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Kenny & the Dragon #2
Kenny & the Book of Beasts
In this highly anticipated sequel to New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor–winning author Tony DiTerlizzi’s Kenny and the Dragon, Kenny must cope with many changes in his life—including the fear that he’s losing his best friend.
What can come between two best friends?
Time has passed since Kenny Rabbit’s last adventure with his best friend, the legendary dragon Grahame, and a lot has changed in the sleepy village of Roundbrook.
For starters, Kenny has a whole litter of baby sisters. His friends are at different schools and Sir George is off adventuring.
At least Kenny still has his very best friend, Grahame. That’s before Dante arrives. Dante is a legendary manticore and an old friend of Grahame’s. Old friends spend a lot of time catching up. And that catching up does not involve Kenny.
But there’s a Witch to defeat, a pal to rescue, and a mysterious book to unlock. And those are quests for best friends, not old friends. Right?
What can come between two best friends?
Time has passed since Kenny Rabbit’s last adventure with his best friend, the legendary dragon Grahame, and a lot has changed in the sleepy village of Roundbrook.
For starters, Kenny has a whole litter of baby sisters. His friends are at different schools and Sir George is off adventuring.
At least Kenny still has his very best friend, Grahame. That’s before Dante arrives. Dante is a legendary manticore and an old friend of Grahame’s. Old friends spend a lot of time catching up. And that catching up does not involve Kenny.
But there’s a Witch to defeat, a pal to rescue, and a mysterious book to unlock. And those are quests for best friends, not old friends. Right?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
24 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Tony DiTerlizzi
130 books2,214 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Broken Ornament and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries. He teamed up with Lucasfilm to retell the original Star Wars trilogy as a picture book and his collaboration with celebrated author Mo Willems created the bestseller The Story of Diva & Flea. The Norman Rockwell museum’s retrospective, “Never Abandon Imagination”, featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi’s career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR the BBC and The Today Show.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 23, 2021
Just adorable!
Kenny Rabbit, Grahame Dragon, and their friends, are all back! But now Kenny is struggling with the changes that are happening: friends going to different schools, twelve (TWELVE!) new sisters, and now something strange is happening. Sir George has been looking for the mysterious E. Nesbit, author of the Book of Beasts, and that search has turned up more than they all bargained for.
The fact that there is a character named E. Nesbit who wrote something called The Book of Beasts absolutely KILLED me, and I hope readers appreciate how hilarious that is.
This is a darling follow up the the darling Kenny and the Dragon, and I really hope he does another.
Kenny Rabbit, Grahame Dragon, and their friends, are all back! But now Kenny is struggling with the changes that are happening: friends going to different schools, twelve (TWELVE!) new sisters, and now something strange is happening. Sir George has been looking for the mysterious E. Nesbit, author of the Book of Beasts, and that search has turned up more than they all bargained for.
The fact that there is a character named E. Nesbit who wrote something called The Book of Beasts absolutely KILLED me, and I hope readers appreciate how hilarious that is.
This is a darling follow up the the darling Kenny and the Dragon, and I really hope he does another.
May 26, 2020
Kenny & the Book of Beasts is a sequel to Tony DiTerlizzi’s Kenny & the Dragon. I didn’t read that first chapter book, but from the references in the sequel, it appears to be a retelling of Kenneth Grahame’s The Reluctant Dragon. The inclusion of main character Kenny, an erudite dragon named Grahame and a knight named Sir George definitely serves as an homage. However, Kenny & the Book of Beasts works well as a stand-alone. I adored DiTerlizzi’s The Spiderwick Chronicles, which he co-authored with Holly Black. And I adored this book, too.
I dare not tell too much about young Kenny Rabbit and his best friend Grahame the dragon. (I think the blurb on the book reveals too much.) Let’s just say that Kenny resents the many changes he sees going on about him: his literally dozen baby sisters, bidding goodbye to his friend Sir George, and quite a bit more. Let’s just say that the introduction of The Book of Beasts proves a change too many.
Caldecott winner DiTerlizzi’s gorgeous illustrations rival the prose in insight and charm. Adults will love this gem as much as children. Highly, highly recommended.
