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Zog
Зог
"Мадам Драконни - просто клад: нет лучше педагога. / Она учила драконят по-доброму, но строго."
…Рыжий дракон Зог ходит в школу и учится летать, грозно рычать, дышать огнем и биться с рыцарями. Но сможет ли он справиться с самым сложным домашним заданием - похищением принцессы - и заслужить в награду золотую звездочку? И кто та загадочная девочка, которая всегда приходит на помощь Зогу?
…Рыжий дракон Зог ходит в школу и учится летать, грозно рычать, дышать огнем и биться с рыцарями. Но сможет ли он справиться с самым сложным домашним заданием - похищением принцессы - и заслужить в награду золотую звездочку? И кто та загадочная девочка, которая всегда приходит на помощь Зогу?
32 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2015
36 people are currently reading
1494 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,226 books1,904 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
August 4, 2024
Celyn went into hospital for a procedure under General Anaesthetic and while she was out I nipped down from the Children's Hospital to the nearby Waterstones and picked this up (also signed 3 Prince of Thorns & 1 King of Thorns copy (Bristol, Galleries)). We read it together while she was recovering before going home.
Nice read. Not quite Room on the Broom or Stickman quality, but a solid 3.75 stars. The fairybook princess and rescuing knight both throw off their stereotypes and opt to become doctors. Not a startling move in children's books these days, but still good.
It's hard to say what the magic ingredient is that this one had less of than the author's bigger hits. All the components seem to be there. A story told in verse to pictures. I think perhaps it was just that it was a larger story with more active characters and lacked that singular focus so suited to the form... Who knows.
Good artwork, funny touches in the detail. A must for all Donaldson fans (Julia, not Stephen).
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..
Nice read. Not quite Room on the Broom or Stickman quality, but a solid 3.75 stars. The fairybook princess and rescuing knight both throw off their stereotypes and opt to become doctors. Not a startling move in children's books these days, but still good.
It's hard to say what the magic ingredient is that this one had less of than the author's bigger hits. All the components seem to be there. A story told in verse to pictures. I think perhaps it was just that it was a larger story with more active characters and lacked that singular focus so suited to the form... Who knows.
Good artwork, funny touches in the detail. A must for all Donaldson fans (Julia, not Stephen).
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year mailing list #prizes
..
June 3, 2024
Ein Buch zum Vorlesen und auch zum ersten Selbstentdecken :)
Es geht um Zogg, einen kleinen Drachen, der in der Drachenschule alles lernt, was er braucht: Fliegen, Brüllen, Feuerspeien und sogar Prinzessinnen entführen! Doch das erweist sich als gar nicht so einfach!
Erzählt wird die Geschichte in Reimversen, was mir besonders gut gefallen hat. ❤️
Es geht um Zogg, einen kleinen Drachen, der in der Drachenschule alles lernt, was er braucht: Fliegen, Brüllen, Feuerspeien und sogar Prinzessinnen entführen! Doch das erweist sich als gar nicht so einfach!
Erzählt wird die Geschichte in Reimversen, was mir besonders gut gefallen hat. ❤️
January 2, 2019
How can I not love a story with dragons, princesses and doctors without boarders.
A very entertaining book with a wonderful twist in the end!
A very entertaining book with a wonderful twist in the end!
July 17, 2020
This is such a cute children's story. It has all of my favorite things in it: dragons, school for dragons, a princess that wants to be a doctor, flying ambulances, funny illustrations, what's not to love? And you can (and should) watch this video of Eddie Redmayne narrating it.
The main idea of the story is pretty cool: Madam Dragon runs an elementary school for dragons, where little dragons learn all of the necessary skills and arts of being a dragon: first-graders learn flying, second-graders roaring, third-graders breathing fire, fourth-graders stealing princesses, and so on (you get the idea).
I don't usually add children's books on Goodreads (except for the ones I read when I was a kid myself), but this one is just so adorable that I had to post it here.
The main idea of the story is pretty cool: Madam Dragon runs an elementary school for dragons, where little dragons learn all of the necessary skills and arts of being a dragon: first-graders learn flying, second-graders roaring, third-graders breathing fire, fourth-graders stealing princesses, and so on (you get the idea).
I don't usually add children's books on Goodreads (except for the ones I read when I was a kid myself), but this one is just so adorable that I had to post it here.
November 18, 2019
“What a good idea!”I’d like to introduce you to my new favourite dragon, Zog. He’s Madam Dragon’s most enthusiastic student and he desperately wants to earn one of his teacher’s golden stars.
