You've Got Dragons [Hardcover]

Kathryn Cave (Author), Nick Maland (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A young boy discovers that he has worries and fears that appear to him as dragons and shares what he learns about living with them.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-This picture book presents a muddled blend of humor and instructional advice. A young boy suddenly discovers that he is surrounded by dragons. He can't ignore them and he can't escape them: "Dragons are scary. You try to pretend yours isn't there. But it IS." As the child grows used to his unwanted companions, he writes an advice column about them and offers tips to others, such as "Talk with someone else about your dragon." Finally, he discovers that "dragons don't stay forever." The illustrations depict the omnipresent creatures as slightly scary, but not too threatening. The narrative includes humorous moments, but it will be hard for most children to really get what's going on. A list of "Ancient Dragon Wisdom" at the end indicates that the "dragons" the boy describes actually represent something else, perhaps fears or change or insecurity. There are no hints early on that the dragons aren't literally part of his world. Often they appear along with stressful childhood experiences, such as turning off the light or moving to a new home. Other times, though, he associates them with playing games or eating lunch, and it seems like it's all in fun. The metaphor could be used effectively by adults sharing the book with children, but it will be lost on most young readers.
Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. You know how it is. Suddenly "your heart thuds and your knees shake . . and your tummy hurts and . . . You've got dragons." And they don't go away. In this reassuring picture book, a redheaded boy first tries to deal with his dragons by ignoring them. But the truth is, he has to figure out what kind of dragon it is--like a math-test dragon--give it his full attention at least once a day, so it doesn't get bigger, talk to someone else about it, and get plenty of hugs. This excellent metaphor for the fears and worries of every child (and adult) is accompanied by relentlessly cheerful illustrations in fine line and rosy washes of color. Even the dragons themselves, though fearsome, are kind of pastel. A great choice for the walking worried. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1st edition (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156145284X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561452842
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 11.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #439,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've Got Dragons, December 24, 2004

By 

Caring Parent - See all my reviews

This review is from: You've Got Dragons (Hardcover)

I read this book to my 9-year-old child who suffers with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She could identify with all the "dragons" in this story. The book even gave great suggestions at the end of the book on how to deal with your "dragons". The ideas given are the very things psychologist use in CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) to help children and adults deal with their OCD. I would recommend this book to any parent who has a child that has a hard time dealing with fears. This book can do more in 15 minutes to help your child deal with his fears than a psychologist could do in many hours of therapy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About dragons as metaphors for one's daily worries, July 27, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: You've Got Dragons (Hardcover)

The collaborative effort of author Kathryn Cave and illustrator Nick Maland, You've Got Dragons is a gentle and lighthearted picture book about dragons as metaphors for one's daily worries - turning up in ordinary lives and places where they are least expected! Charming caricatures and gentle advice for facing one's fears make You've Got Dragons a most enjoyable and recommended read to share with young folks ages 6 to 10.

5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone who gets scared., July 23, 2011

By 

Judi Byrnes (Broken Hill, NSW, AU) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: You've Got Dragons (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful story written for children who suffer from fears and anxieties. It is based on sound and current principles of psychotherapy. It fits in beautifully with cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfullness. The message in the story is equally relevant for adults who suffer from anxiety and often anxious children have anxious parents. The book is beautifully illustrated.