ONCE UPON A TAIL (ONCE UPON A TAIL #1): A HORSE AND DRAGON GRAPHIC NOVEL, by Audrey Perrott and Charlene Chua, Harry N. Abrams, April 21, 2026, Hardcover, $14.99 (ages 5-9)
Two unlikely friends share adventures in Once Upon a Tail: A Horse and Dragon Graphic Novel, by Audrey Perrott and Charlene Chua.
Wallace is a knightly horse who loves rules. Poppy is a free-spirit dragon who loves adventure.
These two unlikely pals disagree on most everything—but still manage to have a lot of fun-filled shenanigans together in the Land of La-Dee-Dah.
Told in three short and silly stories with subtle social-emotional themes, this young graphic novel follows the everyday adventures of two best buds as they step out of their comfort zones, discover hidden powers, and eat a LOT of banana pudding. —Synopsis provided by Harry N. Abrams
Once Upon a Tail is the first book in a new early reader graphic novel series written by Audrey Perrott and illustrated Charlene Chua. With a fantasy setting, accessible vocabulary and highly visual format, the series “is designed for emerging and reluctant readers alike.”
Not only that. It feels like a natural progression from books like Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series and Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly series.
Once Upon a Tail features loveable creatures, humor that plays exactly to kids and bright illustrations that help drive the narrative forward. It’s sure to be a hit with kids starting to make the move into chapter books.
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