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Rascal the Dragon #1
Rascal The Dragon
Real books for beginners
One day a boy called Ben meets a stray dragon called Rascal. Ben and Rascal want to stay together. Ben's dad says no, but somehow Rascal the dragon always gets what Rascal the dragon wants...
This is the first book in the bestselling and critically acclaimed Rascal series.
Read a Rascal story to your children and before long they'll read it to you.
One day a boy called Ben meets a stray dragon called Rascal. Ben and Rascal want to stay together. Ben's dad says no, but somehow Rascal the dragon always gets what Rascal the dragon wants...
This is the first book in the bestselling and critically acclaimed Rascal series.
Read a Rascal story to your children and before long they'll read it to you.
32 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2004
1 person is currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Paul Jennings
274 books360 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 16, 2022
The story is enjoyable, but I have to admit, the weird CGI "illustrations" are weird to look at, especially the "dead eyes" that you often see with that type of CGI. But the story is fun enough for the kiddos to ignore that.
August 25, 2009
I love Paul Jennings's short stories for mid-to-late primary school age - but he's now attempted to move into the pre-school to early primary category. The story he has created is mediocre - not spectacularly bad, but certainly not a stand-out. In simplifying his work for the younger audience he's removed that which made him great - zany plot twists and characters you can really relate to.
It's not all bad though - Bob Lea's done a fantastic job on the illustrations. His computer generated 3D images have brought to books the revolution Toy Story brought to animated movies... Of course the economics of picture book creation is slightly different than blockbuster kids movies, so I don't foresee computers overtaking the watercolour brush for some time.
This is the first in a series of 12 books - not sure I'll be following up this series.
It's not all bad though - Bob Lea's done a fantastic job on the illustrations. His computer generated 3D images have brought to books the revolution Toy Story brought to animated movies... Of course the economics of picture book creation is slightly different than blockbuster kids movies, so I don't foresee computers overtaking the watercolour brush for some time.
This is the first in a series of 12 books - not sure I'll be following up this series.
December 30, 2014
I am a huge fan of the rascal series. I still remember the first book that I read - it was all about poo... and I loved it, and I loved watching the kids love it.
Rascal is a favourite series in our house and the kids always look at the list of Rascal stories inside the front cover working out which books they have and begging me to buy the rest.
One of the best things about the series is watching the development of relationships through pictures. It is the story of a single-dad and his son Ben, and their neighbour Sherry, who is a pretty cool person willing to give anything a go. The series begins with them dating casually, we see Ben reacting to her presence (Rascal and the Bad Smell) and ... well spoilers.
Rascal is a favourite series in our house and the kids always look at the list of Rascal stories inside the front cover working out which books they have and begging me to buy the rest.
One of the best things about the series is watching the development of relationships through pictures. It is the story of a single-dad and his son Ben, and their neighbour Sherry, who is a pretty cool person willing to give anything a go. The series begins with them dating casually, we see Ben reacting to her presence (Rascal and the Bad Smell) and ... well spoilers.
June 2, 2010
I am not sure who loves these books more, me or the kids. I love the pictures and the stories are quirky, if not shocking at times. Good for those beginning to learn to read
May 31, 2012
My son loved this audiobook, and now cannot wait to listen to more about this dragon.
September 28, 2016
EL Skills - Print motivation, vocabulary, phonological awareness & narrative skills. Activities - Read & talk. Wonderful pictures and crazy stories.
February 13, 2013
Rascal the Dragon was okay, but I found the added music distracting.
July 22, 2014
my daughter loves this book she is 5 and has started reading it by her self, which surprised her.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews