Magoon's exuberant art recalls classic characters, most particularly Max in his wolf suit. . . . Fanciful pretend play for the dragon-slaying preschooler.

– Kirkus Reviews

The dark color palette and mischievous nature of the text are reminiscent of Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back (2011)—albeit with a different final outcome.

– Booklist

Magoon’s bold, angular, digitally rendered drawings capably juggle action, suspense, and comedy. . . . By focusing on Theodore’s thoughts and perspective, Lehrhaupt adds unexpected nuance to this David and Goliath story—it’s not clear who’s the aggressor and who’s the victim. What is clear is that size doesn’t matter and laughter trumps fear.

– Publishers Weekly

Smartly designed, the book features bold digital illustrations full of amusing characters and suspense. For much

of the book, only Theodore’s eyes shine out of the cave’s darkness, but they convey

everything readers need to know to catch the spirit of the story. As the well-paced,

entertaining tale unfolds, the seasons quietly change in the background, and the

endpapers show the meaningful transformation of the gray leafless area surrounding

Theodore’s cave into a lush and colorful landscape—a metaphor for Theodore’s

own blossoming through friendship

– The Horn Book