Ellies Dragon

Ellie's Dragon is a heartwarming celebration of friendship, imagination, and growing up, told through the story of Ellie and her dragon companion, Scratch. Found as a newborn on a supermarket shelf, Scratch is invisible to adults but vividly present to Ellie-and to her friends. As Shirley Beecher captures their journey with playful and affectionate storytelling, readers discover a bond that grows over time: together they learn, play, and navigate childhood. Ellie's dragon is house-trained, devoted, and ever-present as Ellie becomes older. Bob Graham's signature warmth and detail create a poignant meditation on imaginary friendship as a tool for confidence, creativity, and emotional support. This 2021 CBCA Picture Book shortlist will resonate with younger readers while providing universal appeal to parents, carers, and educators exploring the power of imagination.

Educational Benefits:

• Validates imaginative play and its role in emotional development.
• Encourages literacy through story-driven narrative and visual detail.
• Supports discussions around relationships and growing maturity.
• Develops empathy as readers experience a non-verbal bond.

Classroom Ideas:

• Invite students to draw their own imaginary friends and share stories.
• Write from Scratch's perspective, exploring thoughts and feelings.
• Use the dragon-friend concept to discuss growing up and changing needs.
• Role-play scenes: how Ellie and Scratch interact in everyday life.

Information:

• Ages: 4+ years
• Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
• Dimensions: 256 mm (H) x 296 mm (W)