The Angry Dragon

by Michael Gordon

Why Are Dragons So Angry? Despite our best efforts, reality doesn't always meet our expectations. There is no need to be upset or mad.
George has a pet dragon called Joe. Joe always gets angry when he doesn't get what he wants, or when things don't go his way. Little boy tries to show his friend, that being angry is not normal. In the end, Dragon understands that treating others with kindness is the best way to go.

Warning: Cuteness Overload!
This book contains illustrations of a cute dragon. Lots of them. Enjoy these little sweeties, perfect alongside beautiful rhymes.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Dragons, Friendship, Amazon

28 pages, ebook

Published February 12, 2017

About the author

Michael Gordon is the talented author of several highly rated children's books including the popular Sleep Tight, Little Monster, and the Animal Bedtime.

He collaborates with famous Kids Book Press that creates picture books for people of all ages to enjoy. Michael’s goal is to create books that are engaging, funny, and inspirational for children of all ages and their parents.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book for kids

It's a book in verse although it didn't always rhyme. It has cute illustrations to go with the brief story.

[Lorellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and well-meaning!

As the glorified servant of a bearded dragon and a child at heart, I found this book quite charming. The art is cute and the message to control your feelings is great for anyone to think about. The situations should be very relatable for a kid.

[ErinTurnsPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 Reviewers

5 year olds review: 1 Star
Mom’s review: 5 stars

5 Y.O.- (Being clearly obstinate for the whole discussion because she saw the stars) I didn’t like it because the dragon got angry and ate all the sweets. She didn’t like the pictures because *smiles & grins* “I have no reason”

Mom: She likes it just wont admit it. I loved it. It’s cute, fun, short, & has a clear meaning. The illustrations are awesome! I only dropped a star out of compromise.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Getting my way hasn’t turned out very well’

Michael Gordon is the talented author of over fifty highly rated children's books including the popular Sleep Tight, Little Monster, and the Animal Bedtime and the award winning Elephants Can Not Sleep and Daddy’s Little Girl. The excellent illustrations are by the artists of Kids Book Press. Michael’s goal is to create books that are engaging, funny, and inspirational for children of all ages and their parents.

Little George has a pet dragon, his best friend Joe. Joe likes things done his way and has a temper. When George accidentally breaks Joe’s favorite toy, Joe flies into a re rage. George calms Joe with breathing exercises and glues Joe’s toy back together. All is well, until George’s mom asks George to clean house – Joe is offended that George won’t play in stead. Again George calms Joe and when George is through tasking, he and Joe play again. Later, in the kitchen Joe eats too many sweets despite George’s warning about the sweets being bad for Joe’s tummy and teeth. Joe again gets angry at being told what to do. That night Joe indeed has a tummy ache and George comforts him back to health. Lesson learned: Joe will be more patient and less greedy instead of getting angry and George is proud of his friend.

Not only is this an entertaining book for children (and readers) but it also carries fine information about controlling anger and appreciating the strong value of friendships and kindness. A very impressive little book that should be part of every child’s library!

[Cynthia Gutzwiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Michael Gordon. It shows how to practice the coping techniques for young children and old alike. Little ones upset so easily it's great they can see how it works.
George's pet dragon is named Joe. George broke Joe's toy. He got very angry. George showed him how to breathe and talk it out and he felt better. Yeah!! Joe wanted to play, but George had chores to do. He called him a bad name. George showed him that he could do both. Joe was surprised. What did he do? Did he stay mad? You get to listen to this wonderful story and find out.
I borrowed this book on a Kindle Unlimited website and so can you.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A "life lesson" book with fun colorful illustrations.

In this story a little boy and his best friend dragon have a day of misunderstandings and hurt feelings after a toy is broken causing a spiraling of moods that the little boy must learn to effectively communicate in order to calm his friend.

This book has a gender neutral subject but having a boy and dragon as the main character, boys may relate better. The word choice in this book is geared toward 1st grade reading levels but the story itself is relative to both preschoolers and elementary aged kids. From an educational stand point, every other page has 4 lines with 2 rhymes per page for kids to identify while reading while the alternating pages are illustrated with colorful pictures of the dragon showing his emotions with his face and body language. For parents or teachers, this set up encourages book discussions like, "How do you think Dragon feels in this picture? Why? What did George do to calm dragon? What are the rhyming words on this page?" In the end, the boy and dragon send children the message that staying calm, breathing, talking about feelings, listening, and not yelling are all tools for effective communication. This book also makes a nice gift to a young one as it has a "this book belongs to..." page as well as some blank illustrations that children may color and personalize.

[Nancy Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story features a boy and his pet dragon. It specifically addresses the topic of anger. George and his pet dragon, Joe, spend the day together and run into various real-life situations which may cause anger. The book is a great starting point for a discussion about how to deal with feelings of anger with young children.

