Publication
Imprint: [Portland, Oregon] : Oni Press, 2017. Edition: First edition. Responsibility: written & illustrated by Katie O'Neill, lettered by Saida Temofonte, edited by Ari Yarwood, designed by Hilary Thompson. OCLC Number: 982654423. Physical: Text : 1 volume : 60 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 31 cm. Features: Includes appendix.
Call number
Graphic / ONeil
ISBN
9781620104415
Original publication date
2017-10-31
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: After discovering a lost Tea Dragon in the marketplace, apprentice blacksmith Greta learns about the dying art form of Tea Dragon caretaking from the kind tea shop owners.
FY2019 /
FY2019 /
Physical description
60 p.; 31 cm
Awards
Eisner Award (Nominee — 2018)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — 2019)
Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (Selection — 2019)
ALA Rainbow Book List (Selection — 2018)
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fantasy. Juvenile Fiction. HTML: From the award-winning author of PRINCESS PRINCESS EVER AFTER comes THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives�??and eventually her own.
Language
Original language
English
Lexile
440L
User reviews
LibraryThing member krau0098
This was an adorable graphic novel that I really enjoyed. The artwork is very unique and the story is cute and happy. I enjoyed it a lot and thought it was very cute. A sequel to this book “The Tea Dragon Festival” is expected to release sometime in 2019.
Greta discovers a lost dragon in the
The artwork in this book is unique and beautiful. It is full of bright pastel colors and is just wonderful to look at.
The characters are all kind and sweet. I loved the tea dragons (who were a lot like cats) and enjoyed the idea of dragons that grow tea out of their heads. The end has a section describing different types of tea dragons and this was a fun addition to the story.
Overall I really loved this book and would recommend to all ages and people. There’s some interesting commentary on why old traditions are important. However, mainly this is just a cute and fun read with incredibly well done artwork.
Greta discovers a lost dragon in the
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marketplace and as a result ends up learning about how to care for tea dragons from two tea shop owners. At the tea shop she also meets the shy Minette, whom she ends up making friends with.The artwork in this book is unique and beautiful. It is full of bright pastel colors and is just wonderful to look at.
The characters are all kind and sweet. I loved the tea dragons (who were a lot like cats) and enjoyed the idea of dragons that grow tea out of their heads. The end has a section describing different types of tea dragons and this was a fun addition to the story.
Overall I really loved this book and would recommend to all ages and people. There’s some interesting commentary on why old traditions are important. However, mainly this is just a cute and fun read with incredibly well done artwork.
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LibraryThing member lycomayflower
This delightful middle grade manga-esque fantasy graphic novel follows a young girl as she discovers tea dragons and the people who care for them. Tea dragons are small dragons, somewhat feline in nature, whose horns produce leaves from which one can make various kinds of tea. They live for
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thousands of years and require near-constant attention to be kept alive and well. The story is in large part about the joy to be found in patient, exacting, rewarding work, especially of the kind that not everyone understands or that few people see the value in. The illustrations are the perfect combination of whimsy, detail, and charm. Whole-heartedly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Over the course of the year, we watch Greta's development as she learns about the mystical tea dragons and how to care for them. These creatures need constant attention but after a time, they produce tea leaves that once brewed allow the drinker to see past events that the dragon experienced. As
This is a light enjoyable fantasy perfect for the target age group of children in upper elementary school or junior high. As a rather short volume, it is not exactly meaty. The plot is rather thin and while the characters are interesting, they are not particularly well-rounded. However, the book does deserve recognition for showing a ton of diversity in terms of race, gender fluidity, ability/disability, and LGBT. It also has nice underlying messages about keeping traditions alive and waiting patiently for good things to come.
In keeping with the tone of the book, the illustrations have an almost ethereal look to them, very light and fluid. This is a comforting read when you're looking for something light and positive.
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she learns about caring for tea dragons, Greta becomes friends with a lost girl who also has an affinity for tea dragons.This is a light enjoyable fantasy perfect for the target age group of children in upper elementary school or junior high. As a rather short volume, it is not exactly meaty. The plot is rather thin and while the characters are interesting, they are not particularly well-rounded. However, the book does deserve recognition for showing a ton of diversity in terms of race, gender fluidity, ability/disability, and LGBT. It also has nice underlying messages about keeping traditions alive and waiting patiently for good things to come.
