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There's a burglar on the loose in Scrubbley! What will happen when he steals one of the Wayward Crescent dragons? Will Grabber become a robber too?
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
Chris d'Lacey
87 books1,112 followersHe was born in Valetta, Malta, but as a child moved first to Leicester and then to Bolton. After gaining a degree in biology from the University of York, he returned to Leicester and got a job at the University of Leicester in their Pre-Clinical Sciences department.
Originally his writing was confined to songs and he didn't turn to fiction until he was 32. His first piece of work was a 250,000 word story about polar bears for his wife, Jay, to accompany a stuffed polar bear he had bought her as a Christmas present.
He didn't write another story for seven years, until he heard about a competition to write a story for young children with a prize of £2,000. The resulting book, A Hole at the Pole, also about polar bears, didn't win - but he sent it off to a publisher, who accepted it.
His first children's novel, Fly, Cherokee, Fly, was published in 1998 and subsequently shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. It was inspired by the time he found an injured pigeon in Victoria Park and nursed it back to health at home. It became a family pet and lived for 14 years in a birdbox attached to the back of the house. All of its offspring were given the names of different Native American tribes, which is where the title of the book comes from.)
He has since written over twenty children's books, including Pawnee Warrior (a sequel to Fly, Cherokee, Fly), a collaborative novel with fellow children's author Linda Newbery (From E To You), and the best-selling, award-winning The Last Dragon Chronicles. His books often contain environmental themes, and events based on things that have happened to him.
In July 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester for his contributions to children's literature. Although writing is now his main source of income, he still works at the university as the operator of the confocal microscope.
His favourite children's books are the Paddington Bear series and The Hobbit, and his favourite children's authors are Allan Ahlberg and Roald Dahl. Chris D'Lacey has written many books like Ice Fire and Fire Star, but his most famous book was Dark Fire, the fifth book in The Last Dragon Chronicles.
Originally his writing was confined to songs and he didn't turn to fiction until he was 32. His first piece of work was a 250,000 word story about polar bears for his wife, Jay, to accompany a stuffed polar bear he had bought her as a Christmas present.
He didn't write another story for seven years, until he heard about a competition to write a story for young children with a prize of £2,000. The resulting book, A Hole at the Pole, also about polar bears, didn't win - but he sent it off to a publisher, who accepted it.
His first children's novel, Fly, Cherokee, Fly, was published in 1998 and subsequently shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. It was inspired by the time he found an injured pigeon in Victoria Park and nursed it back to health at home. It became a family pet and lived for 14 years in a birdbox attached to the back of the house. All of its offspring were given the names of different Native American tribes, which is where the title of the book comes from.)
He has since written over twenty children's books, including Pawnee Warrior (a sequel to Fly, Cherokee, Fly), a collaborative novel with fellow children's author Linda Newbery (From E To You), and the best-selling, award-winning The Last Dragon Chronicles. His books often contain environmental themes, and events based on things that have happened to him.
In July 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester for his contributions to children's literature. Although writing is now his main source of income, he still works at the university as the operator of the confocal microscope.
His favourite children's books are the Paddington Bear series and The Hobbit, and his favourite children's authors are Allan Ahlberg and Roald Dahl. Chris D'Lacey has written many books like Ice Fire and Fire Star, but his most famous book was Dark Fire, the fifth book in The Last Dragon Chronicles.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 2, 2020
I must admit I have had a number of Chris d'Lacey books on my to be read shelf for years now, and just never got around to starting them. It is a pity because they are wonderful books. In the last month I have read three from this series and most of two other from other series; and so far everything I have read by him has been simply wonderful. But there is something especially fun about this one. In fact my son and I have read it twice now, once just the two of us and once with his younger sister. There is currently 4 books is this highly enjoyable series. It was originally planned for 12 books but for now we must settle with just the four.