The format is well done with words on one page and a beautifully drawn, colorful and relevant image on the other. The font is clear enough that a beginning reader would be able to pick out some words. The topic of anger is covered well without being over the top or silly. The suggestions for how to deal with anger are realistic and practical.

My one issue with the story is that it is written in a Dr. Suess style with an attempt to rhyme the sentences. I do not have an issue with the style per se, but the execution here has some flaws. There are 4 "stanzas" on each text page which are separated by a space. Each stanza ends with a period, even when the actual sentence continues into the next stanza. There are also some issues with the cadence of the rhyming. The syllable counts range from 11 to 14 and some of the word choices make reading the story out loud awkward.

Overall I love the concept and direction of this book. I also love the illustrations. However, the flow of the stanzas needs to be more consistent so that the cadence isn't lost.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

George & Joe (pet dragon) were going to have some fun.
George accidently broke Joe’s favorite toy.
Joe got very mad.
George calmed Joe down & told him he might be able to fix it.
Joe liked getting things his own way.
George had to teach him lots of things if they were to remain good friends.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, colored pictures, great font & writing style. A very well written children’s educational book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great children’s educational movie, an animated cartoon, a PP presentation, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; ReadingDeals; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Natalie Mathers · Rating 3 out of 5]

George has an unusual pet – a dragon called Joe. Joe is an angry dragon who throws temper tantrums when things go wrong. One day, while playing with their toys, George broke one of Joe’s favorite toys. Joe loses his temper and George tries to help him understand that he shouldn’t get angry. Throughout the day, George continues helping Joe to overcome his anger and see that patience is good, greed is bad. Joe soon comes to understand that and peace reigns in the household. The first thing that struck me was the color; it stands out with lots of bright and cheerful colors in the excellent illustrations that go along with the story. The second was the fact that it is written in rhyme and in nice-sized, easy to read print benefiting both children and the adults reading with them. The story is a simple one but carries a powerful message about how to behave and how not to behave. It teaches that anger doesn’t solve anything and that there is always another way to deal with situations, especially where the temper arises as a result of not getting what they want. I gave this book a 3/5 rating because I thought it was a pretty good book and had a very good message to it. I think this book is a good book to read to children and teach them a message about anger.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Angry Dragon by Michael Gordon book review:

The first thing I liked about this book was the cover and the colorful image of a dragon who looks angry. As I opened the book I found out that Joe is the dragon and George is his little friend. They encounter some difficulties during their day.

From a broken toy to time away from playing to help mom with cleaning and finally eating sweets that lead to a tummy ache, this day has its ups and downs!!

Joe the dragon struggles. I love how George is helpful in each situation with a positive answer while still showing love and compassion to his dragon friend.

My grandson enjoyed the illustrations and the funny faces Joe the dragon made. He just turned six years old. His mother, my daughter, enjoyed the good moral of the story, how to handle anger! She is a therapist by profession.

This is a very positive book about friendships which don’t always go smoothly while adding in some positive problem-solving. A great idea for a young children’s book! The colorful illustrations move the story along as they illustrate each event described in the book.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Angry Dragon is a great story which shows Joe, a dragon who gets angry, and his friend George who helps him control his anger throughout the day.

It is lovely to see a story about Joe and George as they are shown to be a great friendship and having George being such an understanding character it helps Joe understand why he might be feeling the way he is and this also helps the children understand their emotions, specifically anger in this book.

The illustrations in the book are fantastic and the children love to see what Joe and George get up to as it's so fun to see a dragon in the story. I like that Joe is the one who gets angry as this is more intriguing for the children as he's more of a fictional character and a bit easier for them to talk about and open up as it seems silly and fun but will still help them learn a bit about emotions.

Seeing the ways George helps Joe is brilliant as it is something that is easy for the children to think about doing it they find they are feeling angry and this will help them control their emotions. We have really enjoyed reading this book, a fun way to help children understand and control anger!

[Lilith Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love social stories. So many time kids do not realize what they are doing is not appropriate. By reading about another character going through the same situation, kids will often change.

This book is about a dragon. He is like a typical child. He does things that adult perceive as wrong. As a result, this book has lead the dragon into conversations that helped him see the correct way to act.

This book is a great starting point. If a child needs some help, read this book. See if the child will come to you and talk. If not, read it again in a few days with a prompt. You will be amazed by what a conversation can do.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and were in no way influenced by outside sources. I am a professional blogger at Little Lady Plays

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

The Angry Dragon is about George and his friend Joe. Joe gets upset easily when George tries to tell him the right thing to do or if something doesn't go his way. Through patience and kindness, George teaches Joe that being angry doesn't help the situation.

The illustrations in The Angry Dragon are cute and colorful and will keep the attention of young children. The text is in rhymes and teaches youngsters that being angry isn't the best way to deal with things. There are even a couple of pages at the end for children to color. This is definitely a book that young children and their caregivers will enjoy!

