Tea Dragon Society

K. O'Neill is an Eisner and Harvey Award-winning illustrator and graphic novelist from New Zealand. They are the author of Princess Princess Ever After, Aquicorn Cove, The Tea Dragon series and Dewdrop, all from Oni Press. Their books reflect their interest in tea, creatures, things that grow, and the magic of everyday life.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL -- Gr 4 Up-Greta is a young blacksmith apprenticewho wonders whether her mother's craft is still relevant in contemporarysociety. When she rescues a little lost dragon in the marketplace and returns itto its owners, Greta learns about another fading art form-the care of teadragons, small creatures who grow tea leaves out of their horns and antlers. Shebecomes fascinated with the enchanting dragons and their caretakers, and beginsto appreciate how traditional crafts can create their own kind of magic byenriching lives, including hers. This book is wonderfully inclusive, and depictsa distinct and expressive cast of LGBTQIA characters and people of color. Thetitle is reminiscent of a younger, more innocent version of Brian K. Vaughan andFiona Staples's "Saga," with many of the main characters possessing horns andantlers. The artwork is soft and fluid, with lots of rounded edges andcomplementary tones. The backgrounds are an integral and memorable part of thestory-some details are so lush that they give the appearance of tapestries.VERDICT This warm and funny story would be a wonderful addition to most graphicnovel collections. It quietly illustrates and normalizes a variety of familysituations and personal identities.-Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library,CT