Grabber is very different than the other dragon's created by Liz Pennykettle, for shortly after his creation, before he could be schooled in the way of dragons he is pinched. And because his main influence is someone who has a habit of thieving things Grabber, having been named and influenced soon starts a life of crime! But Lucy with her view of the world and her daughter Liz soon find themselves working with the police to unravel a mystery and in the process Lucy enchants the officers and works towards a better result that reflects more truth and justice. Grabber is by far the most entertaining of the Dragons of Wayward Crescent.
This was an awesome read. It is rare for my son to want to reread a book as soon as we finish it, especially when we have the next one read. But this story was so fun he was willing to reread it and include his sister. Chris d'Laceys books are very well written, this series grabs children's attention and keeps it, some of his other books geared for older audiences are just as well written. I love this story and look forward to reading many more books by d'Lacey.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Chris d'Lacey.
Grabber is very different than the other dragon's created by Liz Pennykettle, for shortly after his creation, before he could be schooled in the way of dragons he is pinched. And because his main influence is someone who has a habit of thieving things Grabber, having been named and influenced soon starts a life of crime! But Lucy with her view of the world and her daughter Liz soon find themselves working with the police to unravel a mystery and in the process Lucy enchants the officers and works towards a better result that reflects more truth and justice. Grabber is by far the most entertaining of the Dragons of Wayward Crescent.
This was an awesome read. It is rare for my son to want to reread a book as soon as we finish it, especially when we have the next one read. But this story was so fun he was willing to reread it and include his sister. Chris d'Laceys books are very well written, this series grabs children's attention and keeps it, some of his other books geared for older audiences are just as well written. I love this story and look forward to reading many more books by d'Lacey.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Chris d'Lacey.
September 2, 2017
Fourth in The Dragons of Wayward Crescent paranormal fantasy series for middle-grade readers and revolving around Liz Pennykettle and her knack for special dragons.
My Take
As ever, Grabber is as cute as the previous three stories — a good, cozy, and funny story about a dragon and how he lives up to the name he’s given, lol — with D’Lacey using third-person objective point-of-view, which allows us to know what each character is saying and doing.
My one niggle in this is Lucy. She knows the rules, and yet she’s breaking them right and left. Okay, okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but she keeps mouthing off about he-who-is-not-yet-named to outsiders!
The irascible Henry is amazingly good-hearted in this one. Then again, maybe I simply have a grudge against him. He does mean well in his anti-everything way, and he certainly does “enjoy” a bit of payback karma in this one *grin*.
There isn’t a lot about the other dragons in this, mostly because Grabber’s story is outside the house on Wayward Crescent.
A wee bit of foreshadowing here when Grabber steals the sergeant’s pencil…and Liz starting thinking of a dragon with a pencil…read on, McDuff, to learn why.
The Story
Oh, no! No one has had time yet to teach the newest dragon the rules! Especially the number one rule: Go solid.
It’s that lack of information that grabs the robber’s attention with the resulting interaction grabbing at each other, as this new and compassionate dragon helps Rob, well, rob.
The Characters
Liz Pennykettle, a.k.a., Mum, is a potter who makes dragons in her studio, the Dragons’ Den. Lucy is her nine-year-old daughter. The special dragons include Guinivere who is Liz’s personal dragon, and it’s her job to “awaken” the young dragons. Gruffen , 1, is a guard dragon whose job is to protect Lucy from danger. Gauge , 2, is a timing dragon. The poor listening dragon hasn't got a name. Yet.
Scrubbley is…
…the small town in England where Liz and Lucy live. Henry Bacon, a librarian, is the Pennykettles’ grumpy neighbor. Melanie is Lucy’s best friend ( Glade , 3).
Detective Inspector Bumble and Sergeant Beale are investigating the robberies. Mr. Badfellow is a glazier who runs a 24-hour service. Bingo is a tabby cat who needs a home.
Ron is a robber who lost Humphrey, his teddy bear, when he was a wee tyke. Douglas Crumbe lives in a mansion, Custard Cream Towers, thanks to his biscuit empire. Alistair Crumbe was Douglas’ father.