I dare not tell too much about young Kenny Rabbit and his best friend Grahame the dragon. (I think the blurb on the book reveals too much.) Let’s just say that Kenny resents the many changes he sees going on about him: his literally dozen baby sisters, bidding goodbye to his friend Sir George, and quite a bit more. Let’s just say that the introduction of The Book of Beasts proves a change too many.
Caldecott winner DiTerlizzi’s gorgeous illustrations rival the prose in insight and charm. Adults will love this gem as much as children. Highly, highly recommended.
September 7, 2020
Kenny Rabbit, George, Charlotte, and Grahame are back in this magical sequel.
Kenny has to learn to navigate life amongst changes.
He now has 12 new little sisters, and
he has a hard time dealing with Charlotte attending a new school—with new friends.
King Stonehorn has called upon George to perform knightly duties so his presence is missing from the Burrow Bookshop.
A quest, a “grimoire” book, a witch, and a few other mythical creatures come to play in this story that causes Kenny to have to re-evaluate his feelings and attitude.
This book can be read as a stand alone but I would suggest reading Kenny & the Dragon first.
A big Thank You to my friend Vici for providing me with this ARC and the chance to provide and early, honest review.
Kenny has to learn to navigate life amongst changes.
He now has 12 new little sisters, and
he has a hard time dealing with Charlotte attending a new school—with new friends.
King Stonehorn has called upon George to perform knightly duties so his presence is missing from the Burrow Bookshop.
A quest, a “grimoire” book, a witch, and a few other mythical creatures come to play in this story that causes Kenny to have to re-evaluate his feelings and attitude.
This book can be read as a stand alone but I would suggest reading Kenny & the Dragon first.
A big Thank You to my friend Vici for providing me with this ARC and the chance to provide and early, honest review.
September 14, 2020
Kenny Rabbit and his dragon friend, Grahame, visit the king and meet the witch who wrote The Book of Beasts two centuries earlier. Conflict soon arises as the witch is trying to capture and remove all mythical creatures while Kenny tries to protect them. This sequel to Kenny and the Dragon is suitable for elementary independent readers as well as reluctant readers in middle school. This free review copy was obtained through Goodreads.com.
October 17, 2020
We enjoyed this sequel to Kenny & The Dragon. It's a quick and easy read, and we managed to get through it within just a few days. The story is winsome and inviting, light-hearted in many ways, yet also thoughtful and thought-provoking. Nicely done illustrations throughout, which add to the story. I enjoyed the story as an adult, reading it aloud to my children, but I can see it appealing to younger children, as well. Worth checking out.
March 20, 2024
Another easy read that speaks to the challenges of change and the growth that comes from it, as well as friendship lasting as we age.
October 21, 2020
I won this book through a goodreads giveaway.
This book was super cute. Always love Tony's illustrations, they're the best.
This book was super cute. Always love Tony's illustrations, they're the best.
November 1, 2020
This book was an adventure full of friendship, jealousy, trials and errors and magical books. We got to follow Kenny and his friend Grahame as they discovered where all the other magical beasts like Grahame had been trapped for centuries. We got to go on a rescue mission to help them escape their magical prison from a possum witch.
The illustrations were so amazing!! My daughter and I loved them so much! The castle had my dream library!
It took me a while to read it out loud to my 6 year old daughter she was below the age level but she enjoyed it.
We won this ARC copy from San Diego Comic Con and received it late August so we read a couple pages every night.
Brooklyn's Review (6 years old):
1. Did you enjoy the book? Yes
2. Who was your favorite character? Kenny, then Grahame, then the Beast (Me: Dante?), Yes Dante.
3. What did you like about it? The treehouse. It was super cool, even though it had a bunch of ladders.
4. Were you scared of the witch? Yes, I didn't like that she cast spells on others.
5. Did you learn anything from the story? No.
What about friendship?
The illustrations were so amazing!! My daughter and I loved them so much! The castle had my dream library!
It took me a while to read it out loud to my 6 year old daughter she was below the age level but she enjoyed it.
We won this ARC copy from San Diego Comic Con and received it late August so we read a couple pages every night.
Brooklyn's Review (6 years old):
1. Did you enjoy the book? Yes
2. Who was your favorite character? Kenny, then Grahame, then the Beast (Me: Dante?), Yes Dante.
3. What did you like about it? The treehouse. It was super cool, even though it had a bunch of ladders.
4. Were you scared of the witch? Yes, I didn't like that she cast spells on others.
5. Did you learn anything from the story? No.
What about friendship?
