Library Dragon-HC-CD jacket-ver2_HC-CD Jacket 2012 1/9/12 1:56 PM Page 1

ghildrenÕs THE WUVEIESTIRSETQWEH 6IWFWS wwwFpe—™htreeEonlineF™om LIBRARY DRAGON Book & Audio Collection

hen ƒunrise ilement—ry —dvertises for — thi™kEskinned li˜r—ri—n with — ˜urning

© PAUL OBREGON © PAUL love of ˜ooksD wiss vott— ƒ™—les knows sheÕs perfe™t for the jo˜F is — mesmerizing storyteller who h—s ™h—rmed ™hildren ‡ho ™—n gu—rd ˜ooks ˜etter —nd —dults worldwideF ƒhe is the xew th—n — ‚iev dr—gonc ‰ork „imes ˜estselling —uthor of IR gy‡ƒ py‚ ewi‚sge —nd numerous other ƒhe kept — fiery eye out to m—ke sure no one pi™ture ˜ooksD in™luding we‚„sxe removed —ny ˜ooks from the shelvesÉ „ri fie „sp v gygu‚yegrF „he very thought of sti™ky little fingers g—rmen is —lso the —uthor of „ri griƒrs‚i griiƒi ge„X tou™hing —nd ™lut™hingD e hsguixƒ yp e „eviD — middle gr—de p—wing —nd ™l—wingD novel ™oEwritten with ‚—nd—ll ‡rightF vook for her ˜ook ‚i„ ‚x yp „ri sme—ring —nd te—ring vsf‚e‚‰ h‚eqyxD whi™h ™ontinues the ivery li˜r—ri—n t—le of wiss vott— ƒ™—les —nd the kids her pre™ious ˜ooks just m—de her hot under the ™oll—rF of ƒunrise ilement—ryF needs to ˜e — little ˜it „he te—™hersD singed —nd s™or™hedD form — deleg—tionF fut not even sweet wiss vemon ™—n ™onvin™e wiss vott— ƒ™—les th—t of — dr—gonÑor elseD Òthe li˜r—ry ˜elongs to the ™hildrenFÓ portun—telyD ne—rsighted wolly fri™kmeyer ‡ho ‡ill qu—rd stum˜les into the li˜r—ry —nd ˜egins to re—d — ˜ook out loudF rer re—ding ˜e™kons the the fooksc other ™hildren to the li˜r—ry —nd ˜rings them f—™e to f—™e with the vi˜r—ry hr—gonF g—n —n open ˜ook temper the fl—mes of the s™hoolÕs hothe—ded li˜r—ri—nc © FRANK BELL/Virtuoso Productions ri sf‚e‚‰ ‚eqyx “A witty and wonderful tale for book e t i h W / y d e e D „his edition of „ v h in™ludes —n —udio gh n—rr—ted ˜y the —uthorF is —n —w—rdE knights everywhere.” winning fine —rtistF re h—s ™re—ted —The Bloomsbury Review origin—l works for — num˜er of ™orpor—E tionsD —nd his —rt is regul—rly exhi˜ited in sever—l —re— g—lleriesF idu™—ted —t the ert snstitute of etl—nt—D he devotes his time to ™re—ting —rt —nd visiting s™hoolsF re h—s illustr—ted three other ˜ooksX „ri ƒig‚i„ yp yvh ifD ISBN 13: 978-1-56145-639-0 ISBN 10: 1-56145-639-X $19.95 re‚‚si„Õƒ ry‚‚sfvi res‚ he‰D —nd ‚i„ ‚x yp „ri vsf‚e‚‰ h‚eqyxF

€rinted —nd ˜ound in ƒing—pore Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 1 Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 2

ƒ€igsev „rexuƒ

„o my f—milyX u—tieD irinD —nd v—uren for your wonderful ide—sY to ‚uth—nn rendri™kson —nd hon qreene for your pu™kish sense of fun —nd gre—t joy in lifeY to my nephewsD fenj—min —nd tord—n fendi˜urgD for m—king your ti— l—ughY —nd to w—mi —nd €—piD of ™ourseF