The Cover and Title
The cover has an orangey-pink cloud of a frame with tiny green metallic and pastel stars frothing around an undefined pale, pale, pale pink rectangle of a center with Grabber in burglar garb — can you imagine a green dragon in a black mask with a black-and-white horizontal striped pullover, a brown bag marked “SWAG” over his shoulder? — as he tiptoes sneakily across the cover. The author’s name is small and centered at the top in a grayish brown while the series information is at the bottom in a big metallic green and below that is the smaller title in that same grayish brown.
The title focuses on this particular dragon, Grabber.
My Take
As ever, Grabber is as cute as the previous three stories — a good, cozy, and funny story about a dragon and how he lives up to the name he’s given, lol — with D’Lacey using third-person objective point-of-view, which allows us to know what each character is saying and doing.
My one niggle in this is Lucy. She knows the rules, and yet she’s breaking them right and left. Okay, okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but she keeps mouthing off about he-who-is-not-yet-named to outsiders!
The irascible Henry is amazingly good-hearted in this one. Then again, maybe I simply have a grudge against him. He does mean well in his anti-everything way, and he certainly does “enjoy” a bit of payback karma in this one *grin*.
There isn’t a lot about the other dragons in this, mostly because Grabber’s story is outside the house on Wayward Crescent.
A wee bit of foreshadowing here when Grabber steals the sergeant’s pencil…and Liz starting thinking of a dragon with a pencil…read on, McDuff, to learn why.
The Story
Oh, no! No one has had time yet to teach the newest dragon the rules! Especially the number one rule: Go solid.
It’s that lack of information that grabs the robber’s attention with the resulting interaction grabbing at each other, as this new and compassionate dragon helps Rob, well, rob.
The Characters
Liz Pennykettle, a.k.a., Mum, is a potter who makes dragons in her studio, the Dragons’ Den. Lucy is her nine-year-old daughter. The special dragons include Guinivere who is Liz’s personal dragon, and it’s her job to “awaken” the young dragons. Gruffen , 1, is a guard dragon whose job is to protect Lucy from danger. Gauge , 2, is a timing dragon. The poor listening dragon hasn't got a name. Yet.
Scrubbley is…
…the small town in England where Liz and Lucy live. Henry Bacon, a librarian, is the Pennykettles’ grumpy neighbor. Melanie is Lucy’s best friend ( Glade , 3).
Detective Inspector Bumble and Sergeant Beale are investigating the robberies. Mr. Badfellow is a glazier who runs a 24-hour service. Bingo is a tabby cat who needs a home.
Ron is a robber who lost Humphrey, his teddy bear, when he was a wee tyke. Douglas Crumbe lives in a mansion, Custard Cream Towers, thanks to his biscuit empire. Alistair Crumbe was Douglas’ father.
The Cover and Title
The cover has an orangey-pink cloud of a frame with tiny green metallic and pastel stars frothing around an undefined pale, pale, pale pink rectangle of a center with Grabber in burglar garb — can you imagine a green dragon in a black mask with a black-and-white horizontal striped pullover, a brown bag marked “SWAG” over his shoulder? — as he tiptoes sneakily across the cover. The author’s name is small and centered at the top in a grayish brown while the series information is at the bottom in a big metallic green and below that is the smaller title in that same grayish brown.
The title focuses on this particular dragon, Grabber.
August 21, 2025
Like the rest of these books. This one was just as cute. Also a funny end to the short series.
July 14, 2020
Like the rest of the wayward crescent series, this book was cute. I recommend buying it if you like dragons and short feel-good stories. But, the author has the tendency to really drop the ball in the last book in the series. There were a lot of disappointments in this book, which I describe below:
The notion that you could break into the Pennykettle household--not a single dragon would try to burn him? the listener can't communicate with Liz? Liz and Lucy weren't even home, where on earth did they go? I think it was untrue and almost insulting to say that Gruffen wasn't a very good guard dragon. I could go on but you get the point.
