Tom Thumb Endings and A Dragon Story

The kids were fascinated by the story of Tom Thumb.  Fascinated.  We were all shocked and disappointed when the story ended abruptly with his death, so I suggested we make up a new ending.  Everyone agreed.  Here's Caroline's:

"He fought pretty well but he did not get killed.  The spider put just a teensy bit of venom into him.  [Tom Thumb] stuck his knife into [the spider]  and it got so scared it quickly ran back to his spider home.  His spider home was so crazy.  It was like a ball of yarn with all knots and it was sticky.  Tom Thumb went back home and he got just a tiny bit of venom, but he was alright.  He had to go to the Doctor's office."  The End.

Another book we just finished and loved was this one:

 

One of Jenna's favorite scenes was when the dragon learned to fly. 

One of Caroline's favorite scenes was when the Old Man of the Moon said Minli could only ask one question.  Jenna then added that scene was her favorite too, as well as the one word written over and over on the page in the Old Man's book.

The book's descriptions are rich, worthy of multiple re-reads, and the message is deep, but presented in such a way that even my seven-year-old got the importance of gratitude.  (Jenna commented--I wish I could remember her EXACT words--something to the effect that some of the book was for older kids/adults). Here's how Jenna imagined the dragon: