Gi Hallmark | The Children’s Book Review | April 7, 2014
By: Carole P. Roman, Illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire
Age Range: 3-7
Paperback: 23 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2015)
ISBN: 978-1507826928
What to Expect: Conflict Resolution, Inclusion, Teamwork, Friendships, Pirates, Ships, Animals, Sibling Relationships, Imagination
The loveable crew of the Flying Dragon is back! In A Flag for the Flying Dragon: A Captain No Beard Story, Captain No Beard and his friends work together to resolve conflicts as they look for the perfect job for their youngest crewmember, Zachary.
Captain No Beard and his younger sister Cayla have a new crewmember on board, baby Zachary. As Captain No Beard proudly surveys all the good work happening aboard his ship, he hears a ruckus and discovers Mongo and Zachary arguing on the crow’s nest. It’s Mongo’s job to be the lookout and he’s upset that young Zachary, who is too young to talk, is interfering. The crew agrees that a lookout needs to be able to warn the crew and furthermore, Zachary could fall off the tall lookout point and get hurt. In response, Captain No Beard gives Zachary a turn at other jobs on the ship, all with disastrous results. Frustration overtakes the crew and Captain No Beard realizes he must take the helm and come up with a creative solution to appease and unify the crew.
The crew’s experience with mixed age play is relevant and relatable for the targeted age range, when capabilities and skills can vary widely. The tale also addresses the oft-recurring resistance to including younger siblings. Carole P. Roman effortlessly depicts the importance of inclusion and unity and takes the realistic approach that it may take many attempts before a solution is found. There’s also a beneficial lesson regarding the quest for perfection and finding blessings in disguise—Captain No Beard is intent on finding a perfect flag for his ship and because of this the Flying Dragon has been sailing flagless. Serendipitously, Cayla has outgrown her burp cloths, Zachary needs a job, and the ship needs a flag. Though a torn up burp cloth is not exactly what Captain No Beard had in mind for a flag, after much compromise and creative problem solving, he comes to the realization that it is indeed the perfect solution.
Carol P. Roman tells the reader about the importance of teamwork and inclusion through an imaginative story with characters that are interesting and authentic. Bonnie Lemaire’s illustrations seamlessly accompany the story. Her use of bright colors spark imaginations and her cheerful, doe-eyed characters perfectly capture the innocence and wonder of childhood.
The author’s message, “when you’re a team, every job is important,” is a valuable lesson for young children as they learn to navigate relationships at school, at home, and with friends. A Flag for the Flying Dragon: A Captain No Beard Story will make a wonderful, entertaining addition to any library.
Add this book to your collection: A Flag for the Flying Dragon: A Captain No Beard Story
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Carole P. RomanNamed to Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. Using an imaginary game she played with her grandson as a base, Captain No Beard was born. She lives on Long Island with her husband and very near her children and grandchildren- the inspiration for her books.
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Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The author of “A Flag for the Flying Dragon: A Captain No Beard Story” paid for this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …
Tags: Captain No Beard, Carole P. Roman, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Inclusion, Pirates, Problem Solving, Ships, Sibiling Relationships, TeamworkCategory: Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Author Showcase, Picture Books, Social Graces
Gi Hallmark, founder of The Children's Blog, is a freelance writer and mother of two lovely girls. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC, where she enjoys reading and reporting about a variety of children’s topics. For more information, visit: http://www.thechildrensblog.com/ or follow @thechildrnsblog on Twitter. 
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