I Will Not Eat You

Theodore, who lives in a cave, wants nothing more than quiet. He struggles to find any peace with all the loud creatures around. Trouble starts small as a noisy blue jay passes by. "Theodore thought, Does it want me to eat it?" He restrains himself (he isn't hungry), and the bird flies off. He also spares a wolf and a tiger, but then a noisy boy in a knight costume gallops up on a stick horse and roars right at Theodore. "Seriously? thought Theodore. I should eat it." The boy continues to antagonize Theodore-who, when he emerges from his cave, reveals himself to be a giant red dragon. The fearless boy sticks his toy sword up Theodore's nose, and an angry chase begins. Before long, though, the two are falling down giggling, and a new and lively friendship begins. Smartly designed, the book features bold digital illustrations full of amusing characters and suspense. For much of the book, only Theodore's eyes shine out of the cave's darkness, but they convey everything readers need to know to catch the spirit of the story. As the well-paced, entertaining tale unfolds, the seasons quietly change in the background, and the endpapers show the meaningful transformation of the gray leafless area surrounding Theodore's cave into a lush and colorful landscape-a metaphor for Theodore's own blossoming through friendship. julie roach

Theodore, who lives in a cave, wants quiet but struggles to find it with loud creatures around. He finally emerges, revealing himself to be a giant red dragon; an angry chase with a noisy boy in a knight costume ensues. Before long, though, a new and lively friendship begins. Smartly designed, this well-paced, entertaining tale features bold digital illustrations full of amusing characters and suspense.