Katie O'Neill
Oni Press, 2017-2000
60/131/135 pages
Grades 3-6
Graphic Novel/ Fantasy
Meet the tea dragons: a rare and finicky breed of small dragons that, although difficult to take care of, grow the most delectable tea leaves on their horns. Caregivers protect and nurture the dragons and are in turn able to harvest the leaves. Those who care for the dragons have formed a society called "The Tea Dragon Society" in order to ban together and share information. In the first adventure young Greta finds a tea dragon in the woods, which leads her to the house of it's owners, elderly Hesekiel and his partner Erik. Greta not only learns to care for the tea dragons, but makes a shy new friend and eventually is rewarded with a tea dragon of her own. The Dragon Festival is a prequel in which young Hesekiel and Erik journey to Erik's rural hometown, where tea dragons and humans co-exist, folks are all able to communicate in sign language, and a traditional dragon wakes up from a long slumber to solve the mystery and join the community. The Tea Dragon Tapestry returns to Greta's story as she struggles with connecting with her new tea dragon and her career path as an apprentice blacksmith.
This is a beautiful series to recommend to young dreamers. The books are oversized in full, vibrant color. The illustrations have a manga-like quality and readers will feel the magic ooze off the pages. The stories are mystical and comforting, almost like drinking a good cup of herbal tea. O'Neill offers gender fluidity and hints at non-traditional romantic relationships, but always keeps the storyline age-appropriate. I appreciate that deaf-culture is explored and in the back of the second volume the author includes where to find more sign-language resources. Other backmatter includes a glossary of various tea dragons and their properties. Both the characters and the dragons are all quite loveable and readers will feel as if they are friends by the series end. As a tea drinker I would love to try some of the tea these little guys produce, but, alas, it's not meant to be. This series will attract young readers and the lyrical story line will sweep them in and hold them through the whole trilogy, wishing that they could have tea dragons of their own. A wonderful escape to beat the dull-drums of winter!
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