This post is sponsored by Raven Howell. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A Day with the Dragons
Written by Raven Howell
Illustrated by Alexander Santos
Ages: 2-7 | 34 Pages
Publisher: AMInk Publishing (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1958842706
Publisher’s Book Summary: What do you do when you and your brother have different interests but still want to spend the day together? Dragons Blue and Green set off on a series of comical misadventures. After risky jellyfish encounters and allergic red spots from dandelions, will they begin to understand that love and respect for one another matters more?
PURCHASE LINKS
A Day With the Dragons
THE MAGIC OF REPEATABLE READING
By Raven Howell
What I always look for in children’s books is when the story encourages me to return. A Day With the Dragons was purposely layered for that re-reading factor.
In the story, brothers Blue and Green collide. Just like many children, they like different things. What would be fun to do for the day? Blue insists on sailing. Green urges hiking. Disaster strikes when they attempt to convince and out-trick the other to go along with their preference.
Funny on the First Read
As an author and storyteller, most of my weeks around the year, are booked with children’s story time circles and book presentations. In correlation with that, A Day With the Dragons’ text is favorable for reading out loud.
Though it’s not written in rhyme, the text is written with rhythmic sentencing. Parents and children have the opportunity to curl up on the couch with the book and playfully share their acting skills through the emotions evident in Blue and Green’s conversations.
Lines like, “Pleeeease, Green! It’ll be fun!” is a funny kid-relatable sentiment. Along with the illustration, the reader catches the desperation factor.
The silliness of the dragon’s conviction when he says to his brother, “I don’t think anti-bug spray will work. The bugs have superpowers. The bites will make you itch for a week!” is clearly such a blatant persuasion tactic. It’s meant to incite giggles.
During the first read-through of the book, readers pick up the clear, evident bad behavior of the brothers, yet perceive the goofiness of it too. With visual aid, the comedic story line ensues.
Catching Foreshadows the Second Time Around
Pick up the book for a second read, and children will probably detect the foreshadowing of the dragon “misadventures”.
Barely three pages in, the young reader may begin pondering why Green does not own a swimsuit. Why does he affirm his love of the earth and green grass under his feet?
Foreshadowing culminates quickly into the outcome. Soon, the happy, sunny day takes a turn with a calamitous boat overturn.
After disastrous consequences of the dragons’ sailing expedition, we find out Blue’s love for swimming and surfing. He doesn’t even have a pair of hiking boots. Yet….he goes along with his brother for a hike. Uh-oh! At this point, the reader usually intuits that this foreshadowing reveals trouble lies ahead again.
Kids pick up on the consequences of the brothers’ actions, and the message inherent in relationship clashes. And though the story incorporates humor, there still lies a genuine crisis. The dragons use made-up threats to push the other out of their comfort zone.
These experiences often texture our families and friendships, both for children and adults. How can that crisis be repaired?
Third Read: Unveils a Hidden Social-emotional Lesson
The book’s emotional content is age appropriate. It isn’t condescending, nor does the resolution come to fruition with instructions. The dragons naturally arrive at accountability on their own. They love each other. That takes precedence.
Both brothers explain specifics and admit to what they did. There’s no vague “I’m sorry”. The dilemma unravels. It demonstrates to the reader that healing a broken bond involves identifying the harm inflicted. It’s acknowledging that they knew. That’s how to take responsibility.
Kids don’t see the dragons getting away with behaving badly but see that mutual accountability produces fairness and apology they can attune to.
The happy final pages of the story take the dragons to where they BOTH feel comfortable and are equally joyful and capable to fully play in the day.
Sometimes traveling to new terrains and leaving old disagreements behind is the answer.
I hope that for the adult reading A Day With the Dragons, relating to that certain exhaustion of the ins and outs of your loved one with preferences way different from yours, inspires a smile.
There’s a special space that’s there for the finding. A place where you can share and bond without anyone having to shrink, where everyone feels as if they belong.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raven Howell is the award-winning author and poet of over 30 children’s books. She writes for magazines including Highlights, Cricket, and The School. She’s a journalist for Story Monsters Ink magazine and a writer for children’s educational publishers. Raven enjoys visiting students in schools and libraries, and most importantly, believes in magical dragons.
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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Alexander Santos is a Brazilian illustrator with almost 30 years of experience. He has illustrated for several newspapers, dozens of children’s, school, and literature books, and hundreds of children’s magazines. He created and illustrated puzzles for the magazine Recreio (Brazil). He also designed children’s games and taught drawing for 11 years. Alexander doesn’t remember when he first encountered dragons, but he hasn’t strayed far from them since discovering RPGs in the 80s.
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TOUR SCHEDULE
| Monday, August 3, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Book List Featuring A Day with the Dragons |
| Tuesday, August 4, 2026 The Starlit Path Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 Life is What It’s Called Author Interview with Raven Howell |
| Friday, August 7, 2026 Lisa’s Reading Guest Post about A Day with the Dragons |
| Monday, August 10, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Tuesday, August 11, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about A Day with the Dragons |
| Thursday, August 13, 2026 Cover Lover Book Review Author Interview with Raven Howell |
| Friday, August 14, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Guest Post about A Day with the Dragons |
| Monday, August 17, 2026 @MaryLanniReads Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Tuesday, August 18, 2026 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Thursday, August 20, 2026 @books.with.courtney Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Friday, August 21, 2026 A Blue Box Full of Books Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Monday, August 24, 2026 Steph’s Cheers and Jeers Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Tuesday, August 25, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Raven Howell |
| Thursday, August 27, 2026 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of A Day with the Dragons |
| Friday, August 28, 2026 @kidslittlefreelibrarybristolri Instagram Post about A Day with the Dragons |
GIVEAWAY
Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of five signed hardcover copies of A Day with the Dragons. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a cozy A Day with the Dragons throw pillow plus 10 of Raven Howell’s bestselling children’s books, spanning preschool through early reader favorites.
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