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Next week is Anti-Bullying Week in the UK, when school-children throughout the country will take part in activities to help them:

“grow up with their respect of self and others intact, be fine participant citizens and, perhaps most importantly, become peacemakers in their hearts.”

This quotation comes from Peter Yarrow’s afterword of a remarkable picture book of Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin’s deeply incisive but simple song Don’t Laugh at Me. The words of the song have become increasingly familiar since first being written just over ten years ago: but set here with Glin Dibley’s hauntingly expressive illustrations, and with certain words in the text highlighted in red, even young children will be able to respond to it, using their innate sense of justice to pull out the essence of the song’s message.

Be prepared for taking your time over it: each line triggers all sorts of questions and discussion. Reading this book to your own children or to a class of young children is a beautiful way to introduce them to the notion that “difference” should make no difference. They will appreciate the juxtapositions in the illustrations, like the one of the boy in a helmet in a wheelchair – in that order: the wheelchair is actually the last thing you notice.

There’s also a cd at the back and kids of all ages will enjoy listening to the song, performed so gently and meditatively by the song-writers themselves.

Peter Yarrow, quoted above, founded Operation Respect and a percentage of the sales of the book goes to their “Don’t Laugh at Me” project… And there’s also a Spanish edition. Reading Zone has just placed it in in its Top Ten Picture Books. So what are you waiting for?

Title: Puff, the Magic Dragon

Written by: Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton

Illustrated by: Eric Puybaret

Hardback: 24 pages

Ages: 4 to 8

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4027-4782-3

Publication: July 2007

“Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea, and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee.” From the very first line of the book, I was taken back to my childhood days. I was thrilled to see this title on the shelf in the bookstore, written by Peter Yarrow, of the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, and co-authored by Lenny Lipton.

The book follows the amazing tale of friendship between little Jackie Paper and his childhood friend, Puff, the magic dragon. Whether they are sailing on a boat or meeting kings and princes, the two are inseparable. The time when Jackie has grown and no longer returns to Honalee is bittersweet. But, it is not long before a new friend comes to play with Puff and there is happiness in Honalee once again.

Illustrator Eric Puybaret brings this timeless and endearing song to life through his vivid paintings. The full-page illustrations are remarkable, thoughtful, and expertly portray the love between little Jackie Paper and that rascal Puff.

From the first word of the book, adults and children everywhere will fall in love with little Jackie Paper and his magical dragon friend all over again. The song Puff, the Magic Dragon has been a favorite for generations, and now this wonderful book has become
part of it’s tradition.

Also included with the book is a CD with two versions of Puff, the Magic Dragon along with two bonus songs.

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Reviewed by Amy Seim, Picture Book Reviewer for the NWFCC