Dragon Box: The Key to Magic by Nancy B. Kemler-Oakley

I discovered this magical story while visiting The Book Cottage in Jackson, Michigan.  Tucked unassumingly in the Local Author section, it draws you in with it's curious watercolor cover, so different from all the other books on the shelf.  A sleeping dragon with a scar on his wing makes the reader wonder...  Inside, the story is filled with colorful characters with names that come straight from the world of pure imagination.  So vibrant are Nancy's descriptions of the friends of this story, whether human or not, we feel we know them, and have been in their world before; we've had similar conversations... perhaps in our sleep, or while daydreaming in math class.

This story of three children who are destined to save dreaming and discover their own power is one that every child (and adult) should read.  The simultaneous simplicity and complexity of character, story, and legacy captures the imagination and supports childhood in a spectacular way.  There were even a few points at which the tension on the page forced me to ignore my Reality and immerse myself, lending full energy to the battle. 

Precious to me is the ending... there is no more powerful magic than when an adult believes. 

This story makes the perfect before-bedtime read for younger children, and a delightful compliment to a second, third, or fourth grader's reading list.  The vocabulary and turn of phrase insists children pay attention, but doesn't lose them in too much challenge.

I hope that Nancy chooses to write more about this world.  There is so much more we can discover with the characters and their way of life.  Please, treat your children, grandchildren, and yourself to this enchanting adventure.  And while you're at it, visit The Book Cottage in Jackson, and venture even further into the magic that awaits inside books.

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