Customer Reviews

Once Upon a Dragon: Stranger Safety for Kids (and Dragons)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm surprised this book got such good reviews. No Dragons for Tea is MUCH better by a long shot, but this one was disappointing.

The story moves very quickly and focuses heavily on avoiding sketchy looking characters that the little girl (who looks like a boy) is already aware are dangerous. At one point she says, "You don't know [the apple is] safe; it could make you quite sick. Don't fall for that evil Queen's horrible trick." At another point they meet a fox and the girl says, "Now I couldn't remember how this story went, and whether the fox really said what he meant."

I don't mean to nit pick, but what's the take home message from that? Don't talk to people that you know are trying to trick you?

It's not really clear who should be trusted. At the end, the fairy godmother (who is making her first appearance as such) is apparently trustworthy but we're not given a reason why. The little girl says, "'Dragon! Look there. I think she might know.' So we asked that safe stranger which way we should go."

Why is the godmother safe? Why are the others dangerous? We're really not given a reason. Children lack judgment for such things and should be taught the "check first" rule instead of some confusing attempt at stranger danger. The parents' guide at the end is along the "check first" side of things, but that's pretty much negated by the story.

"I Can Play It Safe" by Alison Feigh is a MUCH better book and I would recommend that one instead.

This is the first book in the "dragon series" that we came across. We now have the entire collection and often give the sets as presents. These stories are a fun way to deliver important messages in a non-threatening way. The rhyming text is a joy to read and both of my sons (3 and 5) have enjoyed them.

Since this book walks you through a series of traditional children's stories, it is a good idea to give your child an appreciation for the original story line. Even if they don't have that background (which mine did not the first time), they will likely still enjoy it. They just won't see the humor in it.

Enjoy!

I love this book! It's a wonderful way to learn about stranger safety and its fun too. The dragon is so cute and funny. When I was little i really liked No Dragons for tea because i used to be scared of fires. I read this book to my little brother.

This books is PERFECT for dealing with a potentially scary topic with preschoolers and elementary children. It puts 'stranger safety' principles in fairy tale settings, keeps kids engaged with the storyline and provides an easy transition for parents to open a discussion with their children. We LOVE it because it deals with, not only the obvious stranger safety issues, but the not-so-obvious 'feeling' kids might get when they arent quite sure about a situation - and it emphasizes that the 'not-so-sure' feeling is ok and they need to trust it. Have recommended this book widely and our library just purchased it as well. Try the other 'Dragon Safety' books too. They are good, but this one is the best!

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!....I am teaching stranger safety to my class and I read them this book. They loved it. They can really relate to the characters because they are familiar nursery rhymes. Hansel and Gretle, Cinderella, little red riding hood, the 3 little pigs. There is a wonderful stranger safety poem at the end of the book also. My class is 1st grade but this would be great for K-3rd.

This book teaches his dragon-buddy about the importance of staying clear of strangers. My girls love that the kid is the hero and saves his friend.

I like this book for my 4 year olds.... it introduces them to the idea of not going with strangers but it doesn't scare them either. Good choice.

I love this book! It's a wonderful way to learn about stranger safety and its fun too. The dragon is so cute and funny. When I was little i really liked No Dragons for tea because i used to be scared of fires. I read this book to my little brother.