There's a Dragon in My Sleeping Bag [School & Library Binding]

James Howe (Author), David S. Rose (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

One night Alex is all set to climb into his sleeping bag in his brother's room when Simon tells him he can't--there's a dragon in it. The next day the dragon commands his brother's full attention. Alex feels left out until he suddenly realizes that he has a friend, too, a camel named Calvin. Brotherly competition goes wild in this sequel to There's a Monster under My Bed. Full color.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Howe and Rose, who together produced There's a Monster Under My Bed, serve up a clever variation on the imaginary-friend theme. In this case, there are two imaginary friends-one for Alex and the other for his older brother, Simon. The latter's pal, Dexter the dragon, arrives first and usurps Alex's sleeping bag, his seat at the breakfast table and his end of the seesaw. As Simon is preoccupied playing with Dexter, Alex feels left out-until Calvin appears, wearing specs identical to the boy's and blue polka-dotted sneakers on his hind legs. These two have a jolly time, but soon Calvin and Dexter are playing together, and both brothers feel excluded. Howe resolves this dilemma with characteristic humor, and manages to slip in an affectionate message. Though occasionally flat, Rose's unadorned, acrylic paintings capture both the vivacity of the two animals and the siblings' devotion to each other. A Spanish edition, Hay un dragon en mi bolsa de dormir, will be released simultaneously under the Libros Colibri imprint (-31954-1). Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?"There's a dragon in my sleeping bag. I can't see him, but my brother says he's there." When the dragon appears at the breakfast table and on the swing set as well, it becomes clear that big brother Simon is deliberately shutting out his younger sibling. But two can play at that game, and before long...there's a camel in Simon's sleeping bag. By book's end, both boys have asserted their solo identities and reaffirmed their brotherly bond. Rose's dark palette and solid, heavily outlined forms lend a surreal quality to this almost-fantasy, with the comic antics of a dragon and camel sounding an appropriately lighter note. Text and drawings achieve a neat balance, the end result being a satisfying and psychologically sound excursion into the realm of sibling dynamics.?Marcia Hupp, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 26 pages
• Publisher: San Val (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613088883
• ISBN-13: 978-0613088886
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,193,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginary Friends Unite, October 20, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: There's a Dragon in My Sleeping Bag (Paperback)

This story is about two brothers who don't get along. They each make up an imaginary friend to play with. Their plan backfires when Dexter, the dragon, and Calvin, the camel, become friends. We liked this book because it was funny and had a great lesson to learn! The details made us feel like we were in the story!

5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginary Friends Take Over, October 20, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: There's a Dragon in My Sleeping Bag (Paperback)

This story is about two brothers that have imaginary friends. It turns out that the imaginary friends end up taking over Alex's and Simon's stuff. Will they ever get it back? This is a realistic fiction book. I like how the imaginary friends took over all of their stuff. This book is a great story, especially if you have ever had an imaginary friend!