The Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays

by Jon Stahl, Tadgh Bentley (Illustrator)

Overview

A playful, interactive and laugh-out-loud-funny picture book with a deliciously hilarious ending!

"Once upon a time," begins the big blue monster who is trying to tell a fabulous story. "It needs to be about a kid who is eaten by a dragon," he insists.But his little monster friend is not convinced that this is a good idea. "Dragon stories usually don't end well," he warns.As the two monsters argue over how the story should go, a hungry dragon named Dennis is listening nearby. Dennis knows exactly how this story should go... And by the way, what day is it? Watch out!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338125511
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/26/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	397,097
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.80(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jon Stahl is a former elementary school teacher, an award-winning filmmaker, and a proud father of two adorable monsters. He lives with said monsters and his wife, Wendy, in California. This is his first book for young readers. You can visit him online at jonstahl.com
Tadgh (pronounced "TEEG") Bentley is a picture book author and illustrator originally from England, but now living in the Hocking Hills region of Ohio with his wife and their dog Atticus. After six years teaching elementary-aged children in Britain and Jordan, he pursued his long-held dream of writing and illustrating his own picture books including Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups and Samson: The Piranha Who Went to Dinner. You can visit him online at tadghbentley.com

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays:This recursive tale invites young readers right into the storytelling process to create their own.... And Bentley's artwork, which has the look and liveliness of animated cartoons, works well with the broad fits and starts of storytelling.... No matter how silly it gets, this title never loses its engagement with readers. —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

04/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2-Two monsters regale readers with their storytelling prowess. The big blue, furry critter's first few attempts leave the audience wanting more: "So, there's this kid…. And he gets eaten by a dragon. The End!" A small, yellow creature with long, expressive ears, offers some editorial advice. Speech bubbles relay the funny kibitzing and brainstorming that ensues. The blue monster insists on having a hungry dragon as his main character, despite his pal's sage warnings ("Dragon stories usually don't end well… be careful what you wish for."). Bentley's bright, cartoon illustrations humorously relay the story-within-the story about a knight who escapes being swallowed by a dragon by the quick thinking of a "brave damsel" who points out "Ye Olde Dragon Menu" clearly states Tuesday's dietary offerings are "noodles (only)." Just when the monsters think their tale is finished, Dennis the hungry dragon makes a reappearance, and the comical pair finds themselves on the meal plan. VERDICT This laugh-out-loud, metafictional romp will have young readers and writers hankering to create their own sequel.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont.

School Library Journal

2018-11-21

A big blue monster and a little yellow monster try to drum up an entertaining dragon story for the audience.

"Oh, hi, everybody," says the big blue monster at the start of this cockamamie tale. "Want to hear a story? Great!" It is a brief story. "So, there's this kid… // And he gets eaten by a dragon. / The End!" The little yellow monster suggests a slightly longer tale—one without a dragon. But the big blue monster insists on a hungry dragon character. "Dragon stories usually don't end well," warns the little yellow monster. "But, if you insist..." and out comes a story of a dragon that does end well for all concerned, for it was Tuesday, and, as is stipulated on the dragon menu, Tuesday is noodles only. Back in the frame story, the big blue monster says the story is ridiculous, though it doesn't really matter because a hungry dragon arrives on the storytelling scene and, it being Wednesday, when monsters are on the menu, well…"GULP!" This recursive tale invites young readers right into the storytelling process to create their own, as well as to enjoy the efforts of the two monsters. And Bentley's artwork, which has the look and liveliness of animated cartoons, works well with the broad fits and starts of storytelling. Pleasingly, in the story within the story, it is the clever damsel of color who saves the day and not the milquetoast white knight.

No matter how silly it gets, this title never loses its engagement with readers. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews