A Dragon on the Roof

Set in Casa Batll, one of Antoni Gauds most renowned buildings, this joyful story introduces young readers to the architects work, inciting their curiosity and imagination along the way. While her nanny is sleeping, young Paloma hears a noise. She climbs the stairs of her house until she reaches the roof, where a dragon is perched. Unafraid, Paloma reaches out to pet the dragonbut he is ticklish, and as he laughs, he spews a myriad of sea animals that he had unwittingly swallowed. The house is transformed into a dreamy aquarium and the dragon settles into a deep sleep on the roof. Ccile Alixs playful story and Fred Sochards boldly graphic illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to Gauds exuberant vision. As readers make their way through Palomas home, they are introduced to its fabulous elementscolumns shaped like elephant legs; marine-inspired tiles, glass, and ironwork; and of course the spectacularly undulating, iridescent roof, which resembles a sleeping dragon. The end of the book includes a brief history of Gauds career and provides helpful background to Palomas story. Kids will want to linger over the pictures and imagine what their own house would be like if a dragon were living on their roof.