March 3, 2021
My family absolutely adored this book and it made a fun opportunity to show my young daughter that chapter books can be just as exciting and enjoyable as a picture book--the Kenny Rabbit books are the perfect stepping stone between picture books and full-on chapter books. In fact, it is leading us straight into the arms of Harry Potter.
DiTerlizzi created a splendid world with characters that mirror the very emotions and situations that children go through in their childhood. From happiness to bravery and frustration and jealousy, all of the elements that create incredible characters and a well-thought out plot can be found in Kenny & the Book of Beasts. If you love fantasy, some humor, and a bit of classic literature references--this is the perfect chapter book to read with your family. We enjoyed our nights with Kenny and his friends.
DiTerlizzi created a splendid world with characters that mirror the very emotions and situations that children go through in their childhood. From happiness to bravery and frustration and jealousy, all of the elements that create incredible characters and a well-thought out plot can be found in Kenny & the Book of Beasts. If you love fantasy, some humor, and a bit of classic literature references--this is the perfect chapter book to read with your family. We enjoyed our nights with Kenny and his friends.
May 6, 2022
I enjoy DiTerlizzi's writing, vocabulary, and characters, but this story just seemed to fall a bit flat to me.
November 7, 2020
Join Kenny and Grahame on their latest adventure in this charming follow up to Kenny and the Dragon!
Kenny's life has changed significantly since we last saw him. He now has twelve little sisters and his friend (and longtime crush) Charlotte seems to have less and less time for him now that she's switched schools. But Kenny knows his friendship with Grahame, at least, will never change— or will it?
In this sweet story, Kenny grapples with many changes to his life and his friendships, but he ultimately realizes that change can sometimes be a beautiful thing.
---------------------------------------------------
Also, the beautiful illustrations in this book are just as lovely as those in the first book. The art truly adds something special to the reading experience!
(I received an ARC of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway)
Kenny's life has changed significantly since we last saw him. He now has twelve little sisters and his friend (and longtime crush) Charlotte seems to have less and less time for him now that she's switched schools. But Kenny knows his friendship with Grahame, at least, will never change— or will it?
In this sweet story, Kenny grapples with many changes to his life and his friendships, but he ultimately realizes that change can sometimes be a beautiful thing.
---------------------------------------------------
Also, the beautiful illustrations in this book are just as lovely as those in the first book. The art truly adds something special to the reading experience!
(I received an ARC of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway)
January 13, 2021
Tony, Tony, Tony! A wonderful idea, to retell Kenneth Grahame's Reluctant Dragon, a classic story that you updated beautifully in Kenny and the Dragon. And now the further adventures, equally enjoyable, as Kenny and his buddies fight the evil witch Nesbit - wait. Nesbit? THE E. Nesbit? Tony,
I knew you were pulling my leg when you named Kenny's dragon Grahame, but now you want me to swallow E. Nesbit as an evil witch? No. Nope. Nyet. Non. E. Nesbit, a contemporary of Grahame's, happens to be one of my all-time favorite writers for children. The Treasure Seekers? The Five Children And It? The Railway Children??? How would the author of such classics feel if she knew you'd made her into a witch who flew on a book instead of a broom? Well, she'd probably laugh her head off.
I knew you were pulling my leg when you named Kenny's dragon Grahame, but now you want me to swallow E. Nesbit as an evil witch? No. Nope. Nyet. Non. E. Nesbit, a contemporary of Grahame's, happens to be one of my all-time favorite writers for children. The Treasure Seekers? The Five Children And It? The Railway Children??? How would the author of such classics feel if she knew you'd made her into a witch who flew on a book instead of a broom? Well, she'd probably laugh her head off.
