Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon

by Jules Bass, Debbie Harter (Illustrator)

Overview

'Dare to be different, is the message that drives this story of Herb, the dragon who prefers leek and potato soup to the crispy crunch of brave knights. This is a terrific book.' - The Independent

Meet Herb, the dragon who prefers gardening to gobbling meat. When his vegetable-loving ways land him in the castle's dungeon, will he be able to stay true to his values? Packed with wacky visual details and quirky dialogue, Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon overturns your expectations again and again, making for a delightful and thought-provoking read every time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781905236473
Publisher:	Barefoot Books
Publication date:	10/01/2005
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,077,490
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.14(d)
Lexile:	AD660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Jules Bass is the 'Bass' in Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment, New York, producers of such films as The Hobbit, The Last Unicorn, and The Little Drummer Boy. He has worked as a writer, songwriter, producer and director in many feature films, off-Broadway productions and audio recordings. Jules lives in New York, USA and is a frequent visitor to London.

Debbie Harter has illustrated over 20 books for Barefoot, including the beloved Bear series. As a child, Debbie would "lose herself in books (as long as they had pictures)" and hopes to continue doing so until she's very old. She lives in Cornwall, England.

Editorial Reviews

"Herb's story tells the tale of the future" — Sir Paul McCartney

'Dare to be different, is the message that drives this story of Herb, the dragon who prefers leek and potato soup to the crispy crunch of brave knights. This is a terrific book.' - The Independent 

'An excellent book for younger juniors on the themes of peace, tolerance and vegetarianism' - Junior Education

From the Publisher

K-Gr 3-A decidedly moral tale involving a bevy of knights, damsels, and dragons, as well as a brave girl named Nicole. The only vegetarian dragon in a land full of carnivores, Herb peacefully tends his garden while others of his species munch on the castle's inhabitants. When the knights decide to catch and behead any dragons they can find, poor Herb is easily apprehended and imprisoned. He is about to be wrongly executed for the murders when Nicole steps in (and into his mouth) to prove his innocence. Using Herb as an example, the king makes a bargain with the rest of the dragons: if they agree to stop eating people, then the knights will stop hunting them. The carnivores agree, and there is a happy ending, as "dragons and people, meat-eaters and vegetarians, live together in peace and harmony." Some of the scenes are a little scary, especially the one in which Herb is tied down in preparation for beheading by a man in a black hood. However, the tone of the text remains light and the cartoon illustrations are humorous, with googly-eyed dragons and people being eaten without apparent pain. Herb is the goofiest dragon of all; he always seems to be gazing lovingly at some living thing. Lush with growing plants and green grass, the artwork is filled with details that readers will pore over.-Susan Marie Pitard, Weezie Library for Children, Nantucket Atheneum, MA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

The book's case for vegetarianism and understanding of differences is further enhanced when accompanied by the author's Cooking With Herb: A Cookbook for Kids... Amusing illustrations characterize both works; the recipes and safety tips in the cookbook will help kids enjoy cooking while learning good kitchen habits.

Napra Review