How to Raise and Keep a Dragon: Includes Dragon Poster!

by John Topsell, Joseph Nigg (Editor)

Kids who delight in humorous flights of imagination will love this beautifully illustrated dragon owner's manual. It shows walking, flying, fire-breathing, and sea-going dragons, describing the characteristics of each and the equipment and supplies every dragon owner should have on hand. Boys and girls will learn everything they need to know about the raising process, including--

Selecting a dragon breed from among the many that are available Building the perfect enclosure Hatching a dragon's egg Feeding, grooming, training, and riding Showing a dragon in dragon show competition . . .and much, more.

And kids will be both amused and delighted by the hundreds of stunning illustrations that complement the text. Bonus Feature: Kids can decorate their bedroom or playroom wall with a dramatic 14" x 19" Dragon Poster, folded and enclosed in every copy of this book.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Fiction, Childrens, Picture Books, Animals, Magic

128 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Pen name of Joseph Nigg.

The fictional author of this guidebook is John Topsell, distant relative of the actual natural history author, Edward Topsell. John has raised dragons on his remote property for more than thirty years.

Reviews

[Ginny_1807]

Drago-mania
Imprescindibile guida per chi abbia intenzione di acquistare e allevare un drago senza affidarsi all'improvvisazione, incorrendo in errori che potrebbero rivelarsi incresciosi.
Il libro contiene stupende illustrazioni delle diverse specie e utilissimi consigli:
- sulla scelta della razza e della taglia in base alle proprie possibilità economiche, preferenze estetiche ed esigenze di spazio;
- sul modo migliore per assistere, addestrare e alimentare il cucciolo fin dalla nascita;
- sulla scelta di un nome appropriato al carattere dell'animale e indicato alla categoria;
- sull'igiene e l'allestimento del recinto;
- sull'interpretazione del linguaggio dei draghi... e così via.
Insomma, c'è tutto ciò che si deve sapere per realizzare il proprio sogno di accudire, cavalcare in volo e amare un drago.

Lettura indicata per tutte le età, da rileggere ciclicamente e consultare all'occorrenza.

[Kogiopsis]

I picked this book up from the library because, in my current job as a reading tutor at an elementary school, I have a student who pretty much only wants to read about dragons. As it turns out I found another book to fill that hole (Rise of the Earth Dragon), but I took the time to read through this one because hey, I love dragons too.

This book is completely charming. It's styled as a practical guide to dragon ownership, exactly like the kind of book you might find about your first puppy or kitten. This includes illustrated descriptions and histories of various dragon species, citing mythologies from all around the world; discussion of their dietary and housing needs; and instructions for training and even riding them. It makes reference to books (both real and imaginary) and international organizations. While it could use some more details for real verisimilitude, that's a critique coming from me as an adult, and not something that would bother most kids.

Definitely recommended for the dragon-loving elementary schooler in your life. Or someone older; I won't judge.

[Renée]

My son and I have decided to opt for a miniature version of the Standard Western Dragon but have doubts whether we should go through with it due to our xenophobic cat.

[Panagiota]

My notes: I really liked this book because it is very creative. I feel that a lot of boys would be interested in this book. It has a lot of diagrams and information on how to raise a dragon. A note to the reader explains that the stereotypical dragons are a time of the past, but dragons are still being breeded and able to interact with humans today. There are five different parts: Should I own a dragon?; Dragon Breeds; Raising the Perfect Dragon; Training your Dragon; and Presenting your Dragon.

The pictures are very pretty for dragons and there are many diagrams that show how to raise your own dragon.

I'd recommend this book to third or fourth grade boys.

[Sammie Jo]

This is a great book for teaching the characteristics of a how to book because the topic of dragons is of high interest to many 2-6th graders, especially boys. The book has very realistic pictures, and photograph like sections. Although written about an animal of fantasy, it is written very realisrically. If dragons did truly exist, this book would tell you everything you need to know about owning and raising one. It is great to use in compare and contrast lessons about real how to books. Since it is written so realistically it has many words that are very difficult for young readers to understand. This would be a good scaffolding book, but be ready to help with the tough words.

