The Dragon in the Sock Drawer
Review by Erica Moore
"Jesse! Jesse, let me out!” Jesse looked around, he was alone except for the rocks on top of High Peak. He could see his cousin and uncle in the distance but this voice was very close. “Jesse!” Jesse looked down at the rock in his hand. The voice was coming from the rock, if that was even possible. It was just like those magic adventure stories Jesse and his cousin Daisy read. Could something like this happen to them?
Jesse and his cousin Daisy take home the rock from High Peak only to discover it’s really a dragon’s egg with a baby dragon named Emmy inside. Jesse and Daisy search the internet and find a site named foundadragon.org with a mysterious professor that offers advice on feeding Emmy and the dangerous St. George who hunts dragons.
This book is well suited for kids 3rd to 5th grade, and there are lots of mishaps in the story line placing the kids or dragon in danger only to be saved in the nick of time by each other. Grown-ups are well meaning but oblivious to what’s really going on except for the evil St. George. This is an interesting take on the St. George character and curious kids might want to investigate the story of St. George. There are also unusual vocabulary words sprinkled in thanks to the mysterious and cranky professor Andersson at foundadragon.org. It might facilitate a trip to the dictionary to discover their meanings which professor Andersson would approve. It’s possible to visit the website foundadragon.org and meet professor Andersson too.
There are many unexplained threads in the book, but this won’t bother younger readers and it does leave much to be explained in future books. This is perfect for middle to upper elementary kids craving stories about dragons and magic.
What Other Bloggers are Saying:
Bobbi's Book Nook: "This book is adorable and young children will love its unique and modern twists." (read more...)
Cheryl Rainfield: "Klimo keeps readers turning pages through the fun of the magic, and also the thread of danger that is woven throughout the story, as Emmy is threatened by the dragon slayer." (read more...)
More Info:
- Reading level: Ages 9-12
- Hardcover: 176 pages
- Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (July 22, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0375855874
- ISBN-13: 978-0375855870
- Source: Review copy from publisher
This sounds like fun, I think my son would like it. He's a little young yet for it, but maybe I could read it to him.