashioned books.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Lotty Scales has decided to close the book on her career as librarian at Sunrise Elementary School. But then technology threatens to discard books from the library PERMANENTLY! What is a library dragon to do? Eat the technology of course. Fortunately, help is on the way in the form of Molly Brickmeyer, librarian and dragon tamer extraordinaire!

You will thoroughly enjoy this sequel to "The Library Dragon" by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Michael P. White. It addresses the controversy surrounding the "e-book vs. actual book" debate in a fun way.

[Betsy Cypress · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique book! I love it and I agree with Miss Lotty. 💜

If you are a book lover, you’ll enjoy this book - including the fun quotes.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this follow-up to the earlier The Library Dragon, the time has come for the school librarian, Miss Lotty, to retire. The airbrushed illustrations are filled with rich colors and provide wonderful perspectives; for instance, readers will see first the hand of Mike Krochip who plans to create Media World in the library. There are also dragonflies all across the book's pages as well as signs that Miss Lotty's long-dormant dragon nature is starting to stir as the plans to remove all books from the library. Just when disaster is imminent, an older Molly Brickmeyer, the girl who tamed the Library Dragon years ago, arrives to save the day. The title is pun-filled with book titles and characters' names and fun to read aloud. Those of us who still read our books the old fashion way rather than on Nooks or Kindles are likely to smile at all the tributes from children about the merits of real books and wonder if they, too, will become things of the past.

[Maddypictures · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun, I guess. It's an ode to how wonderful books and libraries are. (I loved the endpages with plenty of pro-library quotes.) As expected, the new librarian reassures the retiring library dragon that she'll care for the books, and won't get rid of all paper books in favor of technology though. I was sad to see the anti-computer message. Cybrary? I don't think we use that term, except for a brief while at the turn of the century. It's not an either/or dichotomy with e-books and paper books. You can have both! I don't think that fully came across.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return of the Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael P. White- I totally missed when this book came out. Quite enjoyed reading a sequel with another great message… touching library celebration with a goal for children to have a balance of books and technology. Good for discussions with children about retirement as well. I did find the book a little weak in how it was wrapped up but was quite happy to return to the world of the Library Dragon.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely not subtle about the retirement and return of the Library Dragon, but it does have an interesting message about the difference between e-books and paper books. I'm going to buy it for the end papers if nothing else. I'll probably read it for my first class, just so I can wear my Not a Library Dragon Tee Shirt.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great book for Media Specialists to read aloud. It is #2 in the Library Dragon series. I don't know if there will be more - Carmen Deedy said she wasn't planning on it. Put the characters are memorable and fun. here they are lamenting the eBook revolution happening in their library when Lottie has just retired...

[Maggie Ignasiak · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just doesn't fit with my own personal beliefs about what a library is and what it means to be a librarian. If you are someone who believes that libraries should be mostly physical book centered (like 90% books and 10% everything else) this is probably a great book for you. I simply won't be using it in the future.

[Donalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This follow-up to The Library Dragon sends a not-so-subtle message about the conversion of libraries into media centers at the expense of readers.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really want to like these books better than I do.

[Meghan Nels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love sharing The Library Dragon with upper elementary students at the beginning of the school year. I think they'll enjoy this sequel just as much.

[Ariel (MandarinBlues) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book vs kindle the librarian edition. Perfect for all book lovers and amusing for the kindle lovers :)

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one really cracked me up since I read it after the year + of school closure, when there were NO BOOKS ALLOWED! UGH! It's like Mr. Mike Krochip really DID come to our library, and I kept my inner dragon at bay. This book is way more relevant now than the author probably knew when imagining it!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horn Book (Spring 2013)

In this follow-up to The Library Dragon, wherein a school librarian learned to allow students to use "her" books, she is now on the verge of retirement and is enraged when technology replaces the print materials in her library. Punning abounds, and the illustrations are droll and lighthearted, but the humor doesn't lighten Deedy's heavy-handed message.



