Word Dragon: A Junkyard Adventure

by Tevin Hansen

Test your spelling skills with the Word Dragon! A fast-paced, action & adventure chapter book series for children aged 8-11. (A must-read for fans of Magic Tree House .)

When Eli and his younger sister, Grace, stop by an antique store on Broadway...their lives suddenly change forever. Uncle Larry’s Antique Shop & Junkyard is a wonderful place where everything has a price--and the magic is in the learning.

While their dad is looking around the store, the shopkeeper (the lovable, forgetful Uncle Larry) tells Eli and Grace a curious story about a dragon that loves to play Scrabble—which they don’t believe, of course. But when they step through the junkyard door...everything comes true!

With only their “magic junk” from the store -- a rope, a hubcap, an old can of shoe polish, and a Scrabble game missing one letter “N” -- Eli and Grace must figure out how to make it back before they get B-L-A-S-T-E-D by Fireball the Word Dragon. But never forget, “ Once you begin your adventure...you must finish it. No matter what .”

Don’t miss the teachers' favorite, parent-approved, and kids' choice series, Junkyard Adventures .

The magic starts here - order now with one click for Kindle or print!

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Dragons, Young Adult

112 pages, Paperback

Published February 19, 2019

About the author

Tevin Hansen is the multi-award-winning author of more than 20 middle grade books, including Hole in the Wall, Hairytale Adventures, and the Junkyard Adventures series. He enjoys writing fast-paced, humorous books for kids, and also the occasional YA novel. Tevin lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife, kids, and a collection of cheap guitars.

Find out more at www.TevinHansen.com

Reviews

[Lolo Onda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads Giveaways and upon receiving it read it to my class of 3rd and 4th graders. Overall, we enjoyed the book though it didn't make for the best read aloud with the numerous times words were spelled out. I thought that the idea of the story was very cute but at times it failed to hold the attention of my students.

[Amanda Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this author-signed book from a Goodreads giveaway. As an adult, it was quite a fast read (about 30 mins), which means it would be the perfect length for a young reader. I appreciated that the author explained a simplified set of rules for Scrabble. The author also took the time to explain tough words and encouraged using your words instead of getting angry at people. There is a glossary at the back of the book which is great for encouraging learning about new words too!

Overall, it was a great book and I’ll be passing it on to my 7 year old niece who loves Magic Treehouse books. The other books in the series look just as good...book 2 is about science, book 3 is about geography, and book 4 covers astronomy.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written for kids ages 6-9. Even though it is written for children as an adult I enjoyed reading this book for it's story and I loved how it encouraged learning new words while playing scrabble. Using a dragon who is so often used to bring out fear as a friend was a nice twist on traditional stories. This book kind of reminds me of choose your own adventure stories written years ago. Using the tools Uncle Larry gives them before starting their adventure to solve problems together and work as a team shows the siblings how strong they are. How when you start you need to finish. Fun story and one I will share with my kiddos. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway thank you!

[Jennifer Wrage · Rating 5 out of 5]

FYI: I won this book on goodreads.com.
Very cute! Simple, but exciting. Being an elementary teacher, I can think of many of my students that would love this book. It contains all the "buttons" - adventure, imagination, suspense, dragons, young characters, fast pace. I will be looking for other books by this author to add to my library.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice little adventure story for the elementary school reader. It a good introduction to spelling (although some of the words will be beyond their capibilities). The story itself should hold their interest and the kids and their father are nice characters. A good early chapter book that I recommend.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute and quick read. I thought the idea of a word dragon was fun and unique. Eli and Grace had a grand adventure and learned valuable lessons while at it. I love the book cover. I can see reading more of this series.

Rating: G
Language: clean read
Recommend: yes

[Cynthia]

This is a great adventure story for elementary-age, and a good length, too.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have my new-to-chapter-book-readers reading this in our book clubs at school. It’s the perfect level and it’s engaging. I love this series.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute book that I won on goodreads. I enjoyed reading it even though it was for young children. Great for children (and adults).

[Susan Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book! I read it to my 5 & 6 year old great grandsons and they loved it. A great first chapter book.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to my 7 year old son. He isn’t easily persuaded to try new books once he’s set on something, but this book drew him in easily. I thought that the book was well written and a captivating read. We would definitely read more books in this series. I won this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, the cover is one of the best eye and kid-catching covers. Its very much why I entered the giveaway. And now, after reading it, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a hot-pick from young readers shelves. Great job, Mr. Hansen :D

[Catty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gifted this to my 9 year old nephew. He enjoyed it!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Word Dragon is a charming book that I won on Goodreads. I can see why it's an award-winning chapter book series. Eli and Grace have an uncle who owns a second-hand store. The kids go with their father to the store to buy a lawn mower. Their uncle entices them to go on their adventure - (which is out the back door) while their father and uncle find a good mower. They enter an enchanted land echoing Narnia. They encounter a dragon who throws fireballs at them - as is his nature. They discover that dragon "Fireball" has a penchant for Scrabble. His love for playing Scrabble overrides his need to throw fireballs. Eli and Grace are playing an engaging game of Scrabble with Fireball, but have to think of a way to return to the antique and junk store!

As a teacher - and lover of Scrabble myself, I'm thrilled to be adding this to my repertoire of "excellent books" for my students and grandchildren. It is engaging, easy to read, and educational. While I was reading it, I was thinking, "I should be writing some of these unusual words down for when I play Scrabble! And guess what? Here there's a list of them at the end of the book. Awesomesauce!!

[betanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun kids adventure. Our friends discover the magic of Uncle Larry’s Antique Shop & Junkyard. Along the way, they meet a dragon that likes to play Scrabble. It is an interesting way to introduce kids to the game of Scrabble, discovering basic rules of the game. I like that we explore the experience of getting letters that are hard to make words from and score points, but that one is able to be a good sport about it, although it doesn’t feel good and isn’t particularly fun.

The boy enjoys the dragon and the magical adventure. He likes these as well as Magic Tree House. I like them more. This doesn’t feel like it as a boiler plate story like the Magic Tree House books do. But that is just my opinion.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tevin Hansen and Handerson Publishing for a copy of Word Dragon: A Junkyard Adventure. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
I read Word Dragon with my young niece last night and we both loved it. I especially love the Scrabble words glossary at the end of the book. It's a great way for her to learn new words and to be able to search the meaning of a word she (and I!) didn't understand while we read the book. (ie Mbaqanga, Pinquid)
We both enjoyed the adventure of Uncle Larry's antique store/junkyard. Eli and Grace were both easy to relate to for her. The book is also very funny.
I really enjoyed this book and we are looking forward to additional adventures!

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this children’s book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. I thought it was a clever story about an adventure two children have after entering Uncle Larry’s Junkyard. Uncle Larry had given them a rope, shoe polish, a hubcap and a Scrabble game (missing the letter N) to take on their adventure. The children meet Fireball, a dragon, who loves playing Scrabble.

I think this could be a scary story for younger children because the dragon was shooting fireballs at the children. Although it was explained that the dragon just had an upset stomach and couldn’t help it the sequence was frightening.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have enjoyed this book as a middle-schooler. My son is too young to understand and enjoy the story right now but he enjoys the doodles I put in the margins of the more draw-able words as well as the onomatopoeia. There's vocab definitions and pronunciations of the scrabble words used in the back of the book and some rules of the game sprinkled throughout the book. I can't definitively speak on how effective it is at teaching vocabulary but my bet is that it works well.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for a free copy of this book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading the book “THE WORD DRAGON” by TEVIN HANSEN. Uncle Larry’s Antique Shop & Junkyard is a magical world where everything has a price--and nothing is as it seems. On a trip with their dad to find a lawnmower, Eli and Grace listen to a simple story from Uncle Larry. And when they step outside into the junkyard...the magic begins! Eli and Grace go on an adventure full of surprises, and play a game with a dragon that is as dangerous as it is fun. An adventurous and fun read that is also educational!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having won this through the Goodreads giveaway program I immediately thought of my grandson.

He is in elementary school, loves dragons and is a fan of boardgames.

After reading this, and sharing it with him, now will be the perfect time to introduce him to Scrabble!

This is a great story with a variety of words introduced that will be fun to sound out together and use in conversation.

A fun read with some great stories inside.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great fast-paced, funny, early chapter books. The concept of a junkyard transforming into a mountain with a dragon who loves Scrabble had my attention immediately. I've read the entire series, and it's a lot like the Magic Treehouse books. The lessons are scattered throughout, but aren't over-stated. They blend naturally into the plot and fast-paced action.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Word Dragon in a Goodreads giveaway and I am voluntarily leaving a review. My and my children, ages 6 and 8 really enjoyed the adventure Eli and Grace got to go on with Fireball. I really liked the mini dictionary throughout the book and feel like my kids had fun learning something new.

[Megan Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is excellently written. It offers a plethora of words children can not only learn the spelling of, but also the definitions. Whenever trying to think of "Q" words, it's difficult for even the most educated, and tend to only think of "Q-u" words. This book gets the reader to think outside of that box.

[Stephanie Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Word Drago is such a fun book for young readers as well as adults. I was surprised by some of the words as I did not know them! However, Hansen does a great job of working them into the book as well as giving you the definition. I won this book from a goodreads drawing. I will be keeping it for many years as I have my children.

[Nancy Mcclenathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this early chapter reader, the first in a series called Junkyard Adventures. Opening the door to a thrift store, leads Eli and Grace on an adventure to a magical place with a word dragon, who loves to play Scrabble.

Thank you Goodreads and Handerson Publishing for this autographed copy of the delightful book called Word Dragon.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍

My children love these little books. They thoroughly enjoy each and every story, as if they are all unique and individual without any cause for similarity among them. Even though sometimes, they might seem tedious and repetitive to me as a parent, I do enjoy being able to read short-stories to my children that are clean and respective.

[Giulietta Spudich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading Word Dragon. It's a fun story that moves quickly. I like how the relationship between sister and brother Grace and Eli grows. Also, it seems a great way to teach kids some words.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli and Grace, brother and sister, accompany their father to an antique shop so he could look for a lawnmower. Uncle Larry tells them a story while their father shops. Eli and Grace embark on a magical adventure where they encounter a word dragon.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my 6 year old grandson.
My 6 year old grandson loved this book (he is way ahead in reading so other 6 year olds may not enjoy it). He is wanting to read more of the Junkyard Adventures.

[Joseph Sampsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

While written for children, the dragon is a friendly character that makes learning fun for all. Even as an adult, I enjoyed the story and word scrabble. Plus, I was able to passed it on to a co-worker’s child. The gift that keeps on giving…knowledge that is!