September 13, 2020
Aww...I think I liked this book even more than the first book, even if Kenny was kind of a jerk at first. But read it and you will understand. He's a bit older in this book since it's been several years since the first book, and he's been enjoying being friends with Grahame, George, and Charlotte. But things always change and he now has 12 younger sisters and Charlotte has started at a new school with new friends. I felt like the author did a good job getting into the head of a teenager who may not easily see others' point-of-view, especially when he feels like his friends are leaving him. Spoiler alert--they're not. But how often do teens feel like no one understands them or so and so no longer likes me, and so on? It all felt very real to me and I could feel his frustration grow with each incident. I really liked how Kenny was given room to make mistakes and take responsibility for those mistakes, but also that others also acknowledged their own part in the friction. Although both novels are pretty much stand-alone, you would definitely get more from this if you knew a little bit about the story from the first book. Sometimes when you enjoy the first book of a novel, the second one ends up being a let-down. But I didn't feel like this was the case at all. There are enough new elements here to keep the story fresh and interesting. The illustrations are also quite lovely and definitely add to the story. I loved looking at the drawings and watch the descriptions come alive. As an aside, I love that the idea for this series was inspired by The Reluctant Dragon, and it JUST occurred to me that Grahame's name was inspired by the author of the Reluctant Dragon! I would definitely recommend this to my late elementary/early middle school students!
FTC Disclosure: Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
FTC Disclosure: Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 25, 2020
This is the 2nd book in a series, but it can be read as a stand alone, which I did since I haven't yet quite had the time to read book one. I will be, however, since I really enjoyed this read!
Kenny is a rabbit, who's ending his school years and has 12 younger sisters. He's already thought of as something special, since he met his best friend, a dragon, and managed to prove that dragons won't eat everyone they see. Now, that life has settled down, he's off to the fair with his family and dragon friend. There he's lucky enough to become the owner of a fix-it-upper automobile...but he has no idea how good it is that he acquires a car, since a new adventure is about to begin.
This book is so cute and fun and adventurous and simply a lovely read! Kenny and his friends are a wonderful bunch, full of warmth and a bit of humor. His mother is careful. His father warns. And his dragon friend speaks so properly and yet, has a lot to learn. Kenny is the perfect rabbit for an adventure.
This book runs at a nice pace, starting out with a few scenes to let the reader sink into the life and characters before taking off in adventure. Its a bit slower than some novels, but still is never boring and definitely holds in the pages. When the adventure starts, there's a bit of tension, a bit of gruffness and a wonderful dab of humor filtered in. It's hard to put the book down, and even harder not to love these characters.
As an extra bonus, illustrations are heavily spread through the pages. These black and white sketches add so much to the fun and life. But then, I'm a huge fan of illustrations in books...and these really are very well done.
Summed up, this is a book I can highly recommend and believe it is a series, which many readers will love. I received an ARC and enjoyed this read.
Kenny is a rabbit, who's ending his school years and has 12 younger sisters. He's already thought of as something special, since he met his best friend, a dragon, and managed to prove that dragons won't eat everyone they see. Now, that life has settled down, he's off to the fair with his family and dragon friend. There he's lucky enough to become the owner of a fix-it-upper automobile...but he has no idea how good it is that he acquires a car, since a new adventure is about to begin.
This book is so cute and fun and adventurous and simply a lovely read! Kenny and his friends are a wonderful bunch, full of warmth and a bit of humor. His mother is careful. His father warns. And his dragon friend speaks so properly and yet, has a lot to learn. Kenny is the perfect rabbit for an adventure.
This book runs at a nice pace, starting out with a few scenes to let the reader sink into the life and characters before taking off in adventure. Its a bit slower than some novels, but still is never boring and definitely holds in the pages. When the adventure starts, there's a bit of tension, a bit of gruffness and a wonderful dab of humor filtered in. It's hard to put the book down, and even harder not to love these characters.
As an extra bonus, illustrations are heavily spread through the pages. These black and white sketches add so much to the fun and life. But then, I'm a huge fan of illustrations in books...and these really are very well done.
Summed up, this is a book I can highly recommend and believe it is a series, which many readers will love. I received an ARC and enjoyed this read.
December 25, 2020
I rather enjoyed this. Kenny Rabbit is basically a teenager in this book and has all the conflicting feelings of one, including falling for one of your best friends (Charlotte the squirrel) and being angry with your another (Grahame the dragon) who you're not seeing as much because an old friend of his has come to town. The illustrations were fabulous and really made this book, especially at the end. This book was worth the wait, 4 months, before I finally got to borrow a copy from the library. My son loved it too, as I read it to him as a bedtime story (why it took so long to read).