They try to change Grabber in the end. I don't like the notion you can change a special dragon's abilities after it's already been set.
Lastly, the author introduces Bonnington, but it was done in a sad manner. Not to mention a bit hasty--I think it could have gone on a page or two more and tied the bow more neatly.
The notion that you could break into the Pennykettle household--not a single dragon would try to burn him? the listener can't communicate with Liz? Liz and Lucy weren't even home, where on earth did they go? I think it was untrue and almost insulting to say that Gruffen wasn't a very good guard dragon. I could go on but you get the point.
They try to change Grabber in the end. I don't like the notion you can change a special dragon's abilities after it's already been set.
Lastly, the author introduces Bonnington, but it was done in a sad manner. Not to mention a bit hasty--I think it could have gone on a page or two more and tied the bow more neatly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2024
Not a very good story as there were too many inconsistencies. First off the dragons have always been brought to life by Elizabeth Pennykettle and she always has them trained from the start. Then it wasn't clear how Lucy and her mother knew about Humphrey nor how they all caught the robber. Furthermore, considering what the robber had stolen he should have been imprisoned. I think this story was too far-fetched for its own good. Unfortunately from book 2 Lucy has become rather annoying and she never develops or improves her behaviour.
August 17, 2025
The little dragons are back with one more playful adventure. A thief breaks into the Pennykettle house and ends up taking one of the special dragons—before Liz has time to name him and help nail down his personality. The thief ends up naming him Grabber, and the two decide to go on the ultimate heist to recover the one thing that the man has been trying to pilfer since he began his life of crime.
Once again, we have a delightful little tale suitable for early elementary readers. It's a little random and definitely silly at times. It made me smile, which is clearly what I needed today.
Once again, we have a delightful little tale suitable for early elementary readers. It's a little random and definitely silly at times. It made me smile, which is clearly what I needed today.
February 21, 2019
Without waiting for permission, Sergeant Beale trained his camera back and forth on Gruffen. There was a flash. The sergeant checked the image— and frowned. “That’s odd,” he said. “I could have sworn it wasn’t smiling before I took the shot.”
oh, i wish these didn’t have to end!
”Oh, the strangest feeling,” she said. “A dragon with a pencil.”
oh, i wish these didn’t have to end!
”Oh, the strangest feeling,” she said. “A dragon with a pencil.”
March 26, 2024
This was definitely disappointing. I don't think I will be reading any more Chris d'Lacey books. In the previous book Lucy was ten and now in this book she is back to being nine. Also I thought the dragons could only be brought to life by the special water in the snowball in the Pennykettle freezer.
January 17, 2019
adorable
January 23, 2022
Cute book.
May 7, 2025
Pretty good.
Why do they keep calling Liz MRS. Pennykettle? she doesn't have a husband!
Bingo in Bonnington.
Gadzooks premonition from LiZ!
Why do they keep calling Liz MRS. Pennykettle? she doesn't have a husband!
Bingo in Bonnington.
Gadzooks premonition from LiZ!
June 11, 2025
So all the dragon rules seem to be going out the door in this one but I still love all the dragons. Bummed that there doesn’t seem to be any more in the series.
November 30, 2016
Even though I wasn’t too impressed with the last one of these that I read when I came across the last two that I haven’t yet read in the library I decided to read them as they wouldn’t take long and I could then say I’d read them all.
Again I wasn’t impressed by this book. I don’t remember if Grabber was in the main series at all, but I suspect that he wasn’t. This means that the story really was an aside to the series and didn’t really add anything to the whole storyline.
I’m not really sure what the moral of this story was supposed to be. Possibly that stealing is bad, but I’m not sure that message really came off, other than Liz explaining to Lucy that they’ll have to teach Grabber not to steal anymore.
Overall this book was a bit of a disappointment and therefore only receives only two stars.
Again I wasn’t impressed by this book. I don’t remember if Grabber was in the main series at all, but I suspect that he wasn’t. This means that the story really was an aside to the series and didn’t really add anything to the whole storyline.
