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Dragonbreath #1
Dragonbreath
It's not easy for Danny Dragonbreath to be the sole mythical creature in a school for reptiles and amphibians -- especially because he can't breathe fire like other dragons (as the school bully loves to remind him). But having a unique family comes in handy sometimes, like when his sea-serpent cousin takes Danny and his best iguana friend on a mindboggling underwater tour, complete with vomiting sea cucumbers and giant squid. It sure beats reading the encyclopedia to research his ocean report . . .
Using a hybrid of comic-book panels and text, Ursula Vernon introduces an irresistible set of characters with a penchant for getting themselves into sticky situations. It's perfect for both the classroom and fans of Wimpy Kid and Bad Kitty.
Using a hybrid of comic-book panels and text, Ursula Vernon introduces an irresistible set of characters with a penchant for getting themselves into sticky situations. It's perfect for both the classroom and fans of Wimpy Kid and Bad Kitty.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published June 11, 2009
349 people are currently reading
4800 people want to read
About the author
Ursula Vernon
75 books1,498 followersUrsula Vernon, aka T. Kingfisher, is an author and illustrator. She has written over fifteen books for children, at least a dozen novels for adults, an epic webcomic called “Digger” and various short stories and other odds and ends.
Ursula grew up in Oregon and Arizona, studied anthropology at Macalester College in Minnesota, and stayed there for ten years, until she finally learned to drive in deep snow and was obligated to leave the state.
Having moved across the country several times, she eventually settled in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where she works full-time as an artist and creator of oddities. She lives with her husband and his chickens.
Her work has been nominated for the Eisner, World Fantasy, and longlisted for the British Science Fiction Awards. It has garnered a number of Webcomics Choice Awards, the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story, the Mythopoeic Award for Children’s Literature, the Nebula for Best Short Story, the Sequoyah Award, and many others.
Ursula grew up in Oregon and Arizona, studied anthropology at Macalester College in Minnesota, and stayed there for ten years, until she finally learned to drive in deep snow and was obligated to leave the state.
Having moved across the country several times, she eventually settled in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where she works full-time as an artist and creator of oddities. She lives with her husband and his chickens.
Her work has been nominated for the Eisner, World Fantasy, and longlisted for the British Science Fiction Awards. It has garnered a number of Webcomics Choice Awards, the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story, the Mythopoeic Award for Children’s Literature, the Nebula for Best Short Story, the Sequoyah Award, and many others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 577 reviews
August 24, 2024
Despicably cute, disgustingly fluffy, and funny as fish.
P.S. I want a snorkel-wearing bat for Christmas. And a potato salad with stabby tendencies.
P.S. I want a snorkel-wearing bat for Christmas. And a potato salad with stabby tendencies.
August 11, 2009
Blame Babymouse. Why not? Babymouse, for those of you unfamiliar with the series, is the hot pink infused graphic novel sensation that has boys and girls alike wrapped tightly up in the time and trials of a little mouse with messy whiskers and a weakness for a good cupcake. No one anticipated the massive success of the series, and since its creation there have been multiple attempts to topple it from its throne. Terms like "it's the new Babymouse" have been many, but until now no comic booky-like creation has successfully come up with its own particular brand of humor and thick black-lined drawings. Until now! To be fair Dragonbreath, the first in a new series, is its own beast entirely. With a shape and size (and restrained color palette) similar to Babymouse, author/illustrator Ursula Vernon has come up with her own unique storytelling style. I dislike calling anything the "new" this and the "new" that, but if you want something to supplement the reading of your Babymouse fans who like funny urbane graphic fiction, seek thee no further, traveler. Here be dragons.
You would think that as a dragon Danny would have it easy at school. You would have it wrong. Sure, he's the only dragon amongst a bunch of other reptiles, but can he breathe fire yet? Not hardly. So is it any wonder that he gets picked on by the local bullies all the time? At least he has his best friend Wendell, an iguana with a penchant for a smart retort. When Danny cooks up a plan to write a report on oceans by visiting his cousin Edward (a sea serpent) Wendell comes along and the two find themselves in deep water. Literally. Figuratively. Told with text with pictures for spice (ala Captain Underpants) consider this a reluctant reader pick, and a visual stimulant.