„o medi— spe™i—listsX vorry de l— groixD t—ne ƒulliv—nD ƒherry des inf—ntsD r—rriet frownD w—rth— rooperD ‚it— vinkerD tulie ƒtri™kl—ndD fetty fe—sleyD u—ren r—glundD g—rol r—rlessD fetty frownD illen vim˜ri™kD —nd the wiss vottys of the xor™ross €u˜li™ vi˜r—ryF ÑgF eF hF

„h—nks to my wife „r—™iD to my motherD —nd to —ll my f—mily —nd friends for your ˜elief in my workF ÑwF €F ‡F

€u˜lished ˜y €iegr„‚ii € fvsƒri‚ƒ IUHH gh—tt—hoo™hee evenue etl—nt—D qeorgi— QHQIVEPIIP wwwFpe—™htreeEonlineF™om

„ext © IWWR ˜y g—rmen egre heedy sllustr—tions © IWWR ˜y wi™h—el €F ‡hite

ell rights reservedF xo p—rt of this pu˜li™—tion m—y ˜e reprodu™edD stored in — retriev—l systemD or tr—nsmitted in —ny form or ˜y —ny me—nsÑele™troni™D me™h—ni™—lD photo™opyD re™ordingD or —ny otherÑex™ept for ˜rief quot—tions in printed reviewsD without the prior permission of the pu˜lisherF

fook design ˜y xi™ol— ƒimmonds g—rter gomposition ˜y vor—ine wF toyner

sllustr—tions —re —ir˜rushed on IHH7 r—g —r™hiv—l w—ter™olor p—perY title is h—nd letteredY text is typeset in f—skerville snf—ntF

w—nuf—™tured in t—nu—ry PHIP ˜y sm—go in ƒing—pore PH IW IV IU IT @h—rd™overA IH W V U T S R Q P I @h—rd™over with ghA

vi˜r—ry of gongress g—t—logingEinE€u˜li™—tion h—t— heedyD g—rmen egr—F „he li˜r—ry dr—gon G g—rmen egr— heedyX illustr—ted ˜y wi™h—el €F ‡hiteF pF ™mF ƒumm—ryX wiss vott— ƒ™—les is — dr—gon who ˜elieves her jo˜ is to prote™t the s™hoolÕs li˜r—ry ˜ooks from the ™hildrenD ˜ut when she fin—lly re—lizes th—t ˜ooks —re me—nt to ˜e re—dD the dr—gon turns into wiss vottyD li˜r—ri—n —nd storytellerF

sƒfx IQX WUVEIESTIRSEHWIET G sƒfx IHX IESTIRSEHWIEˆ @h—rd™overA sƒfx IQX WUVEIESTIRSETQWEH G sƒfx IHX IESTIRSETQWEˆ @h—rd™over with ghA

‘IF vi˜r—ri—nsÑpi™tionF PF hr—gonsÑpi™tionF QF vi˜r—ries Ñpi™tionF RF fooks —nd re—dingÑpi™tionF SF ƒ™hoolsÑpi™tionF“ sF ‡hiteD wi™h—el €FD illF ssF „itleF €UFhQSVUvi IWWR ‘i“Ñd™PH WREIRUSR gs€ eg Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 4

„his ˜ook is dedi™—ted to gherrie ƒmithD who h—s known —ll —long th—t in the li˜r—ry ˜e—ts the he—rt of the s™hoolF

end to ‚o˜in hepoeD who is like — sisterF ÑgF eF hF

„o my f—therD who t—ught me th—t the true me—ning of — m—n is not power or strengthD ˜ut how he tre—ts —ll peopleF s miss youF ÑwF €F ‡F

ƒunrise ilement—ry ƒ™hool h—d — fsq pro˜lemF „he new li˜r—ri—nD wiss vott— ƒ™—lesD w—s — re—l dr—gonF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 6

wiss vott— ƒ™—les w—s hired to gu—rd the vi˜r—ryF end she took her jo˜ seriouslyX hundreds of newD ™le—n ˜ooks repl—™ed the oldD smudged onesF „hese shining gems ne—tly lined the shelves of her li˜r—ry l—ir in perfe™t orderÑno QWVFPs in the SHHsD —nd —˜solutely no fi™tion —mong the ˜iogr—phiesF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 8