[Katie Louwers]

The Angry Dragon by Michael Gordon is a great book for kids! It's about George who has a pet dragon named Joe. Joe is an angry dragon and he throws temper tantrums when things go wrong. Joe loses his temper when George accidentally breaks his toy. George tries to help him understand that he shouldn't get angry. Throughout the book, George continues to help Joe to overcome his anger. Joe learns many valuable lessons from george. The story is simple and can easily be understood by young kids, it carries a powerful message about how to behave and how not to behave. It teaches children that anger doesn't solve anything.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Angry Dragon By Michael Gordon
The Angry Dragon is about Joe the Dragon and his friend a human named George. This is a rhyming books which I love for young children as they seem to remember them more. Joe is impatient, does not listen and gets upset very easily. George talks him through it and explains to him how to learn to deal with it. The illustrations in this book are colorful and bright and delightful to children. I highly recommend this book to children to help understand emotions and feelings.

[Nivea Torres · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about George and his pet dragon Joe. Joe gets angry pretty quickly throughout the day when George won't play with him, let him eat sweets, or thinks that George broke his toy on purpose.
Joe coaches George on how to be calm, patient, and breathe when upset. I felt the message is a very positive one for children who need to learn how to self regulate and soothe themselves. However, the story felt wordy at times and the message might get lost in it.

[Danielle Neubauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book had a great message, be kind and be calm. As a mother of a tantrum-throwing-toddler I completely relate to the scenarios in the book. My son throws a fit when he doesn’t get candy, breaks toys, or can’t play games when it’s time to clean. Although I appreciate the message and thought the illustrations were adorable, it was a tad difficult to keep with the rhythm of the book as the rhyming was a bit off. All in all I thought it was cute and would read it again.

[Kyla Lockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family reading time review

Personally me as mom reading i found the flow not so great but the moral and entire book itself was cute. My kids rated it five.

Emma: when the boy taught the dragon a lesson that was the best part. I like the pictures too.

Bella: i like when it was nice. And i liked when the fire came out his nose.

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free read

I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Read this to a friend's 4 year old. He liked it. He asked me questions. He thought the pictures were funny, but he.was.hoping for smoke and fire from the dragon!!! What has he been reading? I asked if he wanted to read it with me again sometime and he said yes. So it's a hit!! 4 stars even though no smoke!

[Tabetha Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome way to start a conversation with your kids about anger, and other emotions!

This was a great but not too short and not too long. It's also a great way to start talking to your kids about strong emotions.. anger, greed, happiness and sadness it's really just a wonderful book all around thank you to the author!

[Aviva Gittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Book About Controlling Feelings

I enjoyed this book and think it will help kids control their temper and impatience. Could help adults too. :-) I did feel like the kid talked more like an adult, which I’m not a fan of. But, overall it’s a good way to talk to your child about emotions. I also enjoyed the illustrations. Recommended.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Angry Dragon

I liked this book because it rimes and kept my granddaughters’ attention. It was short and sweet and was a good read. I would recommend this book for any child three and older that can sit for a short time and listen to the story. I gave 4 stars because my granddaughter really liked it and we will read it a few more times. 👍👍

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a darling little book with wonderful illustrations which helps little children understand how to deal with anger of their own and others. The Angry Dragon by Michael Gordon is meant to help youngsters coping with other's anger and what to do about it. This should be helpful for showing that there are better ways to act to strengthen friendship.

[Engie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and educational

Read it to a 2yr old and a 3yr old. They enjoyed it and followed along. The illustrations helped them understand better what was going on. They were able to answer questions about the book based on what they heard and saw. I'm glad it was easy to use for reading comprehension of a 2 and 3 yr old.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

George and his pet dragon are playing. George accidently breaks Joe's favorite toy and Joe gets angry. Later on, when George is doing chores Joe wants him to stop and play with him. When George doesn't Joe gets angry. Joe has got to learn to control his anger and learn that you don't always get your way.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story with an important lesson

I enjoyed this book a lot. The art work is lovely and filled with an array of vibrant colors making each character stand out. The message is one for everyone no matter the age about the value of kindness and patience. I also want to add the story flows very well and is easy to read aloud. Highly recommend for anyone.

[Darrie McCain Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

George and Joe the dragon are best friends. Joe is often mean and likes everything to go his way. Joe says bad things to George and never listens to anything including advice that he has to say. One day Joe gets sick from eating too much junk food and his friend George is right there to take care of him and help to feel better.

[Dorothy Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with great lesson

This book kept my four year old granddaughter completely involved. When the Dragon was Angry she asked why he was so mad. When I asked her if she ever acted like that she said no. But got the lesson by the end of the book.

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it’ll work

I am working on her reading with my granddaughter. She needs to expand her vocabulary beyond the really simple stuff so reading will be less work. Thanks for a tool that I think she’ll enjoy.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun children's book. Great illustration and great message. Two friends play and get mad at each other for little things. The book encourages talking things out and the importance of working things out with your friends. Well done. Will be passing this along to my grandchildren.