Kirkus Reviews (July 15, 2012)

What could cause the Library Dragon to return (The Library Dragon, 1994)? Miss Lotty, librarian at Sunrise Elementary School, was once a scaly, book-protecting, fire-breathing dragon, but years ago student Molly Brickmeyer helped melt the scales away by proving children can be trusted with books. Now, Miss Lotty is ready to retire. Though the kids will miss her, she's sure her successor will carry on her library traditions. Unfortunately, when she arrives for her last day before retirement...Mr. Mike Krochip has replaced all her books with computers and e-readers. The kids profess their love of traditional books until they see the bells and whistles on the e-readers, triggering the return of the Library Dragon, who chomps through every piece of technology she sees until a young redhead saves the day (and the library) again. Deedy and White re-team to bring the Library Dragon into the 21st century. As an entertaining read that broaches the subject of technology's place in the school media center, this deserves a place alongside its predecessor despite the fact that the resolution of the central conflict is about as realistic as a dragon in the library. White's brightly colored, squashed and squiggly full-bleed illustrations match the tale for good goofiness. Pro-book and -library quotes on the endpapers and multiple punny book titles in the illustrations add an extra touch of fun. (Picture book. 4-8)



Publishers Weekly (August 6, 2012)

This pun-soaked, technology-themed sequel to The Library Dragon lands nearly 20 years after the first book. Miss Lotty is about to retire from her post as school librarian when a man named Mike Krochip replaces all the books in the library with computers, announcing that the space is now a "cybrary." Distraught students spring to the defense of print books ("And books smell! My favorite book smells like spaghetti," says one boy). Outraged, Miss Lotty morphs back into her dragon persona, Miss Lotta Scales, roaring, "You bring back every last library book or I'll melt your motherboard!" The arrival of the sweet-tempered new librarian-the very girl, now grown, who helped diffuse the dragon in the earlier story-placates Miss Lotty in this installment, too. Rendered in airbrush and featuring electric colors, White's stylized caricatures border on garish, and the book-themed puns tucked into the illustrations (The Rat in the Hat, The Molar Express) are weak. Despite some concessions to the value of technology in the final pages, this story arrives feeling like a relic. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.



School Library Journal (October 1, 2012)

Gr 1-2-Retiring librarian Lotta Scales envisions the Sunrise Elementary Library of the future, and it is not the Sunrise Elementary Cybrary, a center for "MePods," printers, and 10,000 books on a screen. Mike Krochip, the IT guy, boldly employs the Book-Be-Gone 5000 to whisk away all books while the students gather together to explain why printed volumes hold a special place in their hearts. The idea that tablets are replacing books now sent to storage raises Miss Lotty's ire, and she reverts to her former fire-breathing (now laptop eating) alter ego, threatening to eat "every last byte" to protect the books. The Library Dragon may only be tamed by one who deeply loves learning. Enter Molly Brickmeyer, returned as the newly hired, "media-library-cyber-book specialist," to help students who also love technology "unplug, for the love of books." Eye-catching airbrush art in the style of the Library Dragon (Peachtree, 1994) allows readers to enjoy additional searches for humor in twisted book titles, spoofs on tech terminology, and plot or text similarities with the fiery original. Written with a love for the printed word that spreads to quotes on endpapers, this title will find a following with Miss Lotty's fans.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

[Corrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review at wadingthroughbooks.wordpress.com!

This is a nice story about the need for balance between library traditions like paper books and costumes and the need for innovative technologies. The children explain to Mike Krochip (warning! bad puns!) that paper books have a valued physical presence–that you can share books with friends, that you can read the same book with your grandmother that her grandmother read to her, that different books look and feel different. As Milo says “If you’ve never really loved a book, maybe nobody can explain it to you.” But Mike points out that you can have 10,000 books in one device, and a fourth-grader says that the MePod is awesome. Molly, the new librarian and an old friend of Miss Lotty, says it best “I love technology too. But our kids need a library where they can UNPLUG, for the love of books.” The last page of the book shows Molly using a computer to check out a book, and Mike Krochip wearing a funny hat and reading a book to a couple of children. There is a sign on the circulation desk saying “Tomorrow is Technology Free Tuesday- Unplug it or Lose it!” This implies that during the rest of the week, technology is welcome in Molly’s library, but sometimes it’s time to unplug and go offline. Apparently this is a sequel–now I think I have to track down the first book, The Library Dragon.