Throughout the book Madam Dragon’s students learn all of the dragon basics, including flying, roaring and breathing fire.
“Now that you’ve been shown, you can practise on your own”While Zog is practicing his new skills he encounters Pearl, a caring, friendly young girl. Throughout the years they continue to meet and become friends.
I usually try to read the book before I see the movie because the book is always better, right? This time was different. I was introduced to Zog and Pearl via the short film, and it was only as I was watching the Special Features that I realised Zog had books written about him long before he was animated.
I borrowed the DVD from my library, assuming I’d make it maybe 5 minutes before ditching it. This was not to be. I fell in love with this orange dragon! Then I introduced Mum to him and as we watched it together, she fell in love with him too. We plan to watch it at least another couple of times before my loan expires.
You can view the movie trailer here.
Naturally I followed up by borrowing the book from the library, which solidified my love for these characters. While I adore this book, I actually enjoyed the movie more. Shh!!! Don’t tell the book I said that.
What clearly came across to me in the movie was that while Zog and Pearl tried their best to live up to others’ expectations of them, they were denying who they really were. When they were honest with themselves and others about how they were feeling and what they truly wanted out of life, they were given the opportunity to fulfil their dreams.
It was obvious in the movie that Zog didn’t really fit in with the other dragons. Pearl’s story was also expanded so I gained more of an understanding of the role she was being trained to fill. I liked them in the book but their personalities came to life on screen and I was more focused on their friendship developing through the years. I smiled while I read but I laughed throughout the movie.
Now that I know of Zog’s existence I’m looking forward to going on more adventures with him. I’ve already ordered Zog and the Flying Doctors from the library so you’ll be hearing all about that just as soon as
I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars for the book. I’m adding the movie to my list of DVD’s I absolutely must own. This is one of those stories that I would happily read/watch over and over, with or without a child.
April 15, 2023
Labai smagi, juokinga, bet su gražia mintimi, gerumu knygelė :) labai prikaustė mūsų su dukryte demėsį. :)
April 18, 2020
I have honestly sat staring at the page for some time thinking about how to write a review which does this book justice.
I haven't been this emotionally attached to a picture book since I was a child.
This book inspired and allowed me to teach the best two weeks of lessons I have ever taught. This book saw my confidence grow as a teacher and facilitated opportunities in the classroom I didn’t know were possible.
Zog, the biggest dragon at Dragon School, learns different skills throughout the book, with a few blunders along the way. But with the help of Princess Pearl, he eventually wins a golden star and agrees to go out and help other people/creatures as an ambulance for the flying doctors: Princess Pearl and Gadabout.
What I especially like about this story is the message of perseverance shown through Zog’s repeated efforts to win a golden star. I also like the way Princess Pearl is not a typical ‘damsel in distress’ and actually surrenders herself to Zog in order to help him win a golden star - again wonderful messages of female empowerment, kindness, and selflessness.
The rhymes in this book are absolutely superb. As you will read later in this review, I created a whole re-telling of the story using actions with my Year 1 class. Not only can I pretty much recite the whole story by heart now, but the 5/6 year olds in that class, after only 3 weeks, could remember every key line in the story - some of them even correcting me when I misremembered a rhyming pair.
This book (and the BBC One animated adaptation) inspired a whole term of English and Drama for my Year 1 class. I posed as Madam Dragon on their first day back after half term and told them all they were now attending 'Dragon School'.
Week 1 of lessons I planned using Zog:
Lesson 1: I hosted a 'Book Talk' about the front cover. After discussions, all the children wrote down questions for Zog.
Lesson 2: ‘Flying Lesson’ - I filmed all the children acting and then we watched the videos and described our flying styles as a class on a piece of sugar paper.
Lesson 3: ‘Roaring Lesson’ - the children all had a chance to roar and then we described each child's roar as a class on sugar paper.
Lesson 4: ‘Catching a Princess’ - I took all the children to the hall and we played 'catch the princess' (stuck in the mud). Some children were dragons and they had to catch the princesses. At the end of this lesson, I then handed each child a 'golden star' for their excellent work as 'dragons'.
Lesson 5: To end the first week, we read the whole story for the first time and finished watching the film. We referred back to the questions from Lesson 1 to see if any of them had been answered.
Week 2 was all about re-telling the story:
- We recapped the story
- Created a class story map
- Class got into groups and came up with an action for each scene in the story. Volunteers then showed their actions to the class to remember the story.
- We then created a whole class re-telling just using actions (which we later performed in a class assembly to the school).
