The Suburban Dragon [Paperback]

Garasamo Maccagnone (Author), Al Ochsner (Illustrator)

Book Description

A father dresses up like a dragon to entertain his three bored children and makes and adventure out of the day.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in 1959, Garasamo Maccagnone studied literature and journalism at Macomb College, Wayne State University, and Western Michigan University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 50 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (April 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419660446
• ISBN-13: 978-1419660443
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,751,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun -- share it with the family -- perhaps act it out., February 7, 2008

By 

Victoria Tarrani "writer, editor, artist, des... (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Suburban Dragon (Paperback)

.
This is a delightful book with surprises and lots of fun.

The first sentence of the book caught my attention "It was a cold day in the tiny suburb called Chippewa Valley", which included an artistic depiction of storms, crooked houses and jagged lightning. I could almost hear the thunder.

So, of course, that one page drew me to another and another. The pictures are bright, even in the gloomy day, and there are subtle hints that quick eyes will find and put together as the story moves on.

Mom, ever the heroine, decides to read the three children their favorite story book, but discovers they had heard it too many times and were bored. Just then, however, the Suburban Dragon comes around the sofa and steals Mom away.

The wicked storm, the terrifying dragon, and their missing Mom puts their acute imaginations into overdrive. They will find a way to save her. No dragon was going to steal their Mom and keep her. The day passed quickly as they worked on their trap to capture the dragon, who might have been breathing fire.

Their enchanting imagination creates all of the items for their plan to work, and then they begin the process. By working together, the siblings learn many things, solve problems, and face the fiery dragon together.

Enjoy this with your children. I chuckled and smiled through it, then handed it to my mom to read. Her reaction was the same as mine. Two 5 star ratings for The Suburban Dragon by Garasamo Maccagnone with illustrations by Al Ochsner.


Victoria Tarrani

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a Children's Tale, February 4, 2009

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Suburban Dragon (Paperback)

Garasamo Maccagnone is rapidly becoming one of our more important and original writers of books for children (and adults...). As in his previous book FOR THE LOVE OF ST. NICK Maccagnone takes a simple setting, creates an involving story idea, develops his characters well, and then polishes off his tale with some solid guides for parenting - all in the format of a beautifully illustrated ( by Al Ochsner) book for youngsters. The result of his imagination and creation is the ability to write creative, innovative stories that appeal to a wide age range of children while offering the adult reader an involvement in the story as well.

THE SUBURBAN DRAGON relates a mother reading a story to her three children on a stormy evening. A disruption in the family process happens with the emergence of a non-fire breathing dragon from behind the sofa - a beastie that kidnaps the mother, setting in motion a well-planned rescue attack by the children. The surprise comes at the end in a manner that reinforces the value of family and lessons that can be learned in times of crisis - even if that lesson is played out in the form of costumed fantasy!

Al Ochsner's colorful watercolor paintings greatly enhance Garasamo Maccagnone's story. Together they have created a little book that should find its way into every child's library. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 09

5.0 out of 5 stars My Grand daughter loves this book, September 20, 2010

By 

Rocketdog "Rocketdog" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Suburban Dragon (Paperback)

I bought this book for my grand daughter when she was six. She is now seven and still loves this book. We keep it at my house for her to read when she visits and she reads it often. Sometimes she reads it herself, and sometimes one of us will read it for her. She loves dragons and doesn't seem to ever tire of this story!