Leonardo’s Dragon by Donovan Bixley

Donovan Bixley has won numerous awards for his distinctive illustrations. In his latest book, he immerses himself in the world of Leonardo da Vinci through a series of stories about dragons. The book is inspired by Leonardo’s pet dragon, which was apparently a large lizard that Leonardo liked to give fake wings and horns to terrify the Papal clergy.

The stores are linked by Caterina, a serving girl at the Belvedere Palace in Rome, who, when Leonardo da Vinci comes to visit, seeks to uncover the truth about the supposed monster. To do so, she collects stories about dragons from all around the world.

The first story reimagines Kraków’s Wawel dragon, who decides he wants the princess, and the young shoemaker who saves the city from the beast. But at the end of the tale, there is sympathy for the dragon, alone and attacked.

The second story draws from Māori mythology, as Caterina dreams herself as a mighty taniwha, travelling across the seas to Aotearoa New Zealand. The third dragon comes to her from the Far East and tells a tale of a samurai who finds a sleeping dragon and embarks on a dangerous mission, ultimately discovering an unexpected treasure.

The fourth story reimagines the tale of Saint George and the dragon, narrated by Leonardo da Vinci. The book concludes with a revelation about Leonardo’s pet dragon.

Leonardo’s Dragon is wonderfully imaginative, and the illustrations are beautiful. This is an extraordinary book that families everywhere will enjoy.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

Upstart Press