Knight for a Day

Dragon Slayers' Academy #5

by Kate McMullan, Bill Basso (Illustrator)

When Wiglaf learns that he has won "A Day With Sir Lancelot (The World's Most Perfect Knight)," he can hardly believe it. His friend Erica can't believe it, either! And when the big day arrives, she is even more doubtful. Is Erica just jealous, or is there something fishy about The World's Most Perfect Knight?

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Dragons, Fiction, Chapter Books, Humor, Adventure

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2003

About the author

Kate McMullan is an American children's book author.
She is the author of the Dragon Slayers' Academy series. She is married to author and illustrator James McMullan.

She also has books published under the name: Katy Hall.

Reviews

[Michele Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was not my favorite read aloud, but Matthew loved it. Short and sweet. Funny series. Apparently there's a whole series.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere, sometime – probably during a visit to Costco – I picked up a boxed set of eight books, plus a bookmark, of the first eight books in this series of silly kiddie chapter books, all with cover art by Stephen Gilpin and illustrations by Bill Basso.

Briefly, they depict a medieval boy named Wiglaf who escapes being picked on by his 12 big, dumb brothers and nelgected by his single-minded cabbage farmer folks, to attend (duh) Dragon Slayers' Academy. It's a run-down castle staffed by oddballs, run by a certain Mordred the Marvelous, who's only in it for the gold, and who send unprepared children out to rob dragons of their hoard. Quite by accident, Wiglaf becomes the first student in the school's history to actually slay a dragon, and then another one, despite having a horror of blood and never mustering the nerve to poke his sword into anything. On a lot of his adventures, he's accompanied by fellow students Angus (Mordred's eternally hungry nephew) and Eric (who only Wiglaf knows is actually a Princess Erica), more or less the Ron and Hermione to Wiglaf's Harry. And of course, what could go wrong without the "help" of a cracked wizard named Zelnoc, who is responsible for (among other things) teaching Wiglaf's pet pig, Daisy, to speak Pig Latin.

I believe you can guess where this is all going, so I won't belabor the synopsis other than to say that at least once in almost every book in this set, I laughed out loud. I believe the first time was when a minstrel, by way of inspiring Wiglaf to seek his fortune as a dragon slayer, told him that every dragon has a fatal weakness; like a certain dragaon who hated to be teased, and was thus slain by a knight who said, "Nonny noony poo poo, you old sissy" to it. If that just made whatever you're drinking shoot out of your nose, we may share an appreciation for these whimsical books, in which the problems of modern-day school kids are cosmetically touched up with Middle Ages trappings and the anachronisms (look that up) are perhaps the funniest part.

There are 20 books in the Dragon Slayers' Academy series. From book 9 onward, they include 97 Ways to Train a Dragon; Help! It's Parents' Day at DSA; Danger! Wizard at Work; The Ghost of Sir Herbert Dungeonstone; Beware! It's Friday the 13th; Pig Latin – Not Just for Pigs; Double Dragon Trouble; The World's Oldest Living Dragon; Hail, Hail, Camp Dragononka!; Never Trust a Troll; Little Giant, Big Trouble; and School's Out – Forever! Kate McCullan is also

[Mark Buxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

My name is Erica, daughter of Queen Barb and King Ken, but everyone besides Wiglaf knows me as Eric. Girls aren't allowed in the Dragon Slayers' Academy. I'm writing my essay for the "Win a Knight for a Day" contest, and I'm sure to win. Sir Lancelot's been my idol since I was born, I've read his memoir "A Knight Like I", and no one knows more about this brave hero. Of course, Mordred the headmaster wants to get gold from Lancelot's visit, but being in the presence of a Camelot knight is all I want. There's no way I can lose the contest. Or is there?

All of the books in this series are very short, and each can probably be read in one sitting. My recommendation is to read all of the books straight through and treat them like different chapters. The series is funny with silly descriptions, jokes, and situations. Most of the books find Wiglaf saved by some zany twist of fate, although that doesn't happen this time. The author provides obvious hints of a conflict, as the presence of Sir Lancelot creates tension between Wiglaf and Erica. The two best friends team up in the end to resolve the problem. The resolution leads directly into the sequel, Sir Lancelot, Where Are You? Give these books a shot if you're looking for short, humorous stories about knights in training.

[Christ Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is a suitable and decent book for kids who want to become knights when they grow up. The story is based on 3 main characters, Wiglaf , Angus and Erica in a school named " Dragon Slayers' Academy", which taught knight skills to lads to learn to become brave knights in 4 years. The story talks about a competition named ' A Day With Sir Lancelot', as the winner of the competition gets a day to stay with Sir Lancelot in their own academy's. As Wiglaf wins the competition(which is unbelievable to Erica), 'Mordred de Marvelous' , headmaster of 'Dragon Slayers', orders all of the lads in the academy except for Wiglaf to scrub the whole castle until it looked clean. And as the day Sir Lancelot came, Erica found something different and abnormal in Sir Lancelot's actions. Was Erica right about that point or was it just her misunderstanding? I recommend this book from senior forms in primary to junior forms in secondary to read. It is an adventurous story full of excitement, as the lads find their way to the truth by getting evidence gradually.