It's important for the creator of any book to believe in the world they've conjured up. Artist Ursula Vernon has done just that. In this book she has clearly considered all the logistics down when it comes to creating a school for reptiles. The playground would be equipped with large rocks "for sitting and sunning oneself." The bully would, of course, be a Komodo dragon (with a salamander and a chameleon for his flunkies). Of course, in terms of scale, Vernon does tend to break out the creativity. Dragons, apparently, are comparable in size (at least when young) to salamanders and lizards. Komodo dragons, for that matter, are significantly larger (though not as big as they would be in real life). For about a page and a half your brain says "squee?" and tries to figure this out. Then you tell your brain to take it easy and enjoy the book, and it forgets all about scale and size from that point onward. And there has been some mention of the fact that the school sections don't always drive the plot forward, but I would argue that each section of the book adds to the overall storyline.
The text is a nice mixing and melding of kid and adult humor. Vernon can write a sentence like, "This idea was met with the contempt it deserved," and not turn off young readers in the process. You will find this book infused with an exceptionally dry wit. There are plenty of phrases in this book that I've never seen grace the pages of children's literature before. Wendell covered in sea cucumber spit-up utters a remorseful "I feel violated". I also tend to feel favorably towards any book that can work in good 10-point vocabulary words casually as part of the text. And it doesn't get much better than sentences like, "It was the exact sound that a a young Komodo dragon might make when he had just been stabbed in the hand with a plastic fork by a plate of recalcitrant potato salad." My guess as to the number of children's books tossing about the term "recalcitrant"? Low. Very low.
Some people will tell you that kids these days refuse to read anything purely black and white. Others will point out the ever-present popularity of comic strips and scoff. I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Children, for all that we talk down to them, can be discerning consumers. If a graphic novel is drawn in such a way that color would aid in the reading of it, kids pick up on that. Dragonbreath, as it happens, is limited to a color palette of one. Green. Lots o' pretty green. You get a touch of yellow and blue on the cover, but don't let them fool you. Green's as good as it gets. Which, considering that this is a seaside tale that takes a turn for ocean depths, is fine. I was kind of hoping for a second color to appear during the big exciting climax, but no go. Perhaps future episodes will introduce new colors for the upcoming adventures in the series.
I considered for a moment the possibility that Dragonbreath would read aloud well to kids. After all, there's more text than anything else. Still, the full-page illustrated spreads do not always align perfectly with where the text is at any given time. Also, these pictures would be difficult to see in a classroom setting. Nope. Dragonbreath is clearly the one-on-one type. Fortunately it's also equally funny to adults and kids which will make bedtime reading fun for everyone. Don't let them pawn this off on you as a lesser Babymouse then. Dragonbreath is its own beast entirely, and once a kid has read it they'll be mightily inclined to read a couple more. Particularly if future volumes really do involve ninja frogs.
Ages 7-11.
You would think that as a dragon Danny would have it easy at school. You would have it wrong. Sure, he's the only dragon amongst a bunch of other reptiles, but can he breathe fire yet? Not hardly. So is it any wonder that he gets picked on by the local bullies all the time? At least he has his best friend Wendell, an iguana with a penchant for a smart retort. When Danny cooks up a plan to write a report on oceans by visiting his cousin Edward (a sea serpent) Wendell comes along and the two find themselves in deep water. Literally. Figuratively. Told with text with pictures for spice (ala Captain Underpants) consider this a reluctant reader pick, and a visual stimulant.
It's important for the creator of any book to believe in the world they've conjured up. Artist Ursula Vernon has done just that. In this book she has clearly considered all the logistics down when it comes to creating a school for reptiles. The playground would be equipped with large rocks "for sitting and sunning oneself." The bully would, of course, be a Komodo dragon (with a salamander and a chameleon for his flunkies). Of course, in terms of scale, Vernon does tend to break out the creativity. Dragons, apparently, are comparable in size (at least when young) to salamanders and lizards. Komodo dragons, for that matter, are significantly larger (though not as big as they would be in real life). For about a page and a half your brain says "squee?" and tries to figure this out. Then you tell your brain to take it easy and enjoy the book, and it forgets all about scale and size from that point onward. And there has been some mention of the fact that the school sections don't always drive the plot forward, but I would argue that each section of the book adds to the overall storyline.
