Dragon's Child, The [Mass Market Paperback]

Jenny Nimmo (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

A magical dragon must learn to fly before it's too late!

Dando the dragon child must learn to fly or else he'll be left behind when his family moves to new caves. When he can't, his mother offers to carry him on her back. But Dando gets lost along the journey and now must survive alone in a place where the dreadful Doggins lurk. Then an orphaned girl rescues him and offers to help him find his family. But is their friendship strong enough to keep them both safe?

Awarding-winning and NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author, Jenny Nimmo, weaves another classic fantasy tale that will delight and thrill early chapter book readers!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Fearing the doggins (predatory, pantherlike creatures) and humans who inhabit their forest, the dragons decide to return to their homeland. The youngest dragon child, Dando, cannot yet fly and falls off his mother’s back during the exodus, leaving him all alone except for a small bird that has befriended him. Dando is discovered by the chief’s son and imprisoned in a cage, leaving a young slave-girl and the bird to try and rescue him. Nimmo’s latest novel offers high fantasy and adventure for the beginning chapter-book crowd. Dando’s development from an immature and helpless creature to a flight-worthy, fire-breathing beast will please young readers and introduce them to the tropes of this genre. Marks’ pencil sketches help to break up the short chapters, and the book’s die-cut outer edge (profiling an image of Dando) should attract younger readers. Give this to fans of Juliet Trewellard’s Butterfingers (2007) or Angela McAllister’s Digory the Dragon Slayer series. Grades 2-4. --Kay Weisman

About the Author

JENNY NIMMO is the author of the New York Times bestselling Charlie Bone series as well as Griffin's Castle and the award-winning Magician's Trilogy, all published by Orchard Books. She lives with her husband in an old mill in Wales.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books; Reissue edition (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545064686
• ISBN-13: 978-0545064682
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good... but it takes awhile to get there!, February 20, 2009

By 

A. Brand "redsoxgirlinVA" (Chesapeake, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon's Child, The (Mass Market Paperback)

My 2nd grade son was very excited to buy this book, but once reading it, he stopped because it was so sad. He asked me to read it first and let him know if it gets better. It does, but it takes awhile to get there! Just when you think things are pretty bad for the poor little dragon... they get worse. Things don't get better until the very end, and even then, the plot could have continued on a bit more.

Good book, but beware for sensitive readers!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful storybook for young dragon lovers, July 11, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon's Child, The (Mass Market Paperback)

The Dragon's Child is paperback fantasy story (with a cover cut in the shape of a dragon) for young readers about a flightless dragon child, separated from his mother, and the human children he befriends. Little Dando was hatched late in the season, and his wings haven't formed well enough to fly. His dragon clan is leaving the area forever to find their homeland, and when he falls off his mother's back, he's stranded, all alone except for a friendly bird. When a strange tribe of people comes to colonize the island, Dando befriends a young slave girl among their number - but the irascible son of the chieftain spots Dando and decides to capture him! The terrible humans aren't the only threat though - a pack of vicious animals called Doggins roam the woods, posing a deadly threat to bird, dragon, and humans alike! Little Dando must find the strength within himself to be worthy of his noble dragon name, and save his friends as well as himself - fortunately, he just might get some help from a former enemy's unexpected change of heart! A handful of simple black-and-white illustrations enhance this wonderful storybook for young dragon lovers who are ready to move on from picture books to more involved fare.

5.0 out of 5 stars the dragon's child, July 25, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Dragon's Child, The (Mass Market Paperback)

This was an awesome book. I loved it! It was sad, funny, and exciting, but not very scary.
The dragon is cute. Great book for 8-year old boys or girls.