Review: Brilliant Computer Graphic Illustrations
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 23, 2012
My Little Pet Dragon is a must read simply due to the illustrator Julien Tromeur's computer animation stills of a dragon performing various recreation and household tasks.  The story on its own without the illustrations is nothing special, I wouldn't rush out to read other Scott Gordon books if he had a different illustrator, in fact I'd imagine he just got a heap of Tromeur's dragon images and wrote a few lines to match each which became the story. The story does flow and work though, it's fun, is narrated by someone you never see so they could be either a boy or girl if the child reading is into imagining the dragon is their Christmas present. The story also does encourage kids to brush their teeth on a few pages, which is a nice bonus. Saying those dragon images are really good though is a bit of an understatement. They are so good you could imagine a kids TV show being made based on the dragon and whatever other characters Tromeur can create.  Of course the dragon would be a top seller with any merchandise made.  In fact if this is ever made into a physical picture book I could see it be marketed with a bonus toy dragon and do well.The only thing that was bit odd about the book is that when you get to the end there's an actual photo of a child in a neck brace in a hospital bed being kissed by a dark haired woman, with the words to Alyssa Mowery get well soon we love you.  Not sure if this was originally designed as an e-card and has been later turned into a picture book and someone forgot to take out that slide before reformatting it, but it does seem like you're observing someone's personal message and you feel a bit uncomfortable doing so.  Reading other reviews it seems some reviewers believe proceeds from the book sales are going to the girl.  It doesn't mention anything like that anywhere in the book or on this product page, nor on any of the receipt correspondence when you purchase the book so this is either something that happened in a very local market where the girl is sick at some period in time or may just be reviewers trying to justify why the seemingly personal photo is in the story. It just seems like your seeing something that you shouldn't be when you get to it in the story.I'll definitely be checking out other picture books illustrated by Julien Tromeur, the dragon illustrations were that good!Update March 2012 - Since writing this review I purchased the four pack Kindle download as it was cheaper than buying the other three books seperately.  In it you get this story along with the books Pigtastic, My Crazy Pet Frog and A Little Book About You.  You'd have to check for yourself which way is cheaper at the time but the point of this update is that in the four pack version, My Little Pet Dragon comes without that personal photo at the end. So doesn't give you that uncomfortable I'm seeing something I shouldn't be feeling.