There’s a lot of tension in the library world right now over technology and how much and which kinds and how to integrate it into library services. Most librarians that I talk to are really enthusiastic about it–the theme for the OLA Super Conference next year is A Universe of Possibilities (which I actually proposed at the 2013 conference, though I think I used the phrase An Out of This World Library Experience). Technology can do some really cool things–TumbleBooks lets kids read along with ebooks, SmallDemons is neat reader’s advisory tool, I’ve talked about my love for my Kobo, things like the 50 Book Pledge and Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter, podcasting, WordPress and other blogs–it’s so easy now to share your world. And isn’t that the point of books? To share what you think with other people? To teach, to entertain, to take a journey and say to the reader “Come with me–let’s see where we end up?” I do love my books, and I miss them terribly now that most of them are packed away in storage until I have the space for them again (and I’m sure that they miss me too), but it is so convenient to have so many books on my laptop, that I can carry around on my ereader so I always have something to read with me. But it’s not the first edition copy of Triptych that my friend J.M. Frey signed for me. It’s not the copy of Peter David’s Q-in-Law that I had to tape the cover back on because I read it so many times. It’s not the bright cover of Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein that snagged my attention this past weekend at the bookstore. It’s not the copy of James Blish’s Spock Must Die! that I might have borrowed from my mother about 20 years ago and kinda sorta deliberately forgot to give back. It’s definitely not the 2 handwritten pages of family births, deaths and marriages from the mid-1800s that my aunt found in her basement last year. And technology definitely won’t the same as plunking my baby niece down in my lap and letting her chew on a board book of fairy tales–she doesn’t understand the stories yet, but one day she will.

There’s some thought that technology will replace books–there was recently an article in the Toronto Star about a boy who can’t sign his name to his passport because kids are no longer being taught handwriting in schools, just typing. A couple of years ago the Windsor Catholic School Board decided to get rid of their libraries and turn them into a learning commons area where kids could do research and engage in digital literacy. The kids and the parents protested and the decision was reversed. What the future of the library should be is a hotly debated subject in the public sphere right now, and all of the people involved are very passionate about their opinions. Return of the Library Dragon is a good explanation of the debate for both kids and adults–enthusiasm and moderation, tradition and innovation balanced. Just beware the librarian when you threaten the library–I hear she’s a real dragon!

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and funny illustrations. Nice continuation of the main story. Ms. Lotta is ready to retire and her replacement is uncertain, as well as the fate of the library in the midst of all the new ebooks and technology; Recommended for ES. Cute ending.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmen Agra Deedy and Michael P. White have teamed up again for another Library Dragon story. This one is even better than the first with a story that will resonate with book lovers of all ages.

Return of the Library Dragon begins with beautifully designed endpapers filled with quotations about books and libraries. The next page features the School Library Times announcement of Miss Lotty's retirement with a picture of the young Molly Brickmeyer. Miss Lotty recalls her fondest memory, “Twenty years ago, a little footnote of a girl named Molly Brickmeyer showed me how wrong I was to keep children from their books. I shed my scales, discarded my library dragon ways, and got in touch with my inner library goddess.”

Miss Lotty is blissful about her retirement until she discovers that all the books have been removed by the Central Office's IT guy, Mike Krochip, to create the new Sunrise Cybrary. As he tells her, "It's a brave new world. Books stain and tear and take up room. Check out the Book-Be-Gone 5000. It'll kindle your fire!" The students protest, but Mike is confident that they will get over it and this brings back the Library Dragon roaring "You bring back every last library book or I'll melt your motherboard!"

Oh it is not a pretty sight! Molly Brickmeyer, now an adult, again saves the day as the new librarian. The scene where Molly rests her head on the Library Dragon while whispering, "I learned from the best, you know" is especially touching.

As Molly says "I love technology too. But our kids need a library where they can UNPLUG, for the love of books." And she doesn't want to be called media-library-cyber-book specialist. Oh no, she says "I prefer . . . librarian."

This is a delightfully inspiring book that celebrates books, reading, and librarians.

[Samantha Chinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Miss Lotty the school librarian is retiring and one day when she shows up for work, Milo her helper tells her something terrible. All the books are gone! Then the library doors open and Mike Krochip from IT is there to tell them that the library is now going to be a cybrary. There are no longer books but instead only MePods to put thousands of books on. The children argue that they like that physical books all look and feel different, that they can share books with friends, that they love the smell of books, and that they like that you can’t delete a book. Miss Lotty is so angry with Mr. Krochip that she turns into the Library Dragon and chases him out of the library only to run into a red-headed lady. The lady says she is Molly the new librarian and she comforts Lotty the Dragon and tells her not to worry because she is here to protect the books. The scales fall off the dragon and Miss Lotty welcomes Miss Molly who she knows will keep the library as a safe place for her children to unplug and rest with a book.

