March’s Title Pick for Children: Don’t Ask the Dragon by Lemn Sissay

Reflections on Don't Ask the Dragon by Lemn Sissay
by Erin Carlstrom, Shared Reading Practice Leader

‘What do you think about Alem?’
‘He is lonely.’
‘What does he need do you think?’
‘Happy!’
‘How is he going to be happy?’
‘Friends, he needs some friends.’

I recently read this book with my 3-year-old and on the opening page as we looked at Alem—sitting alone on the end of the jetty, pack on his back— we had the little exchange recorded above, and she suggested that what Alem needed was friends. That’s certainly true. The opening lines of the book introduce us to Alem and let us know that he is looking for a place to call home. As he walks, he meets a collection of animals asking them all the same question—where should he call home? ‘I don’t know, I don’t know’ is the constant refrain, always with the warning to not ask the dragon.

Of course, Alem does meet and ask the dragon his question. It turns out it is in fact the dragon, the most unlikely character, who knows exactly where Alem should call home and welcomes Alem (and the other characters) to a homely meal and companionship. Alem does indeed get some friends in the end.

A story of Alem as he finds friends—that is true. But it also opens a space to wonder what a home is. Is it the structure of a building? The friends around us? or something deeper within ourselves? Look closely at the pictures of Alem and you will see that the pack he carries is actually the structure of a building of sorts—‘the home we carry’ on our backs and keep with us wherever we go. It was this image of Alem and his pack that gave us the title for our bookshelf this year and encourages us to consider what home we carry with us.