In a world that moves fast and often feels loud, many families are searching for the small, quiet places where connection still feels possible — especially with children. Between busy schedules and endless stimulation, those moments can feel rare. Storytime can be one of those places. And a new children’s book universe called Lickitypop offers just that: a cozy, imaginative escape that parents and kids can share together, without pressure or distraction.
Created by Phoenix-based author Ellie Moss, Lickitypop is the setting for Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue, a picture book for ages 3–8 that celebrates kindness, imagination, and the gentle ways children learn about friendship and emotional regulation. Alongside it is Lickitypop Dreams, a companion coloring book for families who want to extend the experience beyond the page and into everyday routines.
A Story With Heart
What makes Dibs the Dragon different from many children’s books isn’t the candy-colored world — it’s the tone. From the very beginning, the story sets expectations softly. Dibs isn’t a fire-breathing hero saving a kingdom. He’s a helpful dragon who wants a friend. When he finds Mooch, a marshmallow mole stuck in Squishpuff Swamp, he doesn’t react with fear or force. He thinks creatively and empathetically — and in doing so learns something fundamental: courage doesn’t have to be loud to matter.
That simple lesson is one that young children can feel deeply. It’s not about big achievements or flashy leadership. It’s about small choices that reflect kindness, curiosity, and problem-solving — things many hope children will understand by the time they leave elementary school, if not sooner. In this way, the story meets children exactly where they are.
Why Parents Are Loving It Too
From a parent perspective, Dibs the Dragon works on several levels, making it easy to return to night after night:
1. It Encourages Early Language Skills
With rhythmic sentences, expressive words, and playful repetition, the story naturally invites toddlers and early readers to participate. The giggles children let out trying a new word signal meaningful learning — the kind that doesn’t feel like work.
2. It Meets Sensory Needs Calmly
The illustrations are soft and pastel, not overstimulating. For families with sensory-sensitive kids or bedtime routines that need a gentle touch, this kind of visual tone can make all the difference in how a story is received.
3. It Sparks Conversation — Without Pressure
After reading, questions flow naturally:
- “Why do you think Dibs wanted a friend?”
- “What would you do if you found someone stuck in a swamp?”
These aren’t teacher-like questions — they’re kid-friendly invitations to talk about feelings and decisions in a low-stakes way.
Creativity as a Family Ritual
The companion coloring book, Lickitypop Dreams, extends the magic of storytime into a shared activity. Coloring together isn’t just about filling in lines — it’s about being present. It’s laughing at unexpected color choices, noticing the details a child gravitates toward, and enjoying that quiet side-by-side time that often disappears during busy days.
And the beauty of this set-up? It works for all ages. Younger children can color alongside older siblings or parents. Adults can revisit their own playful side. It turns creative expression into a family ritual — not homework, not “quality time” that feels forced, but a genuine moment of connection.
The Bigger Picture: Calm in a Clamoring World
So why does a story about a gentle dragon feel especially right now? Because many people are tired — tired of pushing, measuring, evaluating, and optimizing every corner of childhood. Families want children to love learning, certainly. But they also want them to know how to feel, pause, and be curious without pressure.
Dibs the Dragon doesn’t solve big emotional problems. It doesn’t preach lessons from a mountaintop. It simply embodies an ethos worth repeating: courage is quiet, friendship is something built with intention, and kindness matters.
A Story for Bedtime, Classroom, and Everything In Between
Whether a parent is carving out time for nightly reading, a homeschool family is searching for materials that support early literacy without stress, or a caregiver is looking for calm activities that don’t feel like an agenda, Lickitypop offers something rare — a story that feels like a moment rather than a task.
For those who remember the soft comfort of being read to as a child, or who are striving to create those moments now for the children in their lives, Dibs the Dragon and the Marshmallow Rescue (and Lickitypop Dreams) might just become part of the family rotation.
Because sometimes the stories people read together aren’t just for children — they remind everyone how to listen, imagine, and breathe a little deeper too. In those shared pages, families often discover that the simplest stories become the ones remembered longest, quietly shaping how children understand connection, empathy, and the comfort of being cared for, long after the book is closed.