- The children then used their own story maps and had two lessons to re-tell the story in their own words in their Literacy books (I included an input on rhyming here - children to identify and match the rhymes from Zog)
- Volunteers then read their re-telling aloud to the class (two read their stories aloud in the class assembly to the school).
Further weeks on Zog were then based around innovation - changing the story to be about different mythical creatures attending school. We also used 'Tell Me a Dragon' by Jackie Morris to design and describe our own dragons.
I haven't been this emotionally attached to a picture book since I was a child.
This book inspired and allowed me to teach the best two weeks of lessons I have ever taught. This book saw my confidence grow as a teacher and facilitated opportunities in the classroom I didn’t know were possible.
Zog, the biggest dragon at Dragon School, learns different skills throughout the book, with a few blunders along the way. But with the help of Princess Pearl, he eventually wins a golden star and agrees to go out and help other people/creatures as an ambulance for the flying doctors: Princess Pearl and Gadabout.
What I especially like about this story is the message of perseverance shown through Zog’s repeated efforts to win a golden star. I also like the way Princess Pearl is not a typical ‘damsel in distress’ and actually surrenders herself to Zog in order to help him win a golden star - again wonderful messages of female empowerment, kindness, and selflessness.
The rhymes in this book are absolutely superb. As you will read later in this review, I created a whole re-telling of the story using actions with my Year 1 class. Not only can I pretty much recite the whole story by heart now, but the 5/6 year olds in that class, after only 3 weeks, could remember every key line in the story - some of them even correcting me when I misremembered a rhyming pair.
This book (and the BBC One animated adaptation) inspired a whole term of English and Drama for my Year 1 class. I posed as Madam Dragon on their first day back after half term and told them all they were now attending 'Dragon School'.
Week 1 of lessons I planned using Zog:
Lesson 1: I hosted a 'Book Talk' about the front cover. After discussions, all the children wrote down questions for Zog.
Lesson 2: ‘Flying Lesson’ - I filmed all the children acting and then we watched the videos and described our flying styles as a class on a piece of sugar paper.
Lesson 3: ‘Roaring Lesson’ - the children all had a chance to roar and then we described each child's roar as a class on sugar paper.
Lesson 4: ‘Catching a Princess’ - I took all the children to the hall and we played 'catch the princess' (stuck in the mud). Some children were dragons and they had to catch the princesses. At the end of this lesson, I then handed each child a 'golden star' for their excellent work as 'dragons'.
Lesson 5: To end the first week, we read the whole story for the first time and finished watching the film. We referred back to the questions from Lesson 1 to see if any of them had been answered.
Week 2 was all about re-telling the story:
- We recapped the story
- Created a class story map
- Class got into groups and came up with an action for each scene in the story. Volunteers then showed their actions to the class to remember the story.
- We then created a whole class re-telling just using actions (which we later performed in a class assembly to the school).
- The children then used their own story maps and had two lessons to re-tell the story in their own words in their Literacy books (I included an input on rhyming here - children to identify and match the rhymes from Zog)
- Volunteers then read their re-telling aloud to the class (two read their stories aloud in the class assembly to the school).
Further weeks on Zog were then based around innovation - changing the story to be about different mythical creatures attending school. We also used 'Tell Me a Dragon' by Jackie Morris to design and describe our own dragons.
December 30, 2018
‘Zog’ (2010) by the prolific and highly accomplished team of Julia Donaldson (author) and Axel Scheffler (illustrator) – is another solid, reliable and above all else, fun story with the usual lovely accompanying illustrations.
Whilst ‘Zog’ may not quite have the feel of a Donaldson/Scheffler classic (a la ‘Gruffalo’ et al) it’s not far off and nevertheless it’s a very strong addition to their already impressive canon of excellent children’s books.
What elevates ‘Zog’ above many similar but inferior contenders, apart from the quality of the writing and illustrations, is the great twist at the end of this particular story - delivering a lovely and important message, albeit in a subtle, palatable and gently effective way that adds rather than detracts from the overall narrative.
Whilst ‘Zog’ may not quite have the feel of a Donaldson/Scheffler classic (a la ‘Gruffalo’ et al) it’s not far off and nevertheless it’s a very strong addition to their already impressive canon of excellent children’s books.
What elevates ‘Zog’ above many similar but inferior contenders, apart from the quality of the writing and illustrations, is the great twist at the end of this particular story - delivering a lovely and important message, albeit in a subtle, palatable and gently effective way that adds rather than detracts from the overall narrative.
Read
May 14, 20175 stars from start to happy ending. -Monty K.