The text is a nice mixing and melding of kid and adult humor. Vernon can write a sentence like, "This idea was met with the contempt it deserved," and not turn off young readers in the process. You will find this book infused with an exceptionally dry wit. There are plenty of phrases in this book that I've never seen grace the pages of children's literature before. Wendell covered in sea cucumber spit-up utters a remorseful "I feel violated". I also tend to feel favorably towards any book that can work in good 10-point vocabulary words casually as part of the text. And it doesn't get much better than sentences like, "It was the exact sound that a a young Komodo dragon might make when he had just been stabbed in the hand with a plastic fork by a plate of recalcitrant potato salad." My guess as to the number of children's books tossing about the term "recalcitrant"? Low. Very low.
Some people will tell you that kids these days refuse to read anything purely black and white. Others will point out the ever-present popularity of comic strips and scoff. I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Children, for all that we talk down to them, can be discerning consumers. If a graphic novel is drawn in such a way that color would aid in the reading of it, kids pick up on that. Dragonbreath, as it happens, is limited to a color palette of one. Green. Lots o' pretty green. You get a touch of yellow and blue on the cover, but don't let them fool you. Green's as good as it gets. Which, considering that this is a seaside tale that takes a turn for ocean depths, is fine. I was kind of hoping for a second color to appear during the big exciting climax, but no go. Perhaps future episodes will introduce new colors for the upcoming adventures in the series.
I considered for a moment the possibility that Dragonbreath would read aloud well to kids. After all, there's more text than anything else. Still, the full-page illustrated spreads do not always align perfectly with where the text is at any given time. Also, these pictures would be difficult to see in a classroom setting. Nope. Dragonbreath is clearly the one-on-one type. Fortunately it's also equally funny to adults and kids which will make bedtime reading fun for everyone. Don't let them pawn this off on you as a lesser Babymouse then. Dragonbreath is its own beast entirely, and once a kid has read it they'll be mightily inclined to read a couple more. Particularly if future volumes really do involve ninja frogs.
Ages 7-11.
June 6, 2016
I thought this would be a no-brainer for my 8 yo son who is not a reader. Unfortunately, although the attractive format and size and concept scream "reluctant reader", the voice does not. My son read a few pages and wouldn't go any farther. So I read it and it wasn't hard to see why- the voice is just not accessible enough for the reader this book will attract. An example sentence: "Mr. Dragonbreath's boss had brought in three motivational speakers in the last month to talk to all the employees at the antacid bottling plant, and Danny was suffering the fallout." Or when Danny is being bullied... "Danny was not particularly broken up about this, but did not think it would be diplomatic to say so." Those are some cumbersome sentences for kids who like the frequent sections of illustration and comic panels this book has. I don't believe in dumbing down language or words for kids, but it shouldn't be a struggle to understand sentence after sentence in a book which looks like it should be a "no-brainer". And I think a 10 or 12 yo kid would think this looks too juvenile for them to be reading, although they would better understand the writing. Overall, I guess it was an okay book- I just am not sure who the audience is and that bothered me too much.
October 22, 2020
My 8-year-old really enjoyed this novel. We had fun reading this together. It's the perfect age for a young reader or for a parent to read as a bedtime story.
January 16, 2021
So much effort to avid doing a little science homework...
February 24, 2016
What a cute book! It creates a humorous and instructive atmosphere by combining a field trip with adventure. It was never boring even though the subject matter has been covered to death --kudos to Vernon for getting it right. Great for kids grades 5-8.
January 8, 2020
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I was first introduced to Ursula Vernon's writing when a friend of mine recommended her Hamster Princess series to me. I was absolutely in love with it even before I had finished with the first part. Naturally then, I wanted to try as much of Ursula Vernon as I could. That's how I ended up reading this series. And let me tell you first-hand that I didn't(don't) regret it.