We visit our friend Kenny three or so years after the last book ended and he has gained a bunch of sisters (12 to be precise, but you know what they say about rabbits), and everything is changing. One of his best friends, Sir George, is leaving to become King Stonehorn's royal advisor and moving to the palace. Grahame and Kenny are restoring an raggedy newish car so they can ride to see off George in his new digs. The royal historian/archivist Flit Shrewsbury (best name ever for a tiny shrew) has discovered the E. Nesbitt, the person who wrote "The Royal Bestiary: The Book of Beasts" is still alive and she causes all kinds of mischief in the kingdom, including letting out a Manticore, who just happens to be best buds with Grahame. Kenny is feeling left out and does some not so nice things, before coming to his senses. Will Kenny be able to sort out the mess he's made or will he and Grahame stop being the best of friends? Highly recommended for ages 8-12, 5 stars.
We visit our friend Kenny three or so years after the last book ended and he has gained a bunch of sisters (12 to be precise, but you know what they say about rabbits), and everything is changing. One of his best friends, Sir George, is leaving to become King Stonehorn's royal advisor and moving to the palace. Grahame and Kenny are restoring an raggedy newish car so they can ride to see off George in his new digs. The royal historian/archivist Flit Shrewsbury (best name ever for a tiny shrew) has discovered the E. Nesbitt, the person who wrote "The Royal Bestiary: The Book of Beasts" is still alive and she causes all kinds of mischief in the kingdom, including letting out a Manticore, who just happens to be best buds with Grahame. Kenny is feeling left out and does some not so nice things, before coming to his senses. Will Kenny be able to sort out the mess he's made or will he and Grahame stop being the best of friends? Highly recommended for ages 8-12, 5 stars.
June 5, 2020
In this sequel to Kenny and the Dragon, we catch up with our friends Kenny Rabbit and Grahame the dragon to see where life has taken them. Kenny has a dozen new sisters, and Charlotte has started at another school, Kenny starts to realize that all of his friends are leaving him and no longer have time for him. When Kenny and Grahame visit the king, Grahame discovers a long lost friend, and this make things worse for Kenny. Kenny must go on a journey to free his friends as well as make the decision on what matters most in life, it is about saying goodbye but also getting to say hello again.
I was so excited to see there was a sequel to Kenny and the Dragon, the first book in the series based on the story The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame. This story is a new adventure and takes us on the journey of finding our own niche and what makes us happy, along with making new friends along the way and righting old wrongs. If you have not read the first book, I believe you could still read this one and enjoy it alone, but the first book does have a lot to do with this one. Toni Diterlizzi takes us on such a fun adventure with both titles, once you start reading you wont be able to put them down.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.
I was so excited to see there was a sequel to Kenny and the Dragon, the first book in the series based on the story The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame. This story is a new adventure and takes us on the journey of finding our own niche and what makes us happy, along with making new friends along the way and righting old wrongs. If you have not read the first book, I believe you could still read this one and enjoy it alone, but the first book does have a lot to do with this one. Toni Diterlizzi takes us on such a fun adventure with both titles, once you start reading you wont be able to put them down.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.
November 5, 2020
I read Kenny and the Dragon several years ago to my oldest daughter. She and I both enjoyed it, so we were excited to see the sequel come out.
This book picks up well after the events of the first book. Kenny and Grahame are still best friends and do everything together. But when a mysterious sorcerer shows up with a magical tome called The Book of Beasts, they finally learn why Grahame is the only mythological creature left in the world. The sorcerer has been trapping the mythical creatures in her book, and Grahame is next on her list. As it turns out, she's quite happy to trap anyone in her book, even Kenny.
This is a short, quick read that kids will enjoy. If they've read Kenny and the Dragon or The Spiderwick Chronicles, this is a must-have for their collection. It's a lighter fantasy story and the danger never gets too perilous. Friendship drama plays a large role in the storyline, so kids that enjoy contemporary stories will like it, too.
As always, Tony DiTerlizzi's pencil drawings are outstanding and add an element of personality to the story.
Content: Fantasy action/danger. If it were a movie, it would be rated PG.
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
This book picks up well after the events of the first book. Kenny and Grahame are still best friends and do everything together. But when a mysterious sorcerer shows up with a magical tome called The Book of Beasts, they finally learn why Grahame is the only mythological creature left in the world. The sorcerer has been trapping the mythical creatures in her book, and Grahame is next on her list. As it turns out, she's quite happy to trap anyone in her book, even Kenny.
