Rosie and Rasmus

January 15, 2019
A lonely little girl befriends a wingless dragon. Every day, in a seaside village "with cobblestone streets, a water fountain, and an ice cream stand," Rosie watches the other children laugh and play. She wishes they "would see her." Every day, from his tree overlooking the village, Rasmus watches birds twirl in the sky. He wishes he could fly. When Rosie approaches Rasmus' tree and he offers her a flower, the two become fast friends. Rosie teaches him to jump rope and pirouette; Rasmus shows her his flying kite, floating balloons, and favorite book (starring a soaring dragon). With clever kid logic, Rosie devises adaptations to help him fly, encouraging him in speech bubbles to no avail--until, out-of-the-blue, Rasmus sprouts his own wings. His wish granted, Rasmus sadly bids Rosie adieu (why he must leave is never explained); Rosie sadly resumes watching the other children play until, one day....Geddes' large-font text is lightly rhythmic; her pale, fuzzy pastels are soothing and humorous, and her protagonists' sniffles and smiles endearing. Unfortunately, her heavy focus on Rosie's helping Rasmus to fly turns him into a project as much as a friend. Additionally, if readers interpret Rasmus' missing wings as a disability, his obsession with flying and his abrupt wing growth may call to mind such overused tropes as a disabled character pining to be nondisabled and their miraculous recovery. Rosie is white; there is some diversity among the other children.Despite its cuddly characters, this uplifting but unevenly developed friendship tale doesn't quite soar. (Picture book. 4-6)

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February 4, 2019
Geddes (the Lulu Bell series) pays tribute to friendship in this tale of a lonely girl and a friendly young dragon. Pink-cheeked Rosie is a wallflower who wishes other kids would notice her; Rasmus is a wingless dragon who wishes he could fly. When Rosie appears atop the hill where Rasmus resides, he offers her a flower and the pair become fast friends. The girl teaches the dragon everything she knows (how to execute a pirouette and drink tea like a queen), and the dragon shares his own favorite things, all of which involve taking to the skies. Rosie encourages (“One day you’ll fly. I know it!”) and promptly begins strategizing. Early efforts flop, but after receiving a gift from Rosie, Rasmus finally sprouts tiny wings that take him airborne. In a poignant scene, both friends shed tears upon the realization that it’s time for Rasmus to fly away. Rosie is alone once again—until she finds the courage to initiate friendship with someone new (by sharing a flower, of course). Geddes’s soft watercolor palette heightens the quiet sweetness of this story about two characters learning to venture forth. Ages 4–8. Agent: Jill Corcoran, Jill Corcoran Literary Agency.

May 10, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-Rosie, a young girl, and Rasmus, a young dragon, are lonely until they meet and become friends. Although they don't notice her, Rosie stands alone watching the other children play. Rasmus, who lives atop a tree, longs to fly like the birds. When Rosie, dejected and alone, sits beneath Rasmus's tree, he surprises her with the gif of a flower. As the two become friends, Rosie shows Rasmus how to drink tea from a fancy cup, do pirouettes and jump rope. The dragon shows Rosie his kite, balloons, and favorite book about a flying dragon. Together they try to help Rasmus fly. Neither the birds nor the balloons can carry him aloft. And Rasmus is reluctant to leap off a cliff until Rosie's gift of goggles and scarf, but most likely his newly sprouted wings, finally enable him to fly. Rosie, alone once again, has learned about making friends, though, and her offer of a flower to another little girl sprouts a new friendship. The watercolor cartoon illustrations offer a variety of views, from double and single-page spreads to vignettes. Rosie initially appears alone against a wall, pigeon-toed, hands behind her back. Later, head bent, she is a solitary speck on a double spread as she walks to Rasmus's tree. The dragon has a winning lamb-like face filled with expression from sadness to utter delight. Dragon and girl bid farewell in a touching embrace, the sadness relieved a few pages later with Rosie's jaunty walk with her new friend. VERDICT A fine choice for group discussion about ways to make a friend.-Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2019
Preschool-G Rosie longs to be included in the other village children's fun activities, but she's too shy to approach them. Meanwhile, solitary young dragon Rasmus dreams of growing wings and flying. But when their paths cross, they quickly become friends. Rosie introduces Rasmus to teatime, doing pirouettes, and skipping rope; Rasmus shows Rosie his kite, balloons, and a book featuring a full-grown, winged dragon. Rosie is determined to help Rasmus fly, but her ideas (like latching him to balloons and then a kite) prove unsuccessful. However, giving him a special present proves uplifting when Rasmus' wings unexpectedly appear, and he soars at last. Though now time to part (why is unexplained), each goes on with more confidence and courage?and once home, Rosie's inspired to reach out and meet someone new. Expressive watercolor illustrations, dominated by soft pink and green, depict the pair's experiences, individually and together, in a range of scenes, including wide-angle landscapes and playful montages, which nicely capture Rosie's and Rasmus' moods. A charming tale of what it means to be?and make?new friends.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)