October 31, 2022
This was read aloud, in it's entirety, against my will
October 29, 2012
Helen for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
This is another great read from the Donaldson/Scheffler team. The illustration’s are in the same vein as those you would expect from Gruffalo and the like; clever, funny, brightly coloured and plenty to accompany the story for a little reader.
The story of the dragons made me smile alot. It’s great to see them learn how to be dragons and make plenty of mistakes along the way. Dragon school looks cool and is a great idea for children to relate too.
I also enjoyed the character of the leading lady, I can’t tell you her name without spoiling a plot twist! It was brilliant to have a strong minded girl at the centre of everything. She makes her own decisions, is very brave and gets her man. What more could you want? It is funny to see her sorting out the dragons and her knight. She makes very good life choices too, helping others and helping herself.
Verdict: If you’re a fan of this team you should add this book to your collection
This is another great read from the Donaldson/Scheffler team. The illustration’s are in the same vein as those you would expect from Gruffalo and the like; clever, funny, brightly coloured and plenty to accompany the story for a little reader.
The story of the dragons made me smile alot. It’s great to see them learn how to be dragons and make plenty of mistakes along the way. Dragon school looks cool and is a great idea for children to relate too.
I also enjoyed the character of the leading lady, I can’t tell you her name without spoiling a plot twist! It was brilliant to have a strong minded girl at the centre of everything. She makes her own decisions, is very brave and gets her man. What more could you want? It is funny to see her sorting out the dragons and her knight. She makes very good life choices too, helping others and helping herself.
Verdict: If you’re a fan of this team you should add this book to your collection
September 18, 2017
Bought this for Poppet this week and she - and I - absolutely love it. The rhyming, the images - so much for her to point out and so vivid - and the funny fantasy story with a happy ending. It's an absolute win really, and she keeps requesting it.
June 17, 2015
A great story with stunning illustrations. Every child/parent should read this.
December 3, 2021
I enjoyed this story along with my son. The illustrations is cute and the story fun.
October 15, 2025
Albumino molto carino. La storia è piacevole e le illustrazioni deliziose.
Lettura perfetta per i bambini delle prime classi della scuola primaria.
Lettura perfetta per i bambini delle prime classi della scuola primaria.
December 3, 2012
I can't help but think that this would have been a better story had the author not bothered with making it a rhyming book. The story in general was fun, but the rhymes were SO FORCED.
April 7, 2020
Ending with a twist!
October 29, 2019
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler come up with another winner with 'Zog', who is the biggest and keenest dragon in school but who proves to be accident prone when undertaking any task. He is trying to win a golden star but finds himself thwarted at every turn.
Madame Dragon first of all teaches her dragon pupils to fly and although Zog begins flying 'fast and free', he eventually crashes into a tree. He requires a plaster for his head and a little girl comes out of the woods to tend to his injuries ... and off he flies again.
In year two the dragons learn to roar but Zog roars so loudly that he grows hoarse. Once again the same little girl turns up with some peppermints to ease his pain. And of he flies off again.
He has various other mishaps in everything he tries to do and each time the little girl is there to lend a helping hand. With all his misadventures he realises that it will be difficult to achieve his ambition to win a golden star.
The little girl comes along to console him when he is morose over that possibility and tells Zog that she is Princess Pearl and they fly off together back to the school where Madame Dragon meets them and says, 'Our first princess so far'. And she awards Zog a golden star for his efforts. Zog is proud and happy and the princess proves to be most useful in that she looks after the dragons whenever they are sick.
Then in Year Five a knight, Gadabout the Great, comes along to rescue the princess and return her to her people. So Zog declares, 'You can't! She's mine!' and they arrange to fight it out. But Princess Pearl steps in and tells Gadabout that she doesn't want to be a princess, she wants to be a nurse and tend sick people. Gadabout quickly says that he too would like to do that.
So everything turns out happily as Gadabout and Princess Pearl fly away on Zog to become the first of the flying doctors!
It is all good fun and beautifully illustrated in typical Axel Sheffler style.
Madame Dragon first of all teaches her dragon pupils to fly and although Zog begins flying 'fast and free', he eventually crashes into a tree. He requires a plaster for his head and a little girl comes out of the woods to tend to his injuries ... and off he flies again.
In year two the dragons learn to roar but Zog roars so loudly that he grows hoarse. Once again the same little girl turns up with some peppermints to ease his pain. And of he flies off again.
He has various other mishaps in everything he tries to do and each time the little girl is there to lend a helping hand. With all his misadventures he realises that it will be difficult to achieve his ambition to win a golden star.
