100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli
by David LaRochelle
illustrated by Lian Cho
Dial Books, April 2023
Ages: Preschool to Grade 3
ISBN 978–0525555445
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Medal-worthy dragon drawings by students at Lincoln Center Elementary:
High on a mountain live 100 mighty dragons all named Broccoli. When a tremendous wind blows half the dragons away, ten others sail off to become professional surfers in Hawaii. The oldest and youngest dragons take a train to New York City to start their own heavy metal band. And a mysterious wizard turns four more into a unicorn, a werewolf, a zombie, and a tiny pink poodle. Now how many dragons are left? Readers will delight in following each and every dragon as they leave their home for marvelous adventures, until there is but one dragon remaining. That’s when this final dragon named Broccoli retreats to a cave for the winter and reappears in the spring with a surprise that will thrill and delight!
Buy the Book
bookshop.org
(local booksellers)
Resources
Have some mighty fun with these free dragon downloadable extension ideas:
Awards and Recognition
- Smithsonian Magazine, Ten Best Children’s Books of 2023
- A School Library Journal/Fuse #8 Best Math Book of the Year, 2023
- Brightly Best Picture Books of 2023
- 2024 Children’s Book Council’s list of Librarian Favorites
- 2024 Texas 2x2 List
- 2025 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award nominee
- 2024 Read Aloud Indiana Ageless List
- 2024 Mathical Book Prize Honor Book
- Kids’ Indie Next top ten picture book list, May/June 2023
- Amazon Best Book of the Month selection, April 2023
Reviews
“Cho’s colorful portrayals offer comedic magic and flair. Readers will be captivated by the antics of each Broccoli, [and the dragons’] quirky expressions will elicit plenty of giggles. … This is one entertaining and silly way to do math.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“Colorful and countable … Humorous details throughout keep the math concepts lively.” (Booklist)
“A nonstop dragon party. … Comically specific outcomes and locale shout-outs make a close look of this bustling read irresistible.” (Publishers Weekly)
“Everything David LaRochelle publishes is pure gold — but this! This could be the funniest, most charming, most captivating counting book ever! I laughed out loud, I got a little worried, and I cheered at the end.” (Kathy Adams, Kids’ Indie Next List)
“You can call this a counting book. You can call it a math book. I call it a hilarious, charming and extremely silly book. … Once again, Geisel Award-winning David LaRochelle [gives] us a wacky, thoroughly original story … A great addition to any child’s bookshelf.” (Laurie Hertzel, The Minneapolis StarTribune)
“You have never seen a counting book quite like this, because there has never been a counting book quite like this. … David LaRochelle has crafted a book so clever, so utterly silly and absurd, so delightful and so engaging—and has been so well abetted by illustrator Lian Cho—that kids and adults alike [will] read and reread and delight in the whole thing … [The title concept] makes for an eventual twist ending that readers will not see coming and that gives Cho an opportunity to display amazing illustrative virtuosity.” (InfoDad.com)