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Vernon, Ursula
17 Reviews
(3)
1-3
Hamster Princess Harriet is forced to attend a ball--in a dress!--and gets pulled into a mystery involving a hamster in glass shoes (Whiskerella). A rodent-girl in a bright red hood asks Harriet for help with weasel-wolves lurking around her grandmother's cottage (Little Red). Vernon's fifth and sixth trippy fairy-tale takeoffs use humor, quick pacing, occasional comic book–style panels, and snappy dialogue to engage young and struggling readers. Review covers these titles: Hamster Princess: Little Red Rodent Hood and Hamster Princess: Whiskerella.
Reviewer: Carolyn Shute
(3)
1-3
Hamster Princess Harriet is forced to attend a ball--in a dress!--and gets pulled into a mystery involving a hamster in glass shoes (Whiskerella). A rodent-girl in a bright red hood asks Harriet for help with weasel-wolves lurking around her grandmother's cottage (Little Red). Vernon's fifth and sixth trippy fairy-tale takeoffs use humor, quick pacing, occasional comic book–style panels, and snappy dialogue to engage young and struggling readers. Review covers these titles: Hamster Princess: Little Red Rodent Hood and Hamster Princess: Whiskerella.
Reviewer: Carolyn Shute
(3)
1-3
In the fourth Hamster Princess book, Harriett and her battle quail, Mumfrey, find themselves at the top of a beanstalk attempting to rescue a "harpster" (a harp-hamster hybrid) and a goose while outsmarting a giant rabbit. This "Jack and the Beanstalk" send-up is inventive and lots of fun, full of twists and turns. Blue-accented cartoons with word bubbles and action scenes help move the story forward.
Reviewer: Kari Allen
(3)
1-3
To save the Hamsterbone royal line and--even better--escape boredom, Princess Harriet, a spunky warrior hamster, accepts a mission to break the curse on a dozen mouse princesses who tango and foxtrot nightly until their shoes fall apart. Vernon's spin on "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" is a hoot; it's a clever gender- and genre-bending tale illustrated throughout with purple-tinted cartoon panels.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(3)
4-6
Danny Dragonbreath has always struggled to breathe fire, but when he wakes up with a mysterious chill, the problem is worse: "I usually get smoke when I try! Now all I get is frost!" Danny and friends consult Danny's great-grandad, and a quest for a cure ensues. Fans will appreciate how Danny's powers deepen in this eleventh silly adventure; generous green-tinged cartoons enliven the narrative.
Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen
(3)
4-6
Back for a third adventure, Harriet, the hamster princess, and pal Wilbur track a stolen hydra egg to a tall tower, home to a "Rapunzel"-esque rat with a "freakishly long tail." Vernon lampoons epic quest tropes here and upends yet another classic fairy tale with her fiercely feminist--and very pragmatic--protagonist. Interspersed cartoon panels, tinted midnight blue, add to the book's approachability.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(3)
1-3
After learning she's cursed (à la Sleeping Beauty) to prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep, "Crazy Princess Harriet," a feisty hamster, chooses to spend her remaining days "beating monsters senseless" rather than taking deportment lessons. Deftly skewering genre types, Vernon's very funny fractured fairy tale features witty dialogue, interspersed midnight-blue-tinted cartoon panels--and adventures galore.
Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger
(3)
4-6
Molly--a twelve-year-old not-so-wicked witch--and an evil sorceress both vie for the approval of the apprehensive minions of the magical Castle Hangnail. This is an overall amusing read, with wannabe evil minions running a would-be gloomy castle--which is surrounded by sunny dandelions. Molly is a likable, just-witchy-enough protagonist.
Reviewer: Sophie Williamson
(3)
4-6
Iguana Wendell's nightmares are disrupting his sleep, so his friends enlist the help of Danny Dragonbreath's great-grandfather to explore inside Wendell's mind. They discover a Dream Wasp wreaking havoc, and the only solution is a Japanese dream-eater. Goofy humor and mild adventure pair perfectly with black, white, and green-tinged comic-style illustrations in an installment that's best for devoted fans.
Reviewer: April Mazza
(3)
4-6
Danny Dragonbreath heads to Camp Jackalope, and when the namesake creatures are being kidnapped, it's Danny and crew to the rescue. Next up, Danny's mom is snatched by totally not-sweet fairies, so Danny, iguana Wendell, and lizard Christiana board a bus to the Faerie realm. These sixth and seventh installments deliver the cartoon panels and wacky fare series fans will expect. Review covers these titles: Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies and Dragonbreath: When Fairies Go Bad.
Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen
(3)
4-6
Danny Dragonbreath heads to Camp Jackalope, and when the namesake creatures are being kidnapped, it's Danny and crew to the rescue. Next up, Danny's mom is snatched by totally not-sweet fairies, so Danny, iguana Wendell, and lizard Christiana board a bus to the Faerie realm. These sixth and seventh installments deliver the cartoon panels and wacky fare series fans will expect. Review covers these titles: Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies and Dragonbreath: When Fairies Go Bad.
Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen
(4)
4-6
Danny Dragonbreath (a dragon) and Wendell (an iguana) find a trapped bat. They take it to Danny's cousin, Steve, who studies bats in the Mexican jungle. When Danny is kidnapped by a giant bat monster, it's up to Wendell and Steve to rescue him. There's a lot to wade through, but the fast-paced adventure keeps fans' interest through gags and jokes galore.
Reviewer: Beth L. Meister
(3)
4-6
Danny Dragonbreath and friends embark on a Halloween adventure, complete with haunted house and a real ghost. The story, with its many cartoon panels interspersed in the main text, has strong appeal in its welcoming format, many illustrations, and abundant humor. Fans of the previous books will find a lot of familiar action in this fifth entry.
Reviewer: Beth L. Meister
(4)
4-6
Young dragon Danny Dragonbreath's second adventure is a little convoluted (like his first). Danny loves ninja movies, and when real ninja frogs appear in pursuit of Suki the salamander, Danny and his pal Wendell (an iguana) come to the rescue. Vernon humorously intersperses main text with cartoon-panel illustrations in mostly black, white, and green as readers share Danny's daydreams and adventures.
Reviewer: Beth L. Meister
(4)
4-6
In his third book, Danny Dragonbreath's best friend Wendell (an iguana) is bitten by a hotdog; he then begins transforming into a were-wiener. Vernon combines likable characters and humorously spoofed werewolf conventions to create an entertaining and mildly suspenseful (if a bit all-over-the-place) story. Cartoon panels in black, white, bright green, and occasional red add to the fun.
Reviewer: Beth L. Meister
(4)
4-6
Danny Dragonbreath (who can't breathe fire) must rewrite his paper about the ocean. To research material, Danny and his best friend, nervous iguana Wendell, travel undersea with Danny's cousin Edward. Though the plot tends to meander, the characters do experience adventures galore. The humorous main text interspersed with cartoon panels in black, white, and bright green will hook excitement-seeking readers.
Reviewer: Beth L. Meister
(3)
4-6
Nurk is a meek, homebody shrew. After reading a letter meant for his warrior grandmother and taking courage from her old journal, he becomes caught up in a quest to save a dragonfly prince. Nurk's small-scale adventure is an approachable, accessible coming-of-age tale for animal-fantasy lovers. Thick-lined black-and-white illustrations help set the scene.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
17 reviews
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