No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids {and Dragons} by Jean E. Pendziwol, Martine Gourbault
on December 15, 1998
ISBN: 1550745719
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

This picture book conveys important fire safety information in a non-threatening manner through a story about a young white girl who befriends a dragon at the beach and invites him to tea. The rhyming couplets and Prisma color pencils create a dynamic story about a house fire starting in an unreal way (the dragon sneezes on the draperies), focusing on what to do (crawl out, meet everyone at an assigned location, etc.). The dragon makes errors in judgment that the girl sets right:

“Don’t ever go back – that just will not do.
We can get a new bear, but we can’t replace you.”

Everyone (including the teddy bear) is safe and sound. Realistic expectations (“The smoke made a mess, but the fire is out.”) are demonstrated. The book sets up realistic (other than the cause of the fire) expectations and outcomes, and provides many useful safety tips along the way in a story that is dynamic and engaging for young children. 

The back matter includes The Dragon’s Fire-Safety Rhyme and a checklist of discussion points and actions for caregivers to share with children. The story would make an excellent read-aloud at school for Fire Prevention Month (October), or at home to find a way to discuss and make a fire safety plan. Recommended for both public and school library collections.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS, Young School Librarian, Saco