This is a short, quick read that kids will enjoy. If they've read Kenny and the Dragon or The Spiderwick Chronicles, this is a must-have for their collection. It's a lighter fantasy story and the danger never gets too perilous. Friendship drama plays a large role in the storyline, so kids that enjoy contemporary stories will like it, too.
As always, Tony DiTerlizzi's pencil drawings are outstanding and add an element of personality to the story.
Content: Fantasy action/danger. If it were a movie, it would be rated PG.
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
October 20, 2022
Kenny has been enjoying life with his best friend Graham, but when Charlotte starts going to a new school, George takes up a new job in another city, and a new mythical beast comes along and starts hanging out with the dragon, Kenny finds himself rather alone. He's still sorting through his feelings when he and his friends find themselves facing off against a sinister witch on a flying book. If Kenny can't find a way to forgive his friends and communicate with them, they might all find themselves trapped in a misguided spell.
This story was somehow less magical than Kenny and the Dragon, despite having actual spells and a great deal more mythical beasts. The main conflict was less urgent, and the ending was less creative. Yet, if it were a standalone book, I think I'd be quite pleased with it, as it has a delightful spark of nobility and class. I still love the characters, and the overall themes were well done and suitably enchanting. It just can't beat how much I loved the first book.
This story was somehow less magical than Kenny and the Dragon, despite having actual spells and a great deal more mythical beasts. The main conflict was less urgent, and the ending was less creative. Yet, if it were a standalone book, I think I'd be quite pleased with it, as it has a delightful spark of nobility and class. I still love the characters, and the overall themes were well done and suitably enchanting. It just can't beat how much I loved the first book.
June 27, 2020
A sequel to Kenny and the Dragon; if you have not read the first story, this one still works well by itself. These books are loosely based on The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame. Kenny Rabbit and Grahame the dragon are off on a new adventure. Kenny has a dozen new bunny sisters, so Mom doesn't have time for him. His friend Charlotte has started at another school. Kenny is feeling sorry for himself as he realizes that all of his friends are leaving him and no longer have time for him.
When Kenny and Grahame visit the king, Grahame discovers a long lost friend, and Kenny is left on his own. And then the plot thickens. Kenny must go on a journey to free his friends.
Life is a journey as we find our own place in the universe. We must determine what makes us happy and along the way, we might make new friends and renew old friendships.
I received an ARC from Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishers in exchange for a review.
When Kenny and Grahame visit the king, Grahame discovers a long lost friend, and Kenny is left on his own. And then the plot thickens. Kenny must go on a journey to free his friends.
Life is a journey as we find our own place in the universe. We must determine what makes us happy and along the way, we might make new friends and renew old friendships.
I received an ARC from Net Galley and Penguin Random House Publishers in exchange for a review.
September 30, 2020
2.5 STARS
I was highly anticipating this sequel and I was... well, highly disappointed. No, I'm exagerating, I guess it was an okay read. I was still invested in the characters, which are well-developped and interesting. The plot was nice as well, I liked the witch and the mystery towards the mythical creatures. But it was juste nice. There wasn't enough adventures and actions and plot twist. I wish it had been more developped.
The writing was good, atmospheric, with nice descriptions and complex emotions. I especially enjoy what the main character is going through, the feeling of abandonment. My issue was, it's not really settled. He just burries his feelings and everyone tells him they're not valid. I think it's not a positive way to tell children how to deal with their emotions. I think his feelings were perfectly valid and I wish someone at some point would have apologized to him. In fact, this book made me very angry.
Wouldn't recommend.
I was highly anticipating this sequel and I was... well, highly disappointed. No, I'm exagerating, I guess it was an okay read. I was still invested in the characters, which are well-developped and interesting. The plot was nice as well, I liked the witch and the mystery towards the mythical creatures. But it was juste nice. There wasn't enough adventures and actions and plot twist. I wish it had been more developped.
The writing was good, atmospheric, with nice descriptions and complex emotions. I especially enjoy what the main character is going through, the feeling of abandonment. My issue was, it's not really settled. He just burries his feelings and everyone tells him they're not valid. I think it's not a positive way to tell children how to deal with their emotions. I think his feelings were perfectly valid and I wish someone at some point would have apologized to him. In fact, this book made me very angry.