In keeping with the tone of the book, the illustrations have an almost ethereal look to them, very light and fluid. This is a comforting read when you're looking for something light and positive.
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LibraryThing member Jonez
3.0
Cute story. Now I want a tea dragon. ❤
Cute story. Now I want a tea dragon. ❤
LibraryThing member Shahnareads
This comic is adorable and cute and I love it. The illustrations are so pretty and the story is sweet. I want a tea dragon. I love them so much! If they're were tea dragon toys I'd have them all. Give them to me! I love it.
LibraryThing member villemezbrown
A cute, sweet, gentle, and enjoyable bit of fantasy fluff with beautiful art and LGBTQ characters. A second volume is coming, and I just put a hold on it at my library.
LibraryThing member flying_monkeys
Beautiful artwork. Heartwarming story. Loaded with cuteness, yes, but also inclusive with great messages.
LibraryThing member untitled841
Cute little book about an ideal pet. Personally I would to happen upon a rooibos tea dragon. The personality traits are similar to my dog.
Quote and snippet:
It should be noted that the Tea Dragons are lactose intolerant.
Quote and snippet:
It should be noted that the Tea Dragons are lactose intolerant.
LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
Sweet, beautifully drawn and imagined story of friendship and lost arts.
LibraryThing member authorjanebnight
This was a cute, sweet and inclusive graphic novel. It is appropriate for children though as an adult I also wholeheartedly enjoyed it.
This is whimsical, beautiful, and imaginative.
I recommend and I very much enjoyed this.
This is whimsical, beautiful, and imaginative.
I recommend and I very much enjoyed this.
LibraryThing member booklover3258
Thanks to a suggestion made by my boss, I found a new author to love. Even though this is categorized as a children's graphic novel, I think it is appropriate for anyone to read it, big or small. I've read her other graphic novel, Aquicorn and fell in love with both of these books. Looking forward
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to reading more from her. The illustrations are amazing in this book and the story is wonderful. It's about friendship, love and taking care of each other. Show Less
LibraryThing member MickyFine
A cute, children's graphic novel about caring for tiny dragons who grow tea leaves on their horns.
I could see the appeal and the art work is gorgeous but it didn't set my heart aflutter the way I know it has for other readers here on LT.
I could see the appeal and the art work is gorgeous but it didn't set my heart aflutter the way I know it has for other readers here on LT.
LibraryThing member emeraldreverie
Absolutely wonderful. Beautiful art and colors, fascinating world. Delightful and precocious characters. Fantastic representation. High recommend.
LibraryThing member thelibraryladies
Now see here, I may be the resident horror/thriller/true crime/all things macabre blogger, but I, too, am sometimes in need of a break from those things. While I do love me all the dark, dank, and creepy of the world, every once in awhile I yearn for a serious palate cleanser to take me down from a
“The Tea Dragon Society” is a calming and quiet graphic novel for kids, though I would argue that it’s suitable for all ages of youth AND adult as well. It takes place in an unspecified fantasy world, where there are dragons and goblins and animal creatures, and while none of it is really explained in depth, it really doesn’t have to be. This is just the world the story takes place in and it needs to explanation. We follow Greta, the daughter of a blacksmith who finds that her passion in life may actually be centered on Tea Dragon rearing. Tea dragons are dragons who grow tea leaves on their horns. Different kinds of dragons produce different kinds of tea. From Jasmine Dragons to Rooibos Dragons to Ginger Dragons, these creatures need love and attention to make the best leaves. IS THIS NOT THE CUTEST THING YOU’VE EVER HEARD? Maybe I’m biased, as I love love LOVE dragons, but the creativity and the gentle sweetness of it just hits me right in the feels.
And let’s talk about those who blacksmith and those who raise tea dragons, and what that means for gender roles in this world. Right off the bat we are introduced to Greta’s mother, who is teaching Greta how to blacksmith. Greta’s mother is implied to be one of the best blacksmiths around, and it is Greta’s father who is the artist within the family. It was so refreshing to see a mother teaching her daughter a craft that is often associated with masculinity, and teaching her the family business. While Greta has some reservations about blacksmithing and her personal devotion to it, it’s never because of her gender. Along with that, the people who raise the tea dragons are two men, Hesekiel and Erik (though Heseikiel is some kind of animalesque being, kind of looking like a llama?). Erik used to be an adventurer, but after an accident those days are behind him. However, he is never shown as being weakened or at a disadvantage because he lost this previous life. On the contrary, he’s settled into a new life of dragon rearing and gardening as well as maintaining the home that he and his partner Hesekiel share.
