"This children's book is absolutely delightful!"

Poor Firetongue, the dragon, was born without the ability to breathe fire. All of the other dragons teased him unmercifully because the games they played all centered around breathing fire.

Firetongue decided to do something about it so he went to his Uncle Inferno for advice. Uncle Inferno weaves tall tales and nobody ever knows if his stories are real or not. He tells Firetongue that he needs to go to Mount Furnace for a fire rock, not just any fire rock but a special fire rock that looks like a polished ruby.

Now Uncle Inferno knows that Firetongue will go straight to his mother with this tale so he's not worried but Firetongue decides to set off right then and there on the adventure of his life straight to Mount Furnace. What he finds when he gets there surprises everyone, including himself.

This delightful story enchanted my eight-year-old daughter and me. Not only does it tell a wonderful story but it teaches a lesson as well. My daughter and I hope that Laraine Ann Barker will tell more stories about Firetongue and his dragon relatives and friends.

Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Posted February 9, 2003