"Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon"

I thought this book was very cute! It is about a kingdom that is constantly fighting the carnivorous dragons. All, but one of the dragons eat the people and pillage the kingdom. The one peaceful dragon, Herb, likes to garden. Sometimes a little girl watches Herb while he tends to his vegetables.

Eventually the people decide to kill all the dragons in hopes of saving their kingdom. The carnivorous dragons, who are lead by Meathook, get wind of the plan and decide to hide. Since Herb is not a part of Meathook's group he is the only dragon that is found by the people.
This book has three main themes, and it talks about them in a really great way. The first theme it discusses is standing up for what you believe. The first time this is presented in the book is when Herb is awaiting his execution in jail, and Meathook offers to bail him out of jail if he promises to eat meat. Herb sticks to his beliefs and chooses to stay in jail rather than change his ways. The second time this theme is brought up is when Herb is about to be executed. The little girl, who watches Herb garden, runs up from the crowd and unties Herb's mouth. She knows that Herb is a gentle dragon, and she believes the people should know this too. She demonstrates this by sitting inside Herb's mouth. The gentle dragon doesn't react to the girl sitting in his mouth.
Another important theme in this book is compromise. After the people of the kingdom find out that not all dragons are mean, they give the carnivorous dragons the option to peacefully coexist or go to war. Meathook's dragons discuss this option. Although it seems difficult and un-dragonlike at first they decide that it is more important to not eat meat than go to war.
The final theme in this book is that different isn't necessarily bad. Herb was a different dragon, but his difference is what showed the King that a compromise with the dragons was possible. Meathook's dragons also realized that changing their ways wasn't a bad thing but something that would lead to a brighter future.
I liked the messages this book sends to kids. I think it's suitable for kindergarten to third grade classes. It addresses some important issues, and I think this book would be helpful when discussing themes of difference, change, and compromise.