After both dreaming of adventure, Dragon and Girl (Lovabye Dragon; Evermore Dragon) set sail to find the "far-est Far Away." The duo's journey--from home to away and back again--proceeds in playful language that often repeats sounds and words for a quality read-aloud. Muted, textural illustrations give the story, which includes a wink to Lear's "The Owl and the Pussycat," a dreamlike quality.

A young girl and a dragon take their sweet friendship on an adventure. After sharing the beginning and deepening of their friendship in Lovabye Dragon (2012) and Evermore Dragon (2015), Joosse puts this twosome on a journey to the high seas. Girl, forever sleeping in her same bed, dreams of sailing away. Dragon, snug in his lair, dreams of sailing with Girl. "Sometimes when friends share a heart / they dream the same thing, apart." So they pack a wicker basket, a spyglass, and a banner and wave goodbye. The ocean provides plenty of interest with dolphins, whales, and Bad Hats with ratty beards (depicted as Vikings who differ only in the amount of their facial hair). There's also a cat. The dreamy, highly textured oil pictures by Cecil in his signature palette of gentle grays, greens, and blues make the transition from land to sea seamlessly. With a tender nod to "The Owl and the Pussycat," the scenery is full of diversions while the clever rhyming verse full of wordplay drifts the story farther from Home. The hazy images allow young minds to see this tiny princess with dark hair as racially ambiguous. As in many famous stories, one must leave home to find home, which is the same for these two loving friends. "With Dragon as boat / and Girl as crew / there was nothing—nothing—they couldn't do!" Fans of the series will delight in seeing these favorites again, and Girl and Dragon should win some new ones. (Picture book. 3-6)

In this sequel to Lovabye Dragon (2012) and Evermore Dragon (2015), the little princess and her dragon friend embark on an expedition to "the far-est Far Away." With Girl on his back, Dragon jumps into the sea, and their journey begins. Minor troubles arise from time to time. When the wind dies, Girl blows bubbles into the water to propel them forward. When a whale spouts, Dragon shelters the princess with his wings. When threatening, Viking-like Bad Hats sail too close, Dragon's roar frightens them off. After a year and a day, they reach their destination, celebrate, and return home. Playful language and occasional rhymes give the distinctive, rhythmic verse a certain flair, while the simple plot provides a satisfying beginning, middle, and end. Cecil's stylized oil paintings illustrate the text through distinctive line drawings, muted colors, and dense textures, creating a distinctive world for the intrepid Girl and Dragon. A cat and an owl with a small guitar share a little boat, adding a touch of Edward Lear to this charming, fanciful picture book.