Sebastian and the Dragon

Kirkus Review: Sebastian John Alexander Brown was the littlest boy in his home town. And like many small boys it was important for him to prove that he could do big things. It is a wistful but determined Sebastian who sets off in quest of a dragon–a very agreeable, drowsy dragon whom, ultimately, he subdues.

Maxine Kumin finds within the restriction of the couplet ample room for lilting irregularity. Her verse reads naturally conveying the full humor and pathos of Sebastian's plight. Many snatches of this will find their way into the child's memory.

NY Times Review: This latest of reluctant-dragon stories is a merry bit, faintly reminiscent of one of Steig's small-fry "Dreams of Glory." Sebastian was the smallest boy in his home town "And people expected, because he was small, that he couldn't do things you do when you're tall." But Sebastian had imagination and when the town offered a prize for the rarest beast for the new zoo, he went looking for a dragon. He found one, too, very thirsty, very tired of breathing fire, the smallest in his family, and in no time Sebastian had coaxed the dragon back to the zoo with the promise of water for the rest of his days. It's very satisfying to see Sebastian's acclaim at home, but to many children the most comforting scene will be that when the boy and the dragon "curled up together and talked until dawn about being small and looked down upon... About being smallest, yet terribly brave."