The little girl comes along to console him when he is morose over that possibility and tells Zog that she is Princess Pearl and they fly off together back to the school where Madame Dragon meets them and says, 'Our first princess so far'. And she awards Zog a golden star for his efforts. Zog is proud and happy and the princess proves to be most useful in that she looks after the dragons whenever they are sick.
Then in Year Five a knight, Gadabout the Great, comes along to rescue the princess and return her to her people. So Zog declares, 'You can't! She's mine!' and they arrange to fight it out. But Princess Pearl steps in and tells Gadabout that she doesn't want to be a princess, she wants to be a nurse and tend sick people. Gadabout quickly says that he too would like to do that.
So everything turns out happily as Gadabout and Princess Pearl fly away on Zog to become the first of the flying doctors!
It is all good fun and beautifully illustrated in typical Axel Sheffler style.
April 9, 2020
Jao preprepresimpatična knjižica! :)
May 1, 2022
Bought as a gift, read it, loved it
February 3, 2025
Много ми хареса!
December 6, 2019
Oh, to be a dragon!!!
December 1, 2018
Really enjoyed this one from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. They're a consistently great writer & illustrator team - most well known for The Gruffalo of course - and this one ticks all the boxes. The rhyming story is full of delight and near-perfect for reading aloud (there were only 2 lines where the rhythm seemed a touch off), with a great sing-song quality and plenty of fun words, humorous moments, and wee twists to keep little readers engaged and amused. The illustrations from Axel Scheffler are terrific - colourful, interesting, amusing and bringing the story to vivid life. I've enjoyed several books from this children's storytelling team, but this is among our faves. Cool story that has some nice subtle messages, rather than in your face, but overall just a really great story with top illustrations that I think will be one of those read over and over and over.
January 10, 2012
This is a story about a young dragon who is attending Dragon school. He is very keen and tries really hard with all his lesson, however, things always seem to go wrong and he is constantly having accidents. Every time he hurts himself a mysterious girl comes along and bandages him up. One of Zogs task is to capture a princess who turns out to be the girl who always helps him. She is happy for zog to capture her as she is happy to escape from her royal life. Zog gets his gold star and the princess stays with him to look after him. A Knight comes along to rescue the princess. The princess and the Knight start a new life as doctors and Zog joins them as their ambulance. This is a lovely book which I used in SEA and the class choose as their theme for the classroom book corner. The class really enjoyed the book and loved the characters and illustrations.
October 5, 2013
Zog is definitely a new favourite in our home, it is a beautifully written story with lots of nice rhymes and repetition , but it is perhaps not as good as some of the other Julia Donaldson books like the Gruffalo. However, the illustrations are spectacular and it really is one of the brightest, well illustrated baby books that we own so far.
It's also nice to read a story where the princess doesn't want to be a princess but a Doctor.
It's also nice to read a story where the princess doesn't want to be a princess but a Doctor.
December 30, 2012
It is difficult to tell a story in rhyme scheme that holds its meter and flow. This book keeps the rhyme convincingly going throughout, it's a good story, it has repetitive language (which I like) and the illustrations are really fun. Another plus is that it contains both mail and female characters. Winner!
June 8, 2014
Not as totally awesome as the Gruffalo, but pretty great. The illustrations are fabulous, absolutely recognizable. And my son loved finding the squirrels, the mouse and the fox from the Gruffalo. All the elements of a great storybook are in there: elevated elements, humor, a bumbling underdog who wins out in the end and an interesting twist at the end. There's even a non-traditional princess.
September 15, 2017
This is a cute rhyming story with colorful illustrations. It is a story about a dragon named Zog who is going to dragon school. He keeps meeting a girl who helps him like a doctor when he gets hurt. It would make a nice read-aloud. It is a good story for making predictions. I would definitely buy this one. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.
June 9, 2021
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
With a love for dragons, and Donaldson's Gruffalo books, this was a guaranteed purchase when I found it! And I wasn't disappointed (and neither were my children ;))! The illustrations are just as amazing as in the Gruffalo books, and the rhyming prose of this story flows like water. It is absolutely brilliant! I definitely recommend it.
With a love for dragons, and Donaldson's Gruffalo books, this was a guaranteed purchase when I found it! And I wasn't disappointed (and neither were my children ;))! The illustrations are just as amazing as in the Gruffalo books, and the rhyming prose of this story flows like water. It is absolutely brilliant! I definitely recommend it.
November 26, 2016
First read to Ivy 25/11/2016
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