[Elias]

I was obsessed with this book as a child, I wanted to have a dragon as a pet SO badly and this book was the perfect thing for me to read. Also it's extremely funny to me that there's a whole thing about insurances in there

[Ana]

Cute and interesting. The section on the different dragons was very informative, but the rest of the book got a bit repetitive.

[Evita]

If only I had this book 17 years ago...

[Allie]

I just thought of this book after seeing it lying around as I was cleaning my apartment. It's super nostalgic for me! Spent countless hours reading and re-reading this book. It captivated my heart and mind as a grade-schooler. Don't tell anyone because it's embarrassing, but it had 7 year old me convinced that dragons might be real!

[Hanne Govaerts]

Hoera, ik krijg van mama een Westerse Draak!

[Leigh]

Fun book that pretends to advise folks on how to care for dragon pets. Great illustrations and interesting text.

[Susan Gibson]

Beautifully written and illustrated! A must for all dragon lovers!

[Annika Vesteri]

"Hankkisinko lohikäärmeen? Mikä laji sopii juuri minulle? Voiko kerrostalossa pitää lohikäärmettä?

Kirja esittelee kaikki lemmikeiksi soveltuvat lohikäärmelajit ja neuvoo, kuinka valitset itsellesi sopivan yksilön. Kenties haluaisit antaa kodin ylväälle kukkoliskolle tai pitää kotirannassa hurjaa leijonanpäistä taraskia? Teos kertoo kaiken tarvittavan kunkin lajin ulkomuodosta, käyttäytymisestä ja ihanteellisista elinolosuhteista.

Lohikäärmeen kanssa voi tehdä monenlaisia asioita: sillä voi ratsastaa maalla, merellä ja ilmassa, sen voi valjastaa kärryjen eteen tai sen kanssa voi harrastaa agilitya. Lohikäärmenäyttelyissä käyminen ja niihin valmistautuminen syventää sinun ja lemmikkisi ainutlaatuista suhdetta.

Lohikäärme on uljas lemmikki, joka vaatii hyvää hoitoa. Käytännönläheinen opas kertoo, kuinka pidät huolta lohikäärmeen terveydestä. Se antaa kullanarvoisia koulutusvinkkejä ja kertoo näiden upeiden eläinten kiehtovasta historiasta." (Suomenkielisen teoksen takakannesta.)

Kirja oli visuaalisesti oikea namupala! Paljon ihania värikuvia kirja täynnällänsä! Oli ihanaa heittäytyä lohikäärmeiden maailmaan haaveilemaan ikiomasta lohikäärmeestä lemmikkinä! Kirja oli todella kattava tietopläjäys lemmikkilohikäärmeen hankintaa suunnitteleville. En pidä koira- enkä kissanäyttelyistä, joten en innostunut myöskään lohikäärmenäyttelyistä. Näyttelyasioita kirjassa käsiteltiin myös jonkin verran, siitä vähensin yhden tähden. Muuten olisi ollut minulle täyden viiden tähden arvoinen paketti. Sopisi vinkattavaksi noin 3-5-luokkalaisille.

[Lucia Graziano]

Ma perché questa perla è fuori commercio?

E' una cosina godibilissima, divertentissima per i più giovani ma esilarante anche per gli adulti: una guida ragionata per capire se si è pronti ad adottare un drago, con tutto ciò che comporta (i costi per l'alimentazione sono elevati; v'è necessità di attrezzare a terrario almeno una stanza della casa; i draghi delle razze più grandi hanno necessariamente bisogno d'avere anche uno sfogo sull'esterno, quindi è bene valutare se si ha un giardino sufficientemente ampio da dedicare alla causa...). La parte che illustra le varie razze di draghi, con peculiarità, pregi e difetti, è storicamente molto ben curata nel senso che rispecchia davvero ciò che il folklore locale diceva sui draghi a seconda delle loro varie zone di "provenienza".

Una perla, che a questo punto posso solo consigliarvi di cercare in biblioteca perché è andata inspiegabilmente fuori catalogo. E che sia andata fuori catalogo è davvero un qualcosa che non riesco a spiegarmi, eh.

[The Overflowing Inkwell]

This was my favourite book as a kid. I was only ever able to get it from the library once or twice (it was always checked out by others), but man I loved this thing. I actually made a handwritten copy of the entire thing before I returned it! My art style was influenced by this book, my love of dragons was fueled by this book - I even came up with a line of toy dragons that would 'hatch' from eggs and live in habitats like those described in this book. XD Finally got my hands on a copy now, more than ten years later, and I still like it. I prefer the Dragonology books for their art and written style to this one, but this is a trip down memory lane just to see the cover, so it's going to stick with me for a while.

[strigital]

Hoo, boy... I remember seeing this book in my local bookstore and immediately deciding that I WILL starve myself by not spending a single cent of my lunch money and I WILL save up and buy it, even if my grandma said that I couldn't have it! My dragon-obsessed 12-year-old self was in LOVE. Kept reading and re-reading it for years and years. Even today, when I open it and see all the little scribbles in the corners that I made all those years back while fantasizing about my future pet dragon, it really does make me all touchy-feely and nostalgic as heck. 10/10 will pass it on to my kid if I ever have one, even if I never did have a pet dragon of my own.

[Veronica Almeida]

Esto es un libro que tenían en mi casa, el típico regalo que le haces a un niño. Porque si, un poquito infantil si es, en cuanto en como se escribe la historia.

Le pongo pleno de estrellas, porque no sólo es para un niño, sino para todo amante de los dragones, y es una guía bien detallada.

El único error que tiene, es que no puedes tener un dragón, en la vida real, para poner en práctica todos los consejos que te dan para cuidar a una de estas criaturas.

Si queréis leer reseñas más detalladas, entrad en mi canal de Vero World:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5a-...
O en mi Instagram:
@veroworld1

[Borbinha]

O autor possui um claro domínio sobre o assunto e vai afundo na sua proposta ficcional de considerar os dragões como criaturas existentes e tão passíveis de manejo como um cão. No entanto, por congregar diferentes culturas e mitologias em uma obra só, o texto acaba criando uma atmosfera um tanto inconsistente, considerando diversos fatos cosmológicos como verdadeiros para contemplar a variedade de culturas retratas. Por fim, é notável o peso que as ilustrações do Dan Malone tiveram na obra, sem elas, o livro não seria nem metade, no quesito interesse e fascinação, do que ele é.

[༺♡༻ İpek ༺♡༻]

Bir Ejderha ile Birlikte Yaşama Kılavuzu diye uyarlanan, 2007 yılında Caretta yayınlarından Ahu Yıldız çevirisiyle çıkmış Türkçe kitabını okudum. Bir sahafta bulmuştum ve iyi ki almışım çünkü gündelik hayatın sıkıntılarından sizi uzaklaştıracak, hatta interaktif olan bir kitap. Ejderhanı Nasıl Eğitirsin filmini ve çocuk kitaplarını seviyor, illüstrasyon incelemeyi de keyifli buluyorsanız karşınıza çıkınca alıp okumanızı öneririm. Keşke gerçek olup satılsalar da biz de ejderha beslesek...

[Thuy Trang]

This book convinced me as a young, impressionable kid that dragons really exist. My parents thought it was hilarious when I tried to explain them that dragons are real and according to this book there are certain specialized pet shops for dragons only. Love this book to bits.

[Lena Taylor]

“There are many kinds of dragons,
differing in place, in magnitude, and in form.”

A book from a time when the world was still unfinished.
When observation mattered.
When imagination was not separate from knowledge.

[Riska Sleepless]

this was fun

[Anamaria Budai]

Fiul meu a apreciat ilustrațiile cu dragoni, modul în care e scrisă cartea și stilul autorului.
I-a plăcut mult cartea în sine.
O recomandăm iubitorilor de dragoni.

[Gronya]

Veel gelezen, vaak erbij gepakt, nagetekend. Echt gebiologeerd door dit boek!

[Moonlight]

Las ilustraciones son hermosaaaaaas. Me da ideas para hacer historias sobre dragones, me encanta.

[Mark]

Wonderfully whimsical. Much fun!

[Lysander Grey]

it's me i'm the boy who loves this book about dragons

[Sarah Sandberg]

Cute book

[Sybil Hanuma]

one of my favorite childhood books, and i think about it constantly

[Kole]

This was the catalyst for making me a dragon-loving adult, 1000%