Dragonbreath is the first book of the Dragonbreath series. Named after the main character in the story, Danny Dragonbreath, the book is about a dragon (as is obvious) and his adventures. It starts off with introducing to us the fact that Danny, a dragon studying in the school of reptiles, can't breath fire. It is a huge shame for him and he is often made of because of this very reason. Some people even refuse to believe that he is a dragon in the first place!
It also introduces to us right at the beginning that Danny has a science paper on ocean due that very morning and he has no idea what to write about. So when the made-up paper that he submitted gives him an F (at least I remember it to be an F), he asks his mother for help, who further recommends him to go and talk to his cousin Edward, the sea serpent living in the Sargasso Sea. (Honestly, even the name of the sea is horrific enough to make me stay away from it. I wonder why his best friend, Wendell the iguana even went along!)
Anyhow, since Danny and Wendell are best buddies (even though they are stark opposites) they end up traveling to the Sargasso Sea where they have a great adventure—great according to Danny and momentously scary according to Wendell. And well, let me just leave it to that without giving any more spoilers. Overall, the adventure was entertaining and made for the bulk of the book.
What I loved the most about this book was how easy-going it was. I can literally finish the entire book in one sitting without getting bored with it. Vernon has definitely lived up to the standard that the Hamster Princess series had set up. The writing style was also exciting and those sudden illustrations were very charming. What I didn't like, however, was how the book lacked a female presence. Except for Danny's mom, we didn't encounter any female character. And if we did, then she was probably not important enough to be remembered. Other than that, the illustrations were also quite similar to the ones in the other series. I can probably remove a few scales and add a few whiskers and create the exact characters of Hamster Princess. That bothered me a little because I really wanted there to be more than that.
I was first introduced to Ursula Vernon's writing when a friend of mine recommended her Hamster Princess series to me. I was absolutely in love with it even before I had finished with the first part. Naturally then, I wanted to try as much of Ursula Vernon as I could. That's how I ended up reading this series. And let me tell you first-hand that I didn't(don't) regret it.
Dragonbreath is the first book of the Dragonbreath series. Named after the main character in the story, Danny Dragonbreath, the book is about a dragon (as is obvious) and his adventures. It starts off with introducing to us the fact that Danny, a dragon studying in the school of reptiles, can't breath fire. It is a huge shame for him and he is often made of because of this very reason. Some people even refuse to believe that he is a dragon in the first place!
It also introduces to us right at the beginning that Danny has a science paper on ocean due that very morning and he has no idea what to write about. So when the made-up paper that he submitted gives him an F (at least I remember it to be an F), he asks his mother for help, who further recommends him to go and talk to his cousin Edward, the sea serpent living in the Sargasso Sea. (Honestly, even the name of the sea is horrific enough to make me stay away from it. I wonder why his best friend, Wendell the iguana even went along!)
Anyhow, since Danny and Wendell are best buddies (even though they are stark opposites) they end up traveling to the Sargasso Sea where they have a great adventure—great according to Danny and momentously scary according to Wendell. And well, let me just leave it to that without giving any more spoilers. Overall, the adventure was entertaining and made for the bulk of the book.
What I loved the most about this book was how easy-going it was. I can literally finish the entire book in one sitting without getting bored with it. Vernon has definitely lived up to the standard that the Hamster Princess series had set up. The writing style was also exciting and those sudden illustrations were very charming. What I didn't like, however, was how the book lacked a female presence. Except for Danny's mom, we didn't encounter any female character. And if we did, then she was probably not important enough to be remembered. Other than that, the illustrations were also quite similar to the ones in the other series. I can probably remove a few scales and add a few whiskers and create the exact characters of Hamster Princess. That bothered me a little because I really wanted there to be more than that.
August 3, 2009
It seems like lately, illustration has been making all sorts of inroads into what was once text-only territory. You can’t go very far in a library or bookstore these days without coming across some new-fangled marriage between these two mediums. My Unwilling Witch, Frankie Pickle, Prince of Underwhere, Max Disaster, and (of course) the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series have all combined words and images in ways that have left catalogers in fits (Which shelf does this go on!?). Dragonbreath, by Ursula Vernon (Nurk) falls into this category. While I wish it delivered more humor and storyline direction, this school story/fantasy will have some appeal for young readers.
