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Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Shannon and the Mystery Dragon, written and illustrated by Kristen M Niedzielski, follows a young girl’s journey of compassion, bravery, and friendship. Set in the countryside, the story begins with Shannon tending to her daily chores on her grandparents’ farm. While gathering blueberries, she stumbles upon an injured dragon hidden in the barn. Despite her initial fear, Shannon approaches the creature with care, setting the tone for the tale. The dragon, eventually named Clovis, is badly hurt and unable to fly. With help from her friend Quinn, Shannon prepares a healing tea using herbs from her grandmother’s remedy book. The story introduces young readers to the world of natural remedies, highlighting plants like clover, mint, ginger, and birch bark as healing agents and providing quiet lessons in traditional herbal knowledge.
As the bond between Shannon and Clovis deepens, readers witness the transformative power of kindness and trust. Shannon’s bravery grows steadily as she faces her fears, from sneaking tea to a dragon to venturing into a dark forest searching for rare unicorn tears, believed to heal magical creatures. Her quest leads her to an encounter with a unicorn in a peaceful meadow, a scene full of warmth and wonder. Shannon’s strength and empathy are beautifully rewarded, showing children that true friendship requires letting go when it’s right. Their final reunion in flight reinforces the idea that courage can be learned, and friendships built on kindness last forever. Children who love adventure and heart will enjoy Shannon and the Mystery Dragon. Kristen M Niedzielski recommends that the book be read to children by adults because of its length and vocabulary.
