No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) [Hardcover]

Jean E Pendziwol (Author), Martine Gourbault (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999 | Age Level: 3 and up

While out for a walk with her mom, a little girl has the surprise of her life -- she meets a real, live, fire-breathing dragon! Now this dragon is nothing to be afraid of -- in fact, he's so friendly that she invites him home for tea. But their afternoon snack is suddenly interrupted when the dragon sneezes and sets the table ablaze. Luckily, the girl knows just what to do, and she teaches her new friend to be fire smart, too. With its funny, rhyming verse and spunky illustrations, No Dragons for Tea shows kids that learning about fire safety doesn't have to be scary. The story ends with "The Dragon's Fire Safety Rhyme" -- a fun and easy way to remember what to do in case of fire.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-When a young girl meets a dragon at the beach, she invites him to tea. While they are enjoying a scrumptious meal, the dragon sneezes a fiery sneeze, and flames shoot up from the tablecloth and curtains. The child's new friend panics and tries to hide, but she keeps her cool and helps to get him and her family out of the house safely. The rhyming text has an infectious cadence that should appeal to youngsters. The colored-pencil illustrations are bright and follow the story line well. Tips are appended for teachers and/or parents to use in helping children learn what to do in case of a fire in their homes. In addition, "The Dragon's Fire-Safety Rhyme" helps reinforce the primary rules. A unique way to introduce a very important subject.
Krista Grosick, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

This rhyming picture book, subtitled ``Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons),'' takes a low-key but effective approach to the serious topic of fire safety. A girl invites a dragon home to tea. Pepper on the pickle causes the problem: ``Then the dragon's nose twitched, and he started to wheeze. His eyes misted up, and he blew a great sneeze. A-A-A-Choooooo! . . . Flames shot from his mouth and from both nostrils too.'' The dragon wants to hide under the rug, but the girl wisely drags him outside while her mother goes next door to call the fire department. The fire fighters, men and women, put out the blaze and praise the child for following fire safety rules. Softly colored drawings help convey the message without frightening the children for whom the story is intended. An attractive, useful volume. (Picture book. 3-8) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550745697
• ISBN-13: 978-1550745696
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #969,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Safety

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important fire safety for small children, October 3, 2005

By 

J. Kramer "community volunteer" (Rockville, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) (Paperback)

This book provides important fire safety messages in a way that is not frightening to small chidren. And the storybook format makes it more likely that the messages will be reinforced by the parent or family member reading to their child. Several important fire safety rules are included; don't hide in the burning building, get low and crawl to safety, get out of a burning building quickly, meet at the agreed-upon meeting place, call 911, don't go back into the burning building, etc. A delightful and important book for young children.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Story - Excellent Teaching Aide for Fire Safety, December 20, 2006

By 

D. Burbank (Ithaca, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) (Hardcover)

I have been a professional fire fighter for more than twenty years. I thoroughly enjoy reading this book to my kids and to school children whenever I have the chance. The book covers important fire safety topics but folds the safety curriculum into a wonderful story. I have read this story aloud a hundred times and it has always been a wonderful experience. -- If I could, I would place a copy of this book into every young child's classroom.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All parents should read this to their children!, July 4, 2004

By 

TnT "luveducationalstuff" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) (Hardcover)

My 4 year old LOVES this book!

I had only talked briefly about fire safety until this book. It's written in a cute rhyming style, and it's easy to make it into a song or make it into a catchy tune while reading. We made it like a song. This really drew my child into the story, and even myself. I was so engrossed in it that I almost choked when I caught a glance of my child's wide-eyed horror look when we got to the climax part about the house catching on fire and needing to just get out leaving everything (toys) inside. I never stopped reading, and at the end, my child had tear filled eyes and just buried her head in my lap. We both cried, and then talked about the book and read it again. There is a cute summation poem at the end, that hits on the major point again that there's 'just one you' and doing what you need to do to keep yourself safe if there's a fire.

This book lead us to a wonderful discussion about fire safety. Stressing the person is more important than what's in the house, getting out safe, having a meeting place, etc. My child has a hard time thinking of leaving her toys behind if the house were to catch on fire. I think it's wonderful how the books stresses the importance of the individual..."because there's just one you."

We checked this out from our local library, and it's one we'll be buying to add to our own! Now, if this same writer/illustrator had one about strangers....