Danny Dragonbreath is the lone dragon in a school filled with amphibians and reptiles. Danny has yet to breath fire, and along with his nerdy friend Wendell, is picked on by classmates. Not a go-getter in terms of his schoolwork, Danny turns in a made-up science paper about the ocean and receives an F and the dreaded “See me” note from his teacher. His punishment? Completely rewrite the paper. When Danny’s mother suggests he talk to his sea serpent cousin Edward to help with his paper, a gung-ho Danny drags the unadventurous Wendell along for a tour of the deep sea that provides more material than the dragon can imagine.
The illustrations remind me of another series aimed at this age group – Babymouse. Boldy outlined, inky illustrations are colored with variations of muted green. They give the appearance of being created with a Sharpie, and are immensely appealing.
The storyline could have benefited from a dose of focus. Especially during the scenes that take place in school, there are moments of dialogue that don’t do much to move the story forward or add humor.
While it isn’t quite as compelling as I had hoped, Dragonbreath (as all series beginnings do) holds the promise of future success. This one ain’t too far off.
Danny Dragonbreath is the lone dragon in a school filled with amphibians and reptiles. Danny has yet to breath fire, and along with his nerdy friend Wendell, is picked on by classmates. Not a go-getter in terms of his schoolwork, Danny turns in a made-up science paper about the ocean and receives an F and the dreaded “See me” note from his teacher. His punishment? Completely rewrite the paper. When Danny’s mother suggests he talk to his sea serpent cousin Edward to help with his paper, a gung-ho Danny drags the unadventurous Wendell along for a tour of the deep sea that provides more material than the dragon can imagine.
The illustrations remind me of another series aimed at this age group – Babymouse. Boldy outlined, inky illustrations are colored with variations of muted green. They give the appearance of being created with a Sharpie, and are immensely appealing.
The storyline could have benefited from a dose of focus. Especially during the scenes that take place in school, there are moments of dialogue that don’t do much to move the story forward or add humor.
While it isn’t quite as compelling as I had hoped, Dragonbreath (as all series beginnings do) holds the promise of future success. This one ain’t too far off.
December 18, 2023
Adorable middle-school book that still manages to retain Vernon’s wry humor and affection for the natural world.
December 16, 2015
I'm not sure if "realistic fantasy" is a genre, but this is it. The book is about Danny Dragonbreath (who is having trouble with his fire-breathing skills), and his iguana best friend. Also featured is a komodo dragon as the bully, and a sea serpent as the helpful cousin who helps Danny with his report on the ocean. There's elements of Calvin and Hobbes here (think potato salad that comes alive), as well as every other elementary school realistic fiction narrative (homework, bullying, friendship, family). But there's also dragons and mermaids and the lost city of Atlantis.
A possible suggestion for those in love with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Babymouse, or any other illustration-heavy realistic humorous fiction series.
A possible suggestion for those in love with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Babymouse, or any other illustration-heavy realistic humorous fiction series.
January 31, 2010
I really got a kick out of this book. It's half graphic novel, half chapter book format. It features different creatures, including our main character who is a dragon. Only, he's having some problems learning how to breathe fire. When him and his best friend take a tour of the ocean with his cousin, a sea-serpent, he manages to almost breathe fire - only he's underwater.. so it sizzles out right away. The water is full of fascinating and frightening creatures, but will Danny survive to write his report on the ocean?
October 26, 2016
Издателство „Плеяда” излиза извън своето обичайно амплоа с издаването на серията „Огнедъх” (много приятен превод на заглавието „Dragonbreath”) от Урсула Върнън. Поредицата е в много приятна хибридна форма между роман и комикс и е насочена към по-младите читатели. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
May 21, 2017
I decided to read this book because my brother liked this series. The book was extremely cheesy and I realized that the plot was very simple. It was filled with cheap comedy and bad jokes. I understand why my brother would like it, but I personally think it's not a good book. It fits the interests of young children, and I do not recommend this book to people in middle school, but someone in a lower grade may enjoy it.