We also get some really good diversity in this book, as Greta and her family are darker skinned, as is Erik. Along with that, Erik is in a wheelchair because of an accident in his past. As mentioned before, Erik and Hesekiel are romantic as well as business partners, and their relationship is so lovely and shows years of devotion and caring. Minette, Erik and Hesekiel’s ward, is also representative of a different ability set, and while I don’t really want to spoil it here, I will say that she also shows that with these inherent disadvantages she can still do what she loves. In the picture of the previous Tea Dragon Society there was also diversity, showing that just about anyone could take on this life and be successful at it. While I do think that explicit discussions of why diversity matters, and being explicit about these differences in these stories are important, I also like seeing normalized diversity such as in this world. Especially since fantasy and sci-fi does have a diversity problem within the stories that are told. This goes to show that it can be done and that it should be done.
And yes, we need to talk about the dragons. Because holy crap are they just the cutest things ever. There are so many designs for these different kinds of dragons, and O’Neill made it so that they do kind of represent the various teas that their horns produce. The Chamomile Dragon (the yellow one above) always looks a little relaxed and sleepy. The Rooibos Dragon (the red one above) looks spiky and rambunctious. The Earl Grey Dragon looks dignified and regal. And so on. To make these dragons so varied and yet still similar amongst themselves is such a great design, and it goes to show that dragons don’t always have to be big and daunting and fearsome. Though hey, I’m never going to complain about those kinds of dragons either.
“The Tea Dragon Society” was the right bit of fluff I needed in my life to give me an overdose on cuteness while building a lovely fantasy world. I can’t recommend it enough to not only children and parents, but also to people who like fantasy. Or those like me who really just need a relaxing read once in awhile. While O’Neill says that the story has concluded, I would be so pleased if someday she decides to revisit these characters and the lovely world that they live within.
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self made anxiety tower where I find myself perched all too often. So while at the desk at work the other day, my dear friend Tami (who is also the children’s librarian at my library) handed me this book and said “You are going to love this.” Boy oh boy, was she right, and was “The Tea Dragon Society” everything I needed in that moment!!! Hell, the cover alone gave me a vocal and physical reaction the moment I saw it. Namely "AWWWWW!" “The Tea Dragon Society” is a calming and quiet graphic novel for kids, though I would argue that it’s suitable for all ages of youth AND adult as well. It takes place in an unspecified fantasy world, where there are dragons and goblins and animal creatures, and while none of it is really explained in depth, it really doesn’t have to be. This is just the world the story takes place in and it needs to explanation. We follow Greta, the daughter of a blacksmith who finds that her passion in life may actually be centered on Tea Dragon rearing. Tea dragons are dragons who grow tea leaves on their horns. Different kinds of dragons produce different kinds of tea. From Jasmine Dragons to Rooibos Dragons to Ginger Dragons, these creatures need love and attention to make the best leaves. IS THIS NOT THE CUTEST THING YOU’VE EVER HEARD? Maybe I’m biased, as I love love LOVE dragons, but the creativity and the gentle sweetness of it just hits me right in the feels.
And let’s talk about those who blacksmith and those who raise tea dragons, and what that means for gender roles in this world. Right off the bat we are introduced to Greta’s mother, who is teaching Greta how to blacksmith. Greta’s mother is implied to be one of the best blacksmiths around, and it is Greta’s father who is the artist within the family. It was so refreshing to see a mother teaching her daughter a craft that is often associated with masculinity, and teaching her the family business. While Greta has some reservations about blacksmithing and her personal devotion to it, it’s never because of her gender. Along with that, the people who raise the tea dragons are two men, Hesekiel and Erik (though Heseikiel is some kind of animalesque being, kind of looking like a llama?). Erik used to be an adventurer, but after an accident those days are behind him. However, he is never shown as being weakened or at a disadvantage because he lost this previous life. On the contrary, he’s settled into a new life of dragon rearing and gardening as well as maintaining the home that he and his partner Hesekiel share.
