The Dragonslayer brings Latin American folktales to life in graphic novel format. The three stories that were chosen for this collection are likely to be unfamiliar to readers in the United States or Europe. They share some of the aspects that cause fairy tales to be loved by people in all parts of the world. Heroes (and heroines) who are good and triumph over evil monsters, talking animals, magic, and laughter abound in this book. Each story also carries with it a lesson, as all good fairy tales should, cleverly disguised as simple fun. Since these stories are fresh and new and aren’t the same fairy tales that schoolchildren have probably heard in school and seen made into movies, the plots are intriguing, and it’s impossible to predict the twists and turns and the endings. Young elementary students who like fairy tales and fantasy will enjoy this book.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  A character cuts off a monster’s head, and this head is shown in later pictures (it is bloodless and not scary); a character is turned to stone; a character nearly drowns; animals voluntarily cut off parts of their bodies (this is also bloodless and not gory); the afterword briefly discusses the ritual of a wake held for a dead relative.

Sex/Nudity:  Characters flirt verbally (for example, telling someone they are pretty); characters get married.

Mature Subject Matter:

The afterword briefly discusses the ritual of a wake held for a dead relative.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None