Review: Miriam's Magical Creature Files: The Discovery of Dragons
The Discovery of Dragons (Miriam's Magical Creature Files)
by Leah Cypess, illustrated by Sarah Lynne Reul
Amulet Books (imprint of Abrams), 2025
Category: Middle Grade
Reviewer: Rebecca Klempner
Miriam's Magical Creature Files: The Discovery of Dragons is a middle-grade novel which follows a young Orthodox Jewish girl, Miriam, who has decided that all statements of her family members must be investigated to be believed. This decision followed several incidents in which claims made by her mother, father, and sister later proved untrue. In this volume of the series, Miriam’s sister says there is a dragon at the zoo. (This is the second book in a series which started with The Truth About the Tooth Fairy.) Today is Miriam’s field trip to the zoo, so she will be in the right place to investigate.
Miriam is a funny and appealing narrator. Despite the magical nature of dragons, Cypess grounds the story in authentic childlike behavior and concrete details like the smelliness of zoo exhibits, backpack straps digging into one’s shoulders, and the way so many animals sleep during the day despite visitors' desire to see them. Cypess balances fantastical story elements such as the mysterious zoo volunteer who reveals the “real dragon” with Miriam’s realistic encounter with a komodo dragon. The illustrations by Sarah Lynne Reul are childlike, playful, and enhance the humor of the story.
Miriam is a funny and appealing narrator. Despite the magical nature of dragons, Cypess grounds the story in authentic childlike behavior and concrete details like the smelliness of zoo exhibits, backpack straps digging into one’s shoulders, and the way so many animals sleep during the day despite visitors' desire to see them. Cypess balances fantastical story elements such as the mysterious zoo volunteer who reveals the “real dragon” with Miriam’s realistic encounter with a komodo dragon. The illustrations by Sarah Lynne Reul are childlike, playful, and enhance the humor of the story.
The names of Miriam, her family members, her teacher, and her classmates establish pretty quickly that she’s Jewish. Dad wears a yarmulke in illustrations, and Miriam and her sister always wear skirts. Mrs. Halpert, the teacher, reminds the students that it’s a mitzvah to avoid causing animals pain and that while out in a non-Jewish space, Jewish children should create a kiddush Hashem, make God and the Jewish people look good by behaving in an exemplary fashion. There’s a discussion about the kashrut of various foods available at the zoo’s food stands. While the story is not about any particular aspect of Judaism, the thoroughly Jewish characters and casual mentions of Jewish culture make it a comfortable read for Jewish audiences. Nonetheless, the story is entirely accessible to non-Jewish readers. All Hebrew terms are explained in the text.
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Reviewer Rebecca Klempner is a writer and editor in Los Angeles. She's the author of four books and dozens of short stories, features, reviews, and interviews. Her most recent book is HOW TO WELCOME AN ALIEN (Kalaniot 2023).
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