We also get some really good diversity in this book, as Greta and her family are darker skinned, as is Erik. Along with that, Erik is in a wheelchair because of an accident in his past. As mentioned before, Erik and Hesekiel are romantic as well as business partners, and their relationship is so lovely and shows years of devotion and caring. Minette, Erik and Hesekiel’s ward, is also representative of a different ability set, and while I don’t really want to spoil it here, I will say that she also shows that with these inherent disadvantages she can still do what she loves. In the picture of the previous Tea Dragon Society there was also diversity, showing that just about anyone could take on this life and be successful at it. While I do think that explicit discussions of why diversity matters, and being explicit about these differences in these stories are important, I also like seeing normalized diversity such as in this world. Especially since fantasy and sci-fi does have a diversity problem within the stories that are told. This goes to show that it can be done and that it should be done.
And yes, we need to talk about the dragons. Because holy crap are they just the cutest things ever. There are so many designs for these different kinds of dragons, and O’Neill made it so that they do kind of represent the various teas that their horns produce. The Chamomile Dragon (the yellow one above) always looks a little relaxed and sleepy. The Rooibos Dragon (the red one above) looks spiky and rambunctious. The Earl Grey Dragon looks dignified and regal. And so on. To make these dragons so varied and yet still similar amongst themselves is such a great design, and it goes to show that dragons don’t always have to be big and daunting and fearsome. Though hey, I’m never going to complain about those kinds of dragons either.
“The Tea Dragon Society” was the right bit of fluff I needed in my life to give me an overdose on cuteness while building a lovely fantasy world. I can’t recommend it enough to not only children and parents, but also to people who like fantasy. Or those like me who really just need a relaxing read once in awhile. While O’Neill says that the story has concluded, I would be so pleased if someday she decides to revisit these characters and the lovely world that they live within.
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LibraryThing member BillieBook
Beautiful artwork and a sweet story perfect. Its short length makes it perfect for younger readers (though I would have liked it to be a bit longer).
LibraryThing member foggidawn
Greta is training to be a blacksmith like her mother, but she discovers a new interest when she rescues a strange creature which she later learns is a tea dragon. These adorable but high-maintenance little beasts produce leaves and flowers that can be brewed into magical tea.
This brief graphic
This brief graphic
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novel is short on plot, but makes up for it with lush illustrations, fascinating and diverse characters, and, of course, tea dragons — the cutest things ever! I want one. Show Less
LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
This is a beautiful graphic novel in a fantasy setting with lots of fanatical creatures with mostly normal lives. Greta is learning to become a blacksmith from her mother. One day she finds a small tea dragon in the market and with info from her mom she gets it back to its home. There she learns
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about tea dragons and the special tea you make from leaves from their horns. It is a very sweet story with new friendships being made and learning new things. Show Less
LibraryThing member Herenya
I love the concept of tea dragons and a tea dragon society. And the dragons are really cute! But the way people’s expressions are drawn in this graphic novel didn’t quite appeal to me and I think that coloured how I felt about the book as a whole. And it’s not a very long story, so it
I’m sorry, book, I’m sure there are other readers out there who will appreciate you!
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doesn’t have so many opportunities to win over a reader who isn’t enamoured with the illustrations.I’m sorry, book, I’m sure there are other readers out there who will appreciate you!
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LibraryThing member livingtech
Beautiful in so many ways!
LibraryThing member librarianlion
The Tea Dragon Society is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel with a gentle delivery of themes of grief and perseverance through community and friendship. I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of well-written LGBT characters whose orientation was not the focus of the story. Characters
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grapple with real world, heavy problems that are not magically solved by the whimsical tea dragons; rather, the characters' shared respect for the art of caring for tea dragons brings them together to heal and grow as a community. Show Less
LibraryThing member electrascaife
A Juliet and Juliet story set amongst a group of excellent characters and an interesting plot. This one ends on a cliffhanger, so be prepared to want the second book right away.
