Koning Koen en de draak (Een Vier Windstreken prentenboek)

I love stories about unlikely friendships, but I'm curious what sparked the idea for King Jack and the dragon to team up in this way.

The dragon felt both mischievous and kind — a perfect balance. Did others see influences from traditional stories or mythologies?

The book has a nice mix of excitement and lighthearted moments. I'm wondering if that was a conscious choice to keep young readers engaged.