January 18, 2012
danny dragonbreath and wendell go to visit edward to complete a project about the sea.they went thew a lot of trouble with sea anamales.he did not know how to breath fire untill wendell and danny fight a squid and danny breath fire but it turns in to seam right away
May 25, 2020
Very cute middle grade book. I love the combination of text and art, and the humor seems perfect for the audience. (Also: educational content FTW!)
December 20, 2021
Everything I want in a children’s book.
Danny Dragonbreath needs to write a paper about the ocean. He, like I very much would have done as a school aged child, has been procrastinating. He was going to write it in the morning, but didn’t. So then he was going to write it on the bus, but hadn’t done any research. So naturally, he decides to turn his research paper into more of a creative writing exercise, full of invented facts and fun. Perhaps unsurprisingly, his teacher did not appreciate this approach. He must redo his paper; this time without the fictional element.
What follows is Danny‘s *unusual* research journey, because going to the library would be far too mundane. He is a mythical dragon after all. He could have a mythical adventure to spice up his studying, as a treat.
It’s surprisingly rare that I find a children’s book that lives up to my ideal of what children’s fiction needs to be. This ideal was actually solidified tears ago when I read the text of a lecture Neil Gaiman once gave for The Reading Agency, titled “Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and Daydreaming.” The part of that speech that stuck with me through the years was the idea that authors have an obligation, when writing for children, to write stories anyone can enjoy. Good children’s fiction is skillfully constructed .
Anyways, Dragonbreath is clever and fun and silly, full of both interesting trivia and witty lines.
Danny Dragonbreath needs to write a paper about the ocean. He, like I very much would have done as a school aged child, has been procrastinating. He was going to write it in the morning, but didn’t. So then he was going to write it on the bus, but hadn’t done any research. So naturally, he decides to turn his research paper into more of a creative writing exercise, full of invented facts and fun. Perhaps unsurprisingly, his teacher did not appreciate this approach. He must redo his paper; this time without the fictional element.
What follows is Danny‘s *unusual* research journey, because going to the library would be far too mundane. He is a mythical dragon after all. He could have a mythical adventure to spice up his studying, as a treat.
It’s surprisingly rare that I find a children’s book that lives up to my ideal of what children’s fiction needs to be. This ideal was actually solidified tears ago when I read the text of a lecture Neil Gaiman once gave for The Reading Agency, titled “Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and Daydreaming.” The part of that speech that stuck with me through the years was the idea that authors have an obligation, when writing for children, to write stories anyone can enjoy. Good children’s fiction is skillfully constructed .
(a lengthy excerpt of the speech I mean:) We writers — and especially writers for children, but all writers — have an obligation to our readers: it’s the obligation to write true things, especially important when we are creating tales of people who do not exist in places that never were — to understand that truth is not in what happens but in what it tells us about who we are. Fiction is the lie that tells the truth, after all. We have an obligation not to bore our readers, but to make them need to turn the pages. One of the best cures for a reluctant reader, after all, is a tale they cannot stop themselves from reading. And while we must tell our readers true things and give them weapons and give them armor and pass on whatever wisdom we have gleaned from our short stay on this green world, we have an obligation not to preach, not to lecture, not to force predigested morals and messages down our readers’ throats like adult birds feeding their babies pre-masticated maggots; and we have an obligation never, ever, under any circumstances, to write anything for children to read that we would not want to read ourselves.
Anyways, Dragonbreath is clever and fun and silly, full of both interesting trivia and witty lines.
April 27, 2023
The second book of my big big haul from King's Day flea market (see my Twitter). I just HAD to read this one as the second one, it sounded like a delight and it was! Meet Danny, a dragon... who cannot breathe fire. Then there is a mom who is NOT a morning person, a dad who is a bit too inspirational, a best friend who could use some more spirit/adventure, a cousin who is a sea serpent, some bullies but also some nice karma + more, and a big big adventure under the sea with sharks, puffer fish, and is that a Kraken?! It was all just one delight and I loved that we also got some comic pages along with the normal story. This one made me laugh and I enjoyed it a lot! I got the other 2 books as well, so I will be reading them soon!