[Atbash (Emma) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay two books in a row is too many to have no dragons in it. Severely feeling the lack of dragons here.

But this one is really interesting, both in that 1. we get to see a little more about how Wiglaf really does want to be a well-liked hero and enjoys positive attention, something we haven’t really seen since it was established in book 1, and that 2. It’s another Wiglaf Overcomes His Cowardly Nature For Someone He Loves, By Kicking Something Really Hard story. That’s really fun.

But now there’s gonna be Continuity with the next book, and I’m boooooored of reading about Lancelot and his Evil Twin Brother Separated At Birth Original Character (Do Not Steal!!). Unless they do something really fun with it, I have a feeling Erica’s Lancelot obsession is going to be a little more grating after he’s a character they know instead of a face on a wall. I hope Zelnoc is there.

[japj · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loovveedddd these books as a kid. i’ve only ever read two of them but reread them more times than fingers on my hand. it was a book i found at a new school and and i kept rereading it for years until my english teacher gave it to me in the broken condition it was, but i was sooo happy. i still have this book.

[Liana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly! I like the part where Wiglaf and his friends inspect Lancelot's stinky feet. XD

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read for young readers

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Dragon Slayers' Academy series by Kate McMullan. Our girls have been reading a few different dragon stories and so this series piqued their interest.

One of the series we've been reading (the Dragon Keepers series by Kate Klimo) paints the dragon as the hero and the slayer in a bad light. But this story gives us more of a typical look at dragons and their slayers, although the story is riddled with tongue-in-cheek humor.

This series offers an interesting take on the dragon/knight saga. The story centers around a school where children are taught to become dragon slayers, primarily for the purpose of enriching the school's headmaster with the slain dragon's hoard. So far he hasn't been the beneficiary of much dragon gold, but I get the feeling that with 19 books in the series, he will keep sending his boys out, hoping to succeed at long last.

It's a very entertaining story, with lots of subtle humor and word play within the narrative. I thought it was fun that the boys took a break from dragon slaying and they entertained some visitors to the school. I loved that the children wrote essays in order to win a day with Sir Lancelot.

It's a quick read and I liked the story. Our oldest has been reading these stories on her own, so I'm reading them quickly to catch up with her in the series. We've read a few of the stories together, but now we're all reading them independently. Our youngest is also reading a few of these tales now that she's finished with the first Warriors series. I am sure that we will look for more of the books in this series at our local library.

[Tomoya Sugiyama · Rating 3 out of 5]

-DRAGON SLAYERS' ACADEMY,RL?
-Oct,15=30min. 16=40min. Total=70min.
-7words
boy,yearn,Lancelot(Knight),learn,quest,become,hero
-question
1.Do you have a person who you yearn for?
A.Yes,I do. I'm yearning for the teacher who was a corch of baseball club when I was high school student.
2.Do you want to do any quest(adventure)? Why?/Why not?
A.Yes,I do. I want to try many things, but I don't want to do something by a pain.

I respect the boy(main character), because he works hard to realize his dream!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think kids age 9 to 13 would hardley enjoy this book if they like dragons,sword fighting and many other fantisy stuff but i have loved Kate McMullan so much i wish her good luck to continue the series. I have learned from this book that treat somebody the way you want to be treated i enjoyed it because it is about a kid nammed Wigalif who soons find out that lancolot is kidnapped will he save who knows find it out and read this amazing book (only if you love fantisy)

[TLC Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "Meet Sir Lancelot" contest has Schoolmaster Mordred determined that one of his students will win so all are required to enter the contest. A determined Eric has written 16 pages worth and feels she has won it for sure. As the plot twists and turns, Eric, Wiglaf and Angus save the day and expose the craziness of what was really going on!

[Ryan Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Dragon Slayer Academy Book. Not bad. Sure led into the next book (even though I don't own it). Not sure I ever will unless I have a kid who gets into them. Or they are on sale in the scholastic book order.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun change to read with Annabelle. Like Mary Pope Osborne of Magic Tree House series said, "Here's a young hero who could well be Harry Potter's little brother." It's a fun read. I wouldn't mind reading a few more.

[Audrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

bored so i read it.

[Johan]

freaky

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool

[Isaiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked when the Knight tried to be a good twin but he was really the bad one.

[Jayson Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a pretty good story, if you're a kid. It could have been more dramatic, also it should have had a more dramatic ending.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it was really funny.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wiglaf met Sir Lancelot - the most perfect knight. J.R.

[Payton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its where they have to wright a report to win Lancelot for a day but he says some wrong stuff about himself like his dog is little miss Muffy but it is little miss Scruffy.

[P.n.m · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in French

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like the part when Erica figures out that the lancelot at their school is really Leon lancelot's evil twin brother.

[Hunter Lytle · Rating 5 out of 5]

really cute :)

[Natsu · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very simple reading indeed.. loving the series so far..

[Michele Crispell]

Humorous series that is great for elementary students!

[~~~~~P-Diddy~~~~~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DITTO TWO

[Zww · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised me at the end! (age 8)