ALA Booklist (Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2002)

A horrible thing has happened in Room 3B--best friends Harry and Song Lee aren't speaking to each other. Their teacher, Miss Mackle, has allowed both Harry and Song Lee to research dragons for their class projects, and each child has a different idea about the subject. Song Lee's dragon is beautiful and benevolent; Harry's is a fierce, fire-eating creature that drinks elephants' blood. The resulting fight casts a gloom on the entire day until Harry apologizes and research reveals the differences between Western and Eastern dragons. Kline perfectly captures the difficulties of learning about differing opinions and the discomfort of fighting with a friend as well as the relief that comes when problems are solved. A lively addition to a reliable chapter-book series.

Horn Book

While working on a school project, friends Harry and Song Lee disagree about the nature of dragons--Harry insists that they're ferocious and calls Song Lee's drawing of a gentle dragon "stupid." The inner-classroom turmoil that ensues is implausible, but fans of the series may enjoy this small drama. Expressive line drawings pepper the pages.

Kirkus Reviews

Discord has come to the familiar friends in Room 3B. Miss Mackle has assigned a research project about animals from children's books. Song Lee and Harry both want to study dragons. They are allowed to work together, which usually is a good plan for these cooperative classmates. However, when Harry's dragon is the fire-breathing one of Arthurian legend, and Song Lee's is the good-luck dragon of Korean mythology, the war begins. Harry uses the "s" word (stupid) to describe Song Lee's creation. Fighting words for sure. What follows is a three-hour standoff that ends up involving all the boys and girls in 3B. The situation, reported through the voice of classmate Doug, is real and believable. Song Lee's reaction to Henry's word will spark a moment of uncomfortable recognition for any grade-school child: she completely rebuffs any apologetic overture and holds her stubborn position for three full hours, an eternity in the close quarters of a classroom. Remkiewicz's signature illustrations add life to the argument and its realistic solution. While such situations might seem trivial to the adult observer, Kline, a former schoolteacher, hits the nail on the head once again by telling a real classroom story. She allows the young protagonists to solve their problems the way they often do, with light adult intervention, good intentions, and gentle forgiveness. Kline and her publisher understand the needs of emergent readers and provide them with a large font, frequent illustrations, and a familiar story. This is another fine story for the reader who is just ready for chapter books. (Easy reader. 7-10)

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-When Harry and his friend Song Lee disagree over a dragon assignment, their falling out affects the whole third-grade class. He insists dragons are frightening and mean, while she believes them to be friendly and lucky. A third classmate finds information that proves they are both right: dragons are fearsome in Western traditions and gentle in Eastern traditions. Harry apologizes and makes a peace offering, which Song Lee accepts. This story carries some important messages. For one, it shows that best friends can have differences of opinion, yet both can be right. Additionally, it points out the importance of respecting the beliefs of others. And, finally, it proves that friendships can be broken by name-calling, yet repaired with a sincere gesture of apology. With its likable characters, escalating tension, and pacing, Dragon War will hold the interest of young readers while deepening their understanding of themselves and others.-Laurie von Mehren, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.