Recommended!
Recommended!
December 7, 2018
Ursula Vernon is becoming a new favorite. This is the start of a young children's series told in a mix of chapters and comic panels, all about Danny Dragonbreath's struggles. Danny is the only actual dragon at a school for reptiles, he's a creative/daydreamer who has practical parents, teachers who don't appreciate his creativity, and he's bullied at school.
In this case Danny dreams of being a pirate and writes about Snorklebats (adorable) but it doesn't win him any favor with his teacher, so he has to re-write a failing paper on the ocean. He goes to visit his relative the sea serpent at the Sargosso Sea, and discovers the wonders of the ocean with his best friend Wendell the Iguana.
In this case Danny dreams of being a pirate and writes about Snorklebats (adorable) but it doesn't win him any favor with his teacher, so he has to re-write a failing paper on the ocean. He goes to visit his relative the sea serpent at the Sargosso Sea, and discovers the wonders of the ocean with his best friend Wendell the Iguana.
September 15, 2022
This is an early chapter book, with lots of illustrations that are masterfully integrated with the text (some of the dialogue appears only in the illustrations). I read it aloud to my 6-year-old sons, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it! They paged through it repeatedly after I finished reading it, retelling the story to each other and enjoying the comic-like illustrations. We immediately went for the 2nd and now on the third - we borrowed them from the library, but I think we might purchase these for their home collection, they enjoyed them so thoroughly! No content warnings - you could read them aloud to any age, though not every page has a picture.
Read
June 22, 2025This was my first summer buddy read with Charlie. It was a silly middle grade book about a little dragon who goes on an ocean adventure with his buddy, Wendell. They meet up with Danny’s sea monster friend so that Danny can write a paper about the ocean. There are lots of pictures and some brief comics, but there are also many pages with no pictures. He seemed to enjoy it too! Charlie is going into 2nd grade next year.
March 27, 2018
This is a delightful kid's book about Danny the Dinosaur, his best friend Wendell, and an adventure where Danny will do anything (including deep sea exploration) to get out of writing a report about the ocean.
Full of nonsequitors, humor, and the occasional giant squid. Deals with bullying, best friends, and trying to learn things and not always succeeding.
Charming.
Full of nonsequitors, humor, and the occasional giant squid. Deals with bullying, best friends, and trying to learn things and not always succeeding.
Charming.
December 17, 2020
Fun and humorous with perfect art for a graphic novel: in just a few line strokes (talented artists make it look so easy!) the characters have personality and depth and the story is really engagingly told. Glad it's a series; Danny - and his BFF Wendell - is/are such (a) great character(s)!
June 9, 2024
T. Kingfisher’s children’s books pen name. Delightful. Read it myself and will reread for my kids bedtime book. This one has a lot of fun information about the ocean and sea creatures. Informative but broken up really nicely to keep kids attention. And their humor always works for me.
July 4, 2018
I loved your book a lot, I’m glad I bought it. Your book was awesome!
September 20, 2018
It's for the that have a wild imagination and that like short chapter books.
November 29, 2019
I read and really enjoyed a later book in this series (Knight-napped!), so I thought I would go back to the beginning. This is a really fun story about a dragon who can't breath fire, but goes on an adventure with an iguana friend to research a school paper. Totally fun!
October 7, 2024
a charming children's book.
engaging characters, adventure, and language that does not talk down to children
engaging characters, adventure, and language that does not talk down to children
March 5, 2024
Sort of a chapter book/graphic novel hybrid about a fearless young dragon who can’t breathe fire and his more timid best friend Wendell the iguana. Cute and quick read.
October 24, 2025
Tiny dragon and his iguana friend need to write an essay about the ocean, so they go on adventure with his Sea Serpent cousin.
Fun and cute!
Nothing bad, no morals — just a story.
It’s written for boys, so potty humor.
A sea cucumber (scientifically accurate) vomits on his friend and he says: “I feel violated.”
"I don't care!" Wendell tried to throw his hands in the air, realized too late that he was underwater, and flailed rather aimlessly instead.
"Besides," said Danny, slapping the iguana on the back, "it'll be an adventure! You worry too much! How long have you known me?