Wouldn't recommend.
August 15, 2021
I really enjoyed the first story of Kenny and Grahame, so I was very excited to see there was a sequel! I just finished reading it and I did enjoy it, but definitely the first one is still my favorite.
I felt at some parts that the plot was advancing too quickly in this story, especially the climax scenes, when things were happening so fast and I didn't have time to really absorb them before we moved on to the next thing. For example
But other than some pacing issues, I did enjoy the story. As before, I absolutely adore the illustrations and think this book just wouldn't be the same without them.
I felt at some parts that the plot was advancing too quickly in this story, especially the climax scenes, when things were happening so fast and I didn't have time to really absorb them before we moved on to the next thing. For example
But other than some pacing issues, I did enjoy the story. As before, I absolutely adore the illustrations and think this book just wouldn't be the same without them.
February 25, 2023
Another read #2 before #1 based on the beautiful cover while browsing in the bookstore. Took a little while to get in with the limited background at the start but finished strong & we’ll go back to the beginning with Kenny & Grahame.
“Nesbit removed her glasses and shook her head. “Facts to you are fiction to others. We see only what we want to see.” She pointed to each of them in turn. “Are you a friend? Foe? Ruler? Subject? A monster or savior? It is all in the eyes of the beholder.” P.74
“And it is comfortable,” said a red-tailed griffin. “Even if we are penned in. There is no pain. No suffering.”
“Life is not always sunshine and napping, set the rabbit. You’ve forgotten how to live.” P.186
“But times have changed.” The rabbit joined the manticore. “You’ll be received with open arms. You’re magic. The world is richer with you in it. You’ll be celebrated. Folks haven’t seen you all in so long that you’re considered the stuff of myth and legend.” P.187
“Nesbit removed her glasses and shook her head. “Facts to you are fiction to others. We see only what we want to see.” She pointed to each of them in turn. “Are you a friend? Foe? Ruler? Subject? A monster or savior? It is all in the eyes of the beholder.” P.74
“And it is comfortable,” said a red-tailed griffin. “Even if we are penned in. There is no pain. No suffering.”
“Life is not always sunshine and napping, set the rabbit. You’ve forgotten how to live.” P.186
“But times have changed.” The rabbit joined the manticore. “You’ll be received with open arms. You’re magic. The world is richer with you in it. You’ll be celebrated. Folks haven’t seen you all in so long that you’re considered the stuff of myth and legend.” P.187
January 18, 2021
Kenny and the Book of Beasts by Tony DiTerlizzi is the wonderful, charming sequel to Kenny and the Dragon. The sequel would make sense if read alone, but both books are absolutely excellent. I believe this one is better because the characters are deeper.
In the opening pages, we find that Kenny has graduated from being the only child, with the addition of a dozen delightful tiny bunnies. They are an adorable handful, and keep Kenny’s parents busy. Between the new litter, and Kenny’s friends being busy with their own life plans, Kenny feels lonely.
This story is really well-timed, as so many of us have had to reduce socializing lately. Also, plenty of adventure and action. I was really looking forward to this book, and I was not disappointed.
StorybookCat.com
In the opening pages, we find that Kenny has graduated from being the only child, with the addition of a dozen delightful tiny bunnies. They are an adorable handful, and keep Kenny’s parents busy. Between the new litter, and Kenny’s friends being busy with their own life plans, Kenny feels lonely.
This story is really well-timed, as so many of us have had to reduce socializing lately. Also, plenty of adventure and action. I was really looking forward to this book, and I was not disappointed.
StorybookCat.com
January 18, 2021
Kenny is a book loving Rabbit whose best friend is a legendary dragon names Grahame. A lot has changed since "Kenny and the Dragon" - Kenny now has a bunch of sisters, Charlotte goes to a different school, even George, the owner of the book store is off on assignments from the king. At least Kenny and Grahame are still best friends. But, when Dante, a legendary manticore comes to the village, and has a lot of catching up to do with his old friend Grahame, Kenny feels jealous. But, there's an adventure to undertake, a Grimoire to find, a witch to defeat and a friend to rescue.