ƒhe kept — fiery eye out to m—ke sure no one removed —ny ˜ooks from the shelvesF rer motto w—sD Òe pl—™e for everythingD —nd th—tÕs where it st—ysFÓ „he very thought of sti™ky little fingers

tou™hing —nd ™lut™hingD

p—wing —nd ™l—wingD

sme—ring —nd te—ring

her pre™ious ˜ooks just m—de her hot under the ™oll—rF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 10

wiss ƒ™—les thought th—t the w—y some ˜ooks spre—d —n unfounded fe—r of dr—gons w—s positively infl—mm—toryF Òfooks th—t depi™t ™ruelty to dr—gons should never h—ve ˜een pu˜lished in the first pl—™eFÓ ƒhe got so fired up —˜out thisD she didnÕt just dis™—rd the ˜ooks she didnÕt likeD she in™iner—ted themF „he kids w—t™hed in —weF ҇ellD th—t settles itDÓ whispered el˜ert roopsF ҇here thereÕs smokeD thereÕs fireD —nd th—t wiss ƒ™—les is — re—l dr—gonD —ll rightFÓ Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 12

xot surprisinglyD the kids —t ƒunrise ilement—ry ƒ™hool ˜eg—n to dre—d vi˜r—ry h—yF

st w—snÕt long ˜efore the te—™hers stopped sending ™hildren to the vi˜r—ryX they kept ™oming ˜—™k singedF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 14

pirstD the prin™ip—l tried to re—son with wiss ƒ™—lesD ˜ut his pl—n ˜—™kfiredF snste—d of ™ooling her downD he just f—nned the fl—mesF

Òend fin—llyD donÕt forget who does the hiringD wiss ƒ™—lesDÓ sputtered the prin™ip—lF Òyh re—llyc end who does the firingcÓ —sked wiss ƒ™—les with — gl—re —nd — fl—re th—t ™—ught his tie on fireF Òxow ™ut th—t outDÓ s—id the prin™ip—l —s he w—ved the smoke out of his f—™eF Òxo smoking in the vi˜r—ryDÓ wiss vott— ƒ™—les s—id drilyF

„he prin™ip—l fumedF „he te—™hers were in™ensedF ‡orst of —llD the ™hildren h—d missed re—ding —nd storytime for weeks —nd their gr—des were going up in smokeF

ƒoD the te—™hers formed — deleg—tionF end —fter — trip to the ™—feteri— kit™hen to fortify themselvesD they p—id — visit to wiss ƒ™—lesF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 16

wiss vott— ƒ™—les smouldered —s she listened to sweet wiss vemon the kinderg—rten te—™herF Òɗnd most import—ntlyD wiss ƒ™—lesD de—rD the ™hildren miss storytimeFÓ ÒƒtorytimeD shmorieEtimeDÓ ˜lew wiss vott— ƒ™—lesD ÒwhyD if s let the ™hildren tou™h these ˜ooks with their gooey fingers —nd snotty nosesD this vi˜r—ry wouldnÕt l—st — weekFÓ end she st—red so furiously —t the te—™hers th—t they threw down their we—pons —nd ™l—nged outF ell ex™ept sweet wiss vemonF ҉ou knowD wiss ƒ™—lesD we —ll love the ˜ooks —s mu™h —s you doÉD ˜ut the vi˜r—ry ˜elongs to the ™hildrenFÓ Òqood unightD wiss vemonD you sl—y meDÓ ™r—™ked wiss ƒ™—lesF ҇hyD the ide— of storytime is simply mediev—lFÓ Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 18

es usu—lD the dr—gon h—d the l—st wordF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 20