A sweet graphic novel about two fairy-like girls who both find their way to a dragon tea shop and befriend the dragons and
A sweet graphic novel about two fairy-like girls who both find their way to a dragon tea shop and befriend the dragons and
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their tenders. It's warm and soothing and just the right amount of sweet, just like a good cuppa. Show Less
LibraryThing member potds1011
A cute book that I greatly appreciated and enjoyed, it explored the lives of the two girls who were the main characters with empathy and the dragons brightened it right up.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Greta, a young goblin training with her blacksmith mother, rescues a strange creature from the local dogs one day in this delightful fantasy graphic novel from New Zealand author/artist Katie O'Neill, finding herself introduced to the world of Tea Dragons as a result. Befriended by the faun-like
The Tea Dragon Society is the first of three graphic novels about Tea Dragons—the subsequent two titles being The Tea Dragon Festival and The Tea Dragon Tapestry—and offers a lovely, gentle introduction to a wonderful world of magic, friendship and love, and some very unique dragons. I found O'Neill's artwork here, which has been described as very manga-inspired, absolutely delightful, and thought that the dragons were adorable! So too was Brick, Greta's little fire-creature companion, in her study to become a blacksmith. The color palette used, and the overall composition of the artwork was enchanting, and well-suited to the nature of the tale being told. Although not a lot happened over the course of the story, which is divided into four sections that correspond to the four seasons, I thought the narrative did an excellent job introducing our main characters and depicting how they came together as a group. O'Neill most likely didn't intend this as a stand-alone, so I was less bothered by the somewhat less than dramatic tone and rhythm of the story, than some other reviewers online. In fact, I appreciated the quiet, gentle pace of the tale, and the essential goodheartedness of all of the characters. I liked the fact that Hesekiel and Erik are a loving same-sex couple, and that this is just an accepted part of the story, rather than being a narrative focus, and I appreciated that their history was explained, through flashbacks. I also appreciated the inclusion of the "Tea Dragon Handbook" at the rear, discussing these creatures. Recommended to young comic-book/graphic novel readers who enjoy fantasy. For my own part, I have already requested the sequel from the library!
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Hesekiel—more cervine than caprine, a deer-like figure on two legs—and his wheelchair-bound partner Erik, Greta learns about Tea Dragons, small draconite creatures who require great care from their human companions, and who grow tea leaves with mystical properties from their horns. Greta also befriends the shy Minette, a seeress who has forgotten her past, and who has sought shelter with Hesekiel and Erik, at the tea shop they run just outside town. Together, these four friends revive the defunct Tea Dragon Society...The Tea Dragon Society is the first of three graphic novels about Tea Dragons—the subsequent two titles being The Tea Dragon Festival and The Tea Dragon Tapestry—and offers a lovely, gentle introduction to a wonderful world of magic, friendship and love, and some very unique dragons. I found O'Neill's artwork here, which has been described as very manga-inspired, absolutely delightful, and thought that the dragons were adorable! So too was Brick, Greta's little fire-creature companion, in her study to become a blacksmith. The color palette used, and the overall composition of the artwork was enchanting, and well-suited to the nature of the tale being told. Although not a lot happened over the course of the story, which is divided into four sections that correspond to the four seasons, I thought the narrative did an excellent job introducing our main characters and depicting how they came together as a group. O'Neill most likely didn't intend this as a stand-alone, so I was less bothered by the somewhat less than dramatic tone and rhythm of the story, than some other reviewers online. In fact, I appreciated the quiet, gentle pace of the tale, and the essential goodheartedness of all of the characters. I liked the fact that Hesekiel and Erik are a loving same-sex couple, and that this is just an accepted part of the story, rather than being a narrative focus, and I appreciated that their history was explained, through flashbacks. I also appreciated the inclusion of the "Tea Dragon Handbook" at the rear, discussing these creatures. Recommended to young comic-book/graphic novel readers who enjoy fantasy. For my own part, I have already requested the sequel from the library!
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
This book hits all me squee buttons, in a gentle and graphically pleasing story. Goblin lady blacksmiths and a magical iron pig. Deer and dragony hybrid sorts of folks. Loving relationships between all manner of people, and the most adorable (if needy) tiny tea dragons. I also love the themes of
Stood up well to a second reading.
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memory loss and surviving paralysis. It's a feast for the eyes and a quiet, sweet book. Lovely, lovely, lovely.Stood up well to a second reading.
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LibraryThing member lydia1879
So gorgeous, so beautiful, so gentle, so well-written.
There's a motif of flowers and vines used in this graphic novel and it helps to lead your eye across the page in the most beautiful way. I can tell there was so much world-building done for this book and yet I wasn't bombarded with it, as can
Loved it, loved it, loved it.
There's a motif of flowers and vines used in this graphic novel and it helps to lead your eye across the page in the most beautiful way. I can tell there was so much world-building done for this book and yet I wasn't bombarded with it, as can
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happen in fantasy at times. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
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