An evident nod to Kenneth Grahame's "Wind in the Willows," this illustrated story is charming and funny. DiTerlizzi's illustrations are plentiful and entertaining. Although "Kenny and the Book of Beasts" can stand alone, the story is so much better if you have read book 1.
An evident nod to Kenneth Grahame's "Wind in the Willows," this illustrated story is charming and funny. DiTerlizzi's illustrations are plentiful and entertaining. Although "Kenny and the Book of Beasts" can stand alone, the story is so much better if you have read book 1.
October 29, 2020
I had never heard of the first one, so I started a little behind the 8-ball.
That being said, the book is okay. Graham is a an interesting character, and I liked Kenny as well.
The whole thing seemed a little long and ponderous. My kids may have been a little young, but I'm not sure what age would be interested in this very slow moving novel, with very few mythical creatures, and nothing magical about it. At that rate, we might as well read a Hank the Cowdog. He does little with a fantasy setting besides a witch with undefined powers, despite what the front cover looks like.
The chapters were long, it took a long time to get through. I was so excited based on illustrations, and I enjoyed most of the Spiderwick Chronicles, this one just never took off.
That being said, the book is okay. Graham is a an interesting character, and I liked Kenny as well.
The whole thing seemed a little long and ponderous. My kids may have been a little young, but I'm not sure what age would be interested in this very slow moving novel, with very few mythical creatures, and nothing magical about it. At that rate, we might as well read a Hank the Cowdog. He does little with a fantasy setting besides a witch with undefined powers, despite what the front cover looks like.
The chapters were long, it took a long time to get through. I was so excited based on illustrations, and I enjoyed most of the Spiderwick Chronicles, this one just never took off.
September 17, 2020
I am 60 years old, and I am unashamed in my love of fantasy and magic. This book was part of a giveaway here on Goodreads (a surprise bonus) for Kenny and The Dragon, and is a very satisfying sequel. Kenny Rabbit and his family and friends are so cute, and, of course, Grahame the Dragon is a perfect gentlemandragon! This outing, Kenny battles an evil witch who has trapped all the magical creatures in a spellbinding book (!) and taken their powers to keep her alive and scheming. With the help of Charlotte, George, Ma and Pa and his TWELVE little sisters, Kenny saves the day, and introduces magic back into the kingdom. Oh, and shares his love of creme brulee' with a manticore...
March 2, 2021
Kenny Rabbit, after the excitement of saving Grahame the Dragon, must now say goodbye to his friend Sir George (who's been appointed to advisor of the king). After traveling to the castle, the group meets Nesbit, author of Book of Beasts. They realize she is a witch and has been trapping mystical creatures in her magical book. Kenny must save these creatures while also struggling with the idea of losing friends.
A nice follow up to Kenny & the Dragon. Rich language, and a good choice for reading aloud to the family or at bedtime.
A nice follow up to Kenny & the Dragon. Rich language, and a good choice for reading aloud to the family or at bedtime.
July 1, 2024
so fun and sweet! i thought i hadn't read this one as a kid, but the magical book plotline feels pretty familiar? this is such a good one with kenny's struggles to accept that things will change around him, including friendships. definitely makes him sympathetic and relatable, because it's a realization many people have to come to - also you gotta feel a bit bad for the guy with like 12 new little sisters running around. loveee the art, especially kenny and grahame hugging when they are reunited <3
September 22, 2020
"Kenny & the Book of Beasts" was a delightful, heartfelt story about adventure, forgiveness and friendship. To be such a fun story about dragons, manticores, rabbits who drive old cars and witches, it had some strong messages for young readers. This would be a great read aloud for 3-5 graders who are having social difficulties with friends. While this could be a stand-alone novel, it was a terrific continuation to "Kenny and the Dragon", which sets up the friendship between Kenny and Grahame. I highly recommend this and look forward to the next installment.
#Kenny&theBookofBeasts #NetGalley
#Kenny&theBookofBeasts #NetGalley
January 21, 2021
Mmm...I love Tony DiTerlizzi, but I'm not sure with this one. I kept thinking I was missing pages multiple times while reading because things would jump so fast. The plot, characters, world building, etc was mostly fine, but everything seemed a bit jumbled. All the ingredients were there but the recipe was wrong. It almost seemed like I was reading a first or second draft instead of a final product.
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