҄h—t wiss vemon is — re—l spitfireDÓ st w—s —t th—t very moment th—t wolly fri™kmeyer ™hu™kled wiss ƒ™—lesF fut she h—d spewed —™™ident—lly w—ndered into the vi˜r—ryF so mu™h smoke —nd fire —t sweet wiss vemon th—t she h—d to lie down for — n—pF ƒhe w—s re—lly dr—gginÕF sn f—™tD she w—s ˜urned outF Òfeing — vi˜r—ry hr—gon ™—n ˜e su™h — lonely jo˜DÓ she mum˜led s—dly to herself —s she he—ved — mighty sigh —nd ™losed her s™—ly lidsF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 22

wolly w—s on — questX she h—d lost her gl—sses iveryone —nd ™ouldnÕt see — thing without them unless it w—s w—s listeningF right under her noseF ƒhe stum˜led into — ˜ookshelf iven the —nd — ˜ook fell onto her l—pF ƒhe never s—w the vi˜r—ry hr—gonF sign th—t re—dD end her e—rs were ˜urningF

st w—s over her he—dF ƒo she held this one right under her nose —nd ˜eg—n to re—d out loudF pirst — ™l—ss of se™ond gr—dersD in line for the w—ter fount—inD he—rd her —nd tiptoed in to listenF „henD the fourth gr—dersD outside pl—ying ki™k˜—llD he—rd — story ˜eing re—d —nd ™rowded —round the windowsF ҃pe—k upDÓ someone s—idF wolly fri™kmeyer spoke upF

‡ord of storytime in the vi˜r—ry spre—d like wildfire —t ƒunrise ilement—ry ƒ™hoolF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 24

ƒlowly wiss vott— ƒ™—les rose up from ˜ehind — ˜ookshelf —nd looked —t the ˜oys —nd girls huddled —round wollyF ƒheÕd never seen —nything quite like itX the ™hildren looked like they ˜elonged hereF ÒÔÉs love youD ƒnuffDÕÓ wolly re—d on —s —ll the ™hildren listenedF

Òqive me th—t ˜ookD wolly fri™kmeyerDÓ ro—red wiss ƒ™—lesF wolly held the ˜ook ™heerfully tow—rd the s™—ly ˜lurF wiss vott— ƒ™—les took the ˜ook —nd eyed it suspi™iously —s it hung from her ™l—wF pirst she sniffed itF „hen she ™he™ked the spine for ™r—™ksF „hen she ™he™ked e—™h p—ge for st—ins —nd smudgesF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 26

pin—lly wiss ƒ™—les looked —round —t the ™hildren —nd ™le—red the smoke from her thro—tF ÒxowD where were wec ‡hyD yesÉ Ôs love youD ƒnuffÉÕÓ et first the ™hildren were too nervous to listenF fut when wolly fri™kmeyer ™lim˜ed up onto wiss vott— ƒ™—lesÕs l—pÑ —nd didnÕt get s™or™hedÑthey rel—xedF ҉ouÕre w—rmDÓ whispered wollyF ÒhonÕt interruptDÓ wiss ƒ™—les ™r—™kledF iveryone w—s listening so intently th—t they —lmost missed itX —s she re—dD wiss vott— ƒ™—lesÕs s™—les ˜eg—n to f—ll on the linoleum floor with — ™li™ketyE™l—™kD ™li™ketyE™l—™kÉ Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 28

əli™ketyE™l—™kÑuntil —ll th—t w—s left w—s wiss vottyD li˜r—ri—n —nd storytellerD sitting on — mount—in of yellowD greenD —nd purple s™—les with wolly fri™kmeyerD hr—gon ƒl—yer ixtr—ordin—ireD on her l—pF „he rest of the ™hildren w—rmed up to wiss votty right —w—yF Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 30

„he ™h—nges in wiss vottyÕs new kidEfriendly vi˜r—ry were h—rd to missF xot surprisinglyD the kids —t ƒunrise ilement—ry ƒ™hool ˜eg—n to love vi˜r—ry h—yF

wiss vottyÕs tr—nsform—tionD howeverD w—s not ™ompleteÉ Library Dragon HC-CD-interior-ver3_Library Dragon REDESIGN2012 1/11/12 10:11 AM Page 32

fut thenD every li˜r—ri—n needs to ˜e — little ˜it of — dr—gonÑor elseD

‡ry ‡y vh q e‚h „ri fyyuƒc