This book is perfect for elementary kids who are entering the new library world where e-readers and technology are approaching. It teaches kids that books are important because they unplug people from all the technology around them. It appeals to kids because it gives some good reasons as to why books are important and better than e-books in some aspects. The book is important in addressing today’s technology concerns at the library. This book would be great implemented in the display because it is one of the first I’ve read that addresses the e-book concern with today’s libraries in a children’s book format.

Deedy, C.A. (2012). Return of the library dragon. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered this book at our girls' elementary school library. The librarian was nice enough to give me my own card, so I occasionally borrow a book. I was visiting during the morning to watch our youngest get an award. After I said goodbye to her, I decided to see if I could find So, What's It Like to Be a Cat?, a book that wasn't available through my county library system, but was on the shelves at the school. My oldest just happened to be having library time then, so she helped me find some books to bring home. Just like LAY'S® potato chips, I can never get just one book, but I managed to get out of there with only three. But I digress...

We read The Library Dragon about a year ago and found it to be an amusing tale. This sequel to the story is much the same as the first, and the illustrations are still as odd and somewhat creepy as in the first book. Still, I loved the fact that the book defends the printed page, as no ereader can completely replace the look, feel, smell and experience of reading a book. I like ereaders, but I love books. We enjoyed reading this book together.

My favorite part of the book were the numerous library quotes on the endpages. I spent more time reading those than I did the story. I suppose that's not a ringing endorsement of the book, but I really loved the quotes.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Lotty, the librarian, is retiring. The children love her and are unsure about her replacement. But on her last day of work she walks into the library and realizes that all of the books have been kidnapped and replaced with computers. She gets so angry that she turns into a dragon, the library dragon. A lady named Molly walks in helps Miss Lotty return from being a dragon. She is the new librarian and promises to bring back the books. The illustrations are fun and colorful. The story is about the importance of books. While the story is fun and entertaining, it also brings home the importance of reading to children. Books are important and what could be better than showcasing this point with a book that is fun, entertaining and educational. The inside covers are filled with quotes on about books and the importance of reading.
This book is for ages 5 to 8.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Literature in exchange for my honest review.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Miss Lotty, the librarian who is about to retire discovers that the IT department is discarding all the books for computers and e-readers; she turns into her alter ego Lotta Scales the Library Dragon. What format will win? Print books or ebooks? Can anyone tame the Library Dragon? Is it possible for a modern Media Center to provide both kinds of books to our readers? Find out in this cute tale about the ever-changing library/Media Center/cybrary.
Bonus feature - this book's endpapers contain a plethora of quotes about reading that all bibliophiles (no matter their preferred format) will love.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

With word play and humor the changing form of libraries is addressed. This book will appeal particularly to those close to the discussions about how many books to keep and how much technology to embrace as library budgets are written and mission statements are developed. A worthy sequel to The Library Dragon, and a great gift for children's librarians.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to The Library Dragon. Miss Lotty Scales is retiring, but the day before she does all the books are taken away and replaced with computers. An IT guy is in the library setting everything up--to be a cybrary. Of course Lotty is burning up, becoming again the library dragon. The children are all in despair over losing their books too. Libraries can exist with BOTH books and computers.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lotta Scales, the dragon librarian, is retiring and the person to take her place doesn't believe in books. He wants everything computerized. The kids are worried and so is Lotta. It's not until she issues threats that the man leaves. The next librarian to come along is also a dragon. The books are safe!

[Meg McGregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last! A character who will stand up for books and say no to technology. I enjoy computers as much as anyone else but there is absolutely no feeling like sitting down and getting wrapped up with a good book.

I love this series and hope there will be more to come!

[Emily Wohlers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of disappointed as The Library Dragon was one of my favorite childhood books. However, this just seemed to take a jab at e-books and tablets, not much of a story. I totally agree that books trump e-books, but it felt like more of a diss than a children's book.

[Andréa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like when books act like technology is terrible or evil. Books are fabulous; I love books! But so are computers and other technology. We can't we just appreciate and benefit from both?