Herb the Vegetarian Dragon is a tale of dragons and knights, meat eaters and vegetarians, and one brave child. Herb spends his days quietly gardening in the company of a little girl. The king, tired of the meat-eating dragons (led by Meathook) gobbling up villagers, instructs his knights to capture all of the dragons they can and bring them to the village. Meathook and the others wait out the hunt in hiding. Herb, who is not friends with the other dragons, is captured while gardening. Meathook pays Herb a visit in prison telling him he will save him if he eats meat, but principled Herb refuses. The killing of Herb is imminent when the little girl speaks up, bravely informing the executioner and crowd that Herb isn’t a meateater. Herb is released while sneaky Meathook is caught. The king tells the dragons that they must work out a plan to stop eating people, and Meathook and his followers agree to stop eating villagers. Herb offers to teach them gardening.
Whether vegetarian or not, the book’s over-riding message is one of tolerance and acceptance.
Bridie.