Put a dragon in a story and it’s an instant hit. This holds true in What Goes Up by author/illustrator Paula Bowles.
Martin the dragon is sad because he longs to fly but his wings are too small. He tries all sorts of ways to fly, but always comes down with a CRASH! It takes the village children to show Martin the importance of believing in yourself.
Bowles has created a charming book of a sad dragon who wishes to fly. His friendship with the village children plays a big role, so young children witness the importance of friends in helping a person–or in this case a dragon–reach his goals. What I like the most about What Goes Up is that there isn’t an easy resolution to the problem. It takes Martin many days of practice and exercise before his wings grow big enough to carry him.
The artwork you see on the front cover is similar to what is inside. Soft colors add comfort and sweetness to a delightful story. I’ll be looking for more of Bowles’ work.
Rating: 
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589251199
ISBN-13: 978-1589251199
I received a free hardcover of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.
My son and I have been reading a lot of dragon books lately. I will see if we can find this one, it looks just like what he would enjoy.