I’m not really sure what the moral of this story was supposed to be. Possibly that stealing is bad, but I’m not sure that message really came off, other than Liz explaining to Lucy that they’ll have to teach Grabber not to steal anymore.
Overall this book was a bit of a disappointment and therefore only receives only two stars.
July 11, 2013
Having enjoyed the previous stories in this series, I pounced on this one when my daughter brought it home from the library. This dragon is somewhat different from the others, because his personality isn't set by his creator, Liz, but by the robber who steals him when he is newly made. Grabber is still every bit as endearing as his fellow dragons.
These stories are simplistic - people have names that give huge clues as to their nature for instance - but since they are aimed at young children that is part of their charm.
I love young Grabber, and eagerly await the opportunity to read about Glade, the other story in the series. I sincerely hope Chris writes even more.
These stories are simplistic - people have names that give huge clues as to their nature for instance - but since they are aimed at young children that is part of their charm.
I love young Grabber, and eagerly await the opportunity to read about Glade, the other story in the series. I sincerely hope Chris writes even more.
August 12, 2014
With simplistic plotting, passable illustrations, and brusque character development, this novella from acclaimed children's author Chris d'Lacey falls short simply because, it's dull, it's tedious, and it's boring. What could've been finished in one sitting (I tend to read two-hundred pages in one hour, when I put my mind to it)was not, because I tried to put it off at any cost. I eventually relented in my hatred, simply because I have borderline OCD when it comes to finishing a book. And I did, I'm somewhat proud to say. Okay, so The Dragons of Wayward Crescent (Book 4): Grabber, wasn't the worst, most evil, book I've ever read. But, it wasn't great either.
August 8, 2012
I bought my first Chris D'lacey book at a yard sale and read it in one setting, after I finished the series for Adults (I think that this series is a great on for young teens, especially boys) then I heard about the books for Kids, so I bought them all. I love to give my grand-kids books for Christmas. The Kids love them all. Especially this one, Grabber.
I really enjoyed reading them. I would call this style a early Fantasy.
I really enjoyed reading them. I would call this style a early Fantasy.
April 13, 2014
The last in a mini series of stories about some of the Pennykettle dragons. As with the previous ones, I enjoyed this one too.
Spoilers ahoy!
Grabber is not mentioned in the Last Dragon Chronicles, as he is one of the special dragons who don't live in Wayward Crescent anymore. Here we learn his story, a wonderful tale of how he was robbed by a burglar and in the end sort of becomes one himself.
As with the other books in this series, the illustrations are delightful. :)
Spoilers ahoy!
Grabber is not mentioned in the Last Dragon Chronicles, as he is one of the special dragons who don't live in Wayward Crescent anymore. Here we learn his story, a wonderful tale of how he was robbed by a burglar and in the end sort of becomes one himself.
As with the other books in this series, the illustrations are delightful. :)
May 23, 2011
** For my full review please check out http://backofthebookreviews.com/ **
The 4th installement in the Dragons of Wayward Crescent series was brilliant. A perfect ending to this mini series that links to the Last Dragon Chronicles.
Such a lovely little story perfect as an introduction to the LDC.
The 4th installement in the Dragons of Wayward Crescent series was brilliant. A perfect ending to this mini series that links to the Last Dragon Chronicles.
Such a lovely little story perfect as an introduction to the LDC.
February 8, 2015
My one and only issue with this book is that Lucy is magically 9 again, after being 10 in Glade. This isn't because it's set before, as Lucy is friends with the girl from Glade, plus the book are numbered.
It's just such a small, easily catchable and fixable thing that the publishers didn't
It's just such a small, easily catchable and fixable thing that the publishers didn't
February 17, 2012
My 8 year old daughter loves this series: I prefer the older series!
July 25, 2017
These books are so cute. I would've loved to read them as a child. Well, I loved to read them as a grown up to really.
August 29, 2015
I loved this book! Grabber was a crack up. I want to read the whole series!!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews