Imagine a Dragon [Library Binding]

Laurence Pringle (Author), Eujin Kim Neilan (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

A creature made of myth and dreams. Imagine a scaly creature more than a hundred feet long that spews fire and beats its wings to fly. Or imagine another creature with the head of a camel, horns like a deer, and paws like a tiger. Different cultures imagine dragons differently. An English dragon might terrorize the countryside, and a Chinese dragon might cause a drought, a flood, or even a hurricane. In this stunning book, richly illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan, Laurence Pringle explains how people came to believe in dragons and offers young readers an engaging look at dragons from cultures around the world.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—Pringle explores the history and traits of Eastern and Western dragons. He suggests why ancient civilizations might have believed in them and differentiates among their traits in different parts of the world. Illustrations, done in acrylic in a somewhat dark palette, invite readers, as the title suggests, to use their imaginations. All are filled with swirling colors, a few so kaleidoscopic that viewers must search for the creatures among the curves and lines. Patterns in backgrounds and borders reflect the various cultures from which they come. Among the eye-popping dragon books published recently, this one has a more scholarly feel. The summaries of stories about these mythical animals lack the richness of true storytelling, but the book will show young readers that there is much to learn about dragons and may lead them to research and dreaming of their own.—Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PA
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From Booklist

Dragons may be friendly or scary, Pringle explains, depending on “when and where you lived.” He explores the possible origins of dragon folklore and summarizes Egyptian, Norwegian, Greek, and other frightening Western dragon legends, including those of St. George, John Smith, and the Lambton Wurm. The very brief accounts are short and shivery but not graphic. Powerful East Asian dragons, on the other hand, controlled the weather and were seen as a sign of good luck. In addition to the one Chinese story, Pringle provides details of dragons, as imagined by East Asian cultures, and tacks on a few facts about dragonflies and komodo dragons. Dark, brooding surrealistic illustrations suit the subject but may not satisfy children seeking sunnier pictures of dragons. This lacks the bright, colorful drawings of Gail Gibbons’ Behold . . . the Dragons! (1999), but it provides more information on East Asian dragons. Grades 2-4. --Linda Perkins

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Library Binding: 30 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563973286
• ISBN-13: 978-1563973284
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,190,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An especial treat for young dragon lovers, though the abundance of text makes Imagine a Dragon ideal for readers who are just ab, February 6, 2008

By 

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

This review is from: Imagine a Dragon (Library Binding)

Gorgeously illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan, Imagine a Dragon is a children's picturebook about the many myths behind the magical, fantastic beast that is the dragon. From the serpent of Apep that attacked the sun god Ra every night according to Egyptian lore, to the Norse dragon Nidhoggr that gnawed at the roots of the great tree Yggdrasil, to East Asian dragons that regulated the weather, Imagine a Dragon spans the gamut of multicultural dragon lore. An especial treat for young dragon lovers, though the abundance of text makes Imagine a Dragon ideal for readers who are just about ready to move beyond picturebooks.

5.0 out of 5 stars a history of dragon lore, May 23, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Imagine a Dragon (Library Binding)

This is a non-fiction book that is exceptionally well illustrated. It tells about the origins of dragon mythology and how dragons are perceived around the world. One of my boys is going through a dragon craze, and even though the text is a little young for him, the illustrations are gorgeous, and the book is fun to read. He has been trying his hand at drawing some dragons - this book has such stylish illustrations that he is trying for a similar look.