Kirkus Review
Charlie has chosen an unusual pet, and managing her at the community pool takes a lot of effort.Charlie, a black child with a high top fade, didn't have a dragon in mind when adopting a pet, but Rosie, a round-bellied, dark pink dragon, liked Charlie. "And now we're best friends. We do everything together." Today, they are going to the pool. Last time "didn't go that well," so this time Charlie is prepared. First, Charlie reviews the rules with Rosie. Then Charlie chases after her, keeping her from terrorizing the families with her play. After many pages of damage control, Charlie finally gets Rosie to calm down, give both Charlie and some friends a ride, and eventually swim on her own. Charlie's pep talk to Rosie before her solo swim can be taken as sound advice for life. But can Charlie keep her from downing the gummy skunks? (And if they give her such terrible breath, why did Charlie bring them along?) The digital illustrations are bright, playful, and attractive, well suited to the story. The dragon's shenanigans go on far too long, with some abrupt, arbitrary changes in direction, and the humor won't appeal to everyone. Still there are some young dragon lovers and fans of mischief who will revel in this silly romp.Fun enough for a single read-aloud, but mostly fluff. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
When Charlie adopted a pet from the shelter, he didn't intend to bring home a dragon; nevertheless, Rosie has turned out to be a fantastic (if challenging) pet. Charlie admirably takes his role very seriously: he trains her, plays with her, and takes her on outings. Rosie is an endearing and loving companion, though she certainly lacks grace, which is a particular concern when Charlie takes her to the pool. Since a dragon is much larger (and more prone to setting things on fire) than the rest of the children, it's Charlie's mission to make sure Rosie follows the rules. Kerstein's playful story about friendship, patience, and responsibility for a pet is nicely matched by Wragg's bold, colorful illustrations, rendered in blocky shapes and a vivid color palette. Active background details comically build on the main story. Though Rosie inevitably gets caught up in numerous unintentional (and silly!) disasters, Charlie's gentle encouragement helps her succeed. New pet owners are the natural choice for this one, but kids with younger siblings might appreciate it, too.--Vivian Alvarez Copyright 2019 Booklist
