Oh how sweet this book was. For starters, I adored the illustrations. Soft and endearing, I was able to create the voice in my head for Rosie. (She ended up sounding like Opal from When Calls the Heart)

Anyway, it is an empowering story of friendship. Of finding an unlikely friend and latching onto them. Of helping them soar. I thought the ending would be different (that once Rasmus flew away he would come back). Well, that didn't happen and you know what? I am okay with that. Because I feel that shows authenticity. Sometimes friends are here for seasons. They help us to keep trying (as is the case with Rosie and the actual end of this book) ( )

This sweet story about a lonely girl making friends starts out well, but I didn't care for the ending.

Rosie, a white girl in an old-fashioned village, is shy. She stands back as kids walk by in pairs and triples, fly kites, and play around the fountain. Outside the village is Rasmus, a pudgy green dragon with no wings. Rosie wishes the other kids would see her. Rasmus wishes he could fly. When Rosie wanders under his tree, he gives her a flower and they become friends, sharing their favorite things with each other. But when Rosie sees how sad Rasmus is that he can't fly, she sets out to find a way to help him. She tries many plans, but it's not until she gives him goggles and a scarf that he finally grows wings and can fly! The friends say a sad goodbye and Rosie is left alone again, this time with a flower to remember Rasmus by... until she sees another shy girl and offers her the flower, starting a new friendship.

The soft, pastel art is very enticing for readers who like fantasy and warm fuzzy feelings. Most of the kids pictured appear to be white, and the small village is very picturesque with a blue sea in the distance and no cars or machinery in evidence, although the kids wear modern clothes as they freely run across the cobbles of the main square.

On the one hand, most kids will just see this as a cute story about a dragon. On the other hand, several things about the ending especially bothered me. Rosie and Rasmus originally become friends because Rasmus makes an overture to her and they're both lonely. But their friendship quickly devolves into Rosie's efforts to "fix" Rasmus and help him fly and in the end he spontaneously sprouts wings. That feels like a weird call back to books like Heidi where the kids are friends with the "poor cripple" and they just magically lose their disability. There's no reason given for Rasmus having to leave - maybe he was imaginary all the time? On the other hand, there's also kind of an implication that he doesn't fit into their perfect little world in the village. I also noticed that the solitary girl Rosie makes friends with wasn't there in the first place - so maybe it isn't just that she needs to make overtures, but that she has to wait for the right time and the right person.

Verdict: Kids probably won't pick up on all the things that confused/bothered me as an adult, so ultimately it's a sweet book with a nice message about making overtures to make friends. I would say it's an additional purchase.

ISBN: 9781481498746; Published April 2019 by Aladdin; F&G provided by publisher

A lonely little girl, too shy to approach the other children in her small, cobblestoned village, meets a lonely dragon, too unsure to befriend the children in said village. Rosie and Rasmus are soon fast friends, and Rosie works tirelessly to help her draconite companion to achieve his lifelong dream of flying. But when Rasmus finally does sprout wings, they take him far away, leaving Rosie lonely again. Can she find a new friend...?

Australian author/artist Serena Geddes, who has previously contributed the illustrations to a number of beginning chapter-book series, from Belinda Murrell's Lulu Bell books to the Marguerite Henry's Misty Inn collection, makes her picture-book debut with Rosie and Rasmus. A poignant but ultimately heartwarming tale is paired with adorable and expressive artwork here, making this a wonderful friendship story for the picture-book set. I was a little surprised by the ending, as I expected something more pat, so kudos to Geddes for that. I appreciated the message that a true friend will always help her companion, even if it means having to say goodbye to him, and thought the artwork was charming. Recommended to shy young children who dream of having a friend, of having a dragon, or of having a dragon-friend. ( )

Emotions coat these pages as a little girl and a little dragon turn loneliness into friendship.

Rosie watches the other kids play, but never partakes and sits on the sidelines. Rasmus is a sweet dragon but can't fly and sits alone too. One day, the two meet and find they might get along just fine. Soon, Rosie does what she can to help Rasmus. He doesn't have wings, but she's not going to let that stop him from chasing his dream.

This is a book with an overload of text but allows the illustrations to speak as much as the story. Rosie's loneliness stabs at the heart immediately. At first, I didn't know what to think...it will hit home hard for many kids, and Rosie, in her own way, seems not to try to integrate with the other kids either. Then comes Rasmus, and he's all alone as well. Sadness drips from these moments and will effect young readers. But...and this is where I must say I forgave the first pages...the two find each other, and a wonderful friendship begins. And more. There's caring, concern, and helping someone else to achieve a dream even when it means Rosie will be left alone again. (And no fears, this has a happy ending which left with a satisfied sigh)

The illustrations are calming, gentle and still bright and playful. The characters are extremely well portrayed, and the atmosphere is spot on. It's simply lovely to flip through the pages and enjoy. ( )