Backyard Dragon [Library Binding]

Betsy Sterman (Author), Samuel Sterman (Author), David Wenzel (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1993

When a twentieth-century New Jersey boy finds a fifteenth-century Welsh dragon in his backyard, he must find a solution to his rather unique dilemma. By the authors of Too Much Magic.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. Wyrdryn, a fifteenth-century Welsh dragon, is banished by the wizard Gwilym to Kings Ridge, New Jersey, and the twentieth century. When young Owen discovers the dragon, no one believes in its existence. Finally, Owen introduces the dragon to his grieving grandfather and three skeptical friends. Intrigued by the exciting visitor, the group bands together to feed and protect the friendly creature. Then Gwilym appears on the scene to send the dragon back to its own time but finds his magic no longer works. Grandfather and Gwilym become good friends and, together with the children, hatch an ingenious and daring plan to solve the problem. This entertaining fantasy, peppered with believable and sensitive characters, nicely illustrates a philosophy stated early in the book: "Life is full of dragons of one kind or another, and we just have to handle them as best we can." Deborah Abbott --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Imaginative, lonely fifth-grader Owen isn't unlike the boy who cried wolf: when he reports a dragon in his backyard, the police are skeptical. Still, Owen's mourning widower grandfather, who's been withdrawing from the world a bit more each day, investigates the boy's claims. A wizard has accidentally sent the dragon into the 20th century; now both wizard and dragon need the help of Grandpa, Owen, and all Owen's new friends to get back to the age whence they've come. The scheme involves a trip to Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Meanwhile, Owen quits reporting so frequently (or, from the reader's point of view, so gratuitously) to imaginary friend Dooley (via his diary), and Grandpa gets that sought-after new lease on life. With so many storylines--school, dragon, imaginary friend, bully, time travel, grandparent, and friend, etc. --this feels as if it was written by committee. It's a spell pot that's anything but enchanted. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 189 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (June 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060207841
• ISBN-13: 978-0060207847
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,044,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A cute story about a boy and his dragon, August 9, 2009

By 

R. Bagula "Roger L. Bagula" (Lakeside, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Backyard Dragon (Paperback)

The trouble is this theme has been done to death:Puff the Magic Dragon.

No body believes the 10 year old boy about the dragon in his backyard.

By showing his school friends and his grandfather that there really is a dragon

Owen turns his life around.

I wish I could say the story was well told, but I can't.

I've read better.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book if you like fantasy, January 27, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Backyard Dragon (Hardcover)

This book is a great book. I liked it because it takes your imagination to a better place. It's about a boy who one day finds a dragon in his backyard. He tries to tell his parents but no one beleives him, because of his wonderful imagination that sometimes goes too far. Many terrible things happen after this dragon appears from nowhere and I am not the one to tell you. So go to the library, bookstore, or borrow it from a friend. This book will take you on a wonder filled vacation from your life.