Have I gotten you killed yet?"
"A shark nearly ate us ten minutes ago!"
"But it didn't, did it?"
He was doing it again, Wendell thought.
Danny had this habit of sounding dreadfully reasonable, and then no matter what Wendell said, he sounded like an idiot, or worse, a wimp, and then before the iguana quite knew what was happening, he was doing something that would require firefighters, long explanations to his parents, or on one memorable occasion, sixteen stitches.
"They're poisonous, idiot!"
INSTEAD
OF INK, THEY
SHOOT A CLOUD OF GLOWING
SNOT AT YOU.
Fun and cute!
Nothing bad, no morals — just a story.
It’s written for boys, so potty humor.
A sea cucumber (scientifically accurate) vomits on his friend and he says: “I feel violated.”
"I don't care!" Wendell tried to throw his hands in the air, realized too late that he was underwater, and flailed rather aimlessly instead.
"Besides," said Danny, slapping the iguana on the back, "it'll be an adventure! You worry too much! How long have you known me?
Have I gotten you killed yet?"
"A shark nearly ate us ten minutes ago!"
"But it didn't, did it?"
He was doing it again, Wendell thought.
Danny had this habit of sounding dreadfully reasonable, and then no matter what Wendell said, he sounded like an idiot, or worse, a wimp, and then before the iguana quite knew what was happening, he was doing something that would require firefighters, long explanations to his parents, or on one memorable occasion, sixteen stitches.
"They're poisonous, idiot!"
INSTEAD
OF INK, THEY
SHOOT A CLOUD OF GLOWING
SNOT AT YOU.
December 30, 2010
This is a cute little graphic novel/book. It is definitely intended for younger children and does a good job of teaching while it tells a fun story. This would probably be a good book for any reluctant readers out there. It is aimed a bit more at boys than girls, but either should enjoy it.
Danny is a dragon who can't breathe fire and who has a bit of trouble getting his homework done. Danny and his pal Wendell, contact Danny's cousin Edward the seaserpent for some help on Danny's paper about the ocean. They then go on a fantastical journey through the sea while managing to still get the homework done on time.
There were a lot of things I liked about this book. It is very funny and the drawings are super cute. The graphic novel and novel parts flowed well as they switch back and forth. The writing it easy to read and kids will be able to easily relate to Danny and his family. My favorite thing about this book is how much science it teaches without being blatant about. Kids really will learn a lot about the ocean and ocean creatures when they read this.
I personally also liked the inclusion of fantasy creatures (dragons, sea monsters) with non-fantasy facts. Although I wondered if this meshing of make-believe and factual information might be a bit confusing for some kids...like they may not realize all the info about the ocean is actually real and not made up. I was also a little concerned that Danny got away with being so naughty and not doing his homework himself.
Overall though this was a fun and cute read; full of adventure and humor. I would recommend this to younger children, but even young adults and adults will think it is a quick, fun read. I will definitely be checking out more Dragonbreath books in the future.
Danny is a dragon who can't breathe fire and who has a bit of trouble getting his homework done. Danny and his pal Wendell, contact Danny's cousin Edward the seaserpent for some help on Danny's paper about the ocean. They then go on a fantastical journey through the sea while managing to still get the homework done on time.
There were a lot of things I liked about this book. It is very funny and the drawings are super cute. The graphic novel and novel parts flowed well as they switch back and forth. The writing it easy to read and kids will be able to easily relate to Danny and his family. My favorite thing about this book is how much science it teaches without being blatant about. Kids really will learn a lot about the ocean and ocean creatures when they read this.
I personally also liked the inclusion of fantasy creatures (dragons, sea monsters) with non-fantasy facts. Although I wondered if this meshing of make-believe and factual information might be a bit confusing for some kids...like they may not realize all the info about the ocean is actually real and not made up. I was also a little concerned that Danny got away with being so naughty and not doing his homework himself.
Overall though this was a fun and cute read; full of adventure and humor. I would recommend this to younger children, but even young adults and adults will think it is a quick, fun read. I will definitely be checking out more Dragonbreath books in the future.
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