On one hand, the illustrations are fun to scan to see what the dragons are up to while the castle going ons are happening. On the other hand, they are inconsistent. On one hand, the rhyme shows a bit of what went on in a castle. On the other hand, the language is a little complex at times for a visiting library class with a range of vocab.... which leads to my conclusion. A good book for one on one, cozy, castle & dragon reading and character seeking. We loved the illustrations and the counting story (1-10) in rhyme. I'd never heard "Over in the Meadow" but once I found the lyrics and melody, I could easily see the inspiration for this book. The illustrations, done in muted tones, still manage to capture a vibrant castle life complete with dragons. I love using this to talk about a subject matter that is mostly new to my daughter (it's a nice change from another book about farms, jungles or school) and she has plenty of questions! Another point worth mentioning, there's not a princess to be found in this book! It's more about the lives of the servants, cooks, knights, and other everyday folk.
What do You think about Over At The Castle (2010)?
Fun! The anticipation is almost too much - - what are the dragons waiting for?
—Gerko
