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Dragon Stew
Five bored Vikings went out hiking, looking for adventure, something daring, bold and new. So they thought they'd hunt dragon, and then tie it to their wagon, take it home and chop it up, and make dragon stew! But when the Vikings set off to find their dragon, they get a BIG surprise...Hilarious, rhyming story from the award-winning author, Steve Smallman. The quirky, detailed artwork by Lee Wildish, illustrator of Charlie's Superhero Underpants, will entertain children for hours. With an amusing surprise ending, this is the perfect story to read aloud to youngsters.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Steve Smallman
792 books76 followersSteve Smallman lives in Staffordshire with his wife, two dogs and two cats. He has four children and a grandchild. Steve has been illustrating children’s books for almost 30 years and writing his own stories for slightly less. He also teaches illustration workshops in schools, including mural-painting. Steve is the author of Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater (Winner of the Sheffield Children's Book Award 2009) and The Lamb Who Came for Dinner (Shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award and read by Meatloaf on CITV's Bookaboo). When he’s not working, Steve enjoys films, television, gardening and walking in the countryside.
Steve Smallman on Steve Smallman:
I started working as an illustrator when I was in my final year at Art College and now, over 28 years later I still haven't got a proper job! I've illustrated literally hundreds of books, predominantly in educational publishing. A few years ago I was main illustrator for Longman's 'Story Street' reading scheme, illustrating 79 titles and writing 5.
I've worked in children's television, specifically in character development and most notably in the 'Raggy Doll' series in the mid to late 1980's. I have also done a certain amount of licensed work, illustrating characters such as Postman Pat, Bill and Ben and Sesame Street.
I've been described as an 'Animal Artist', not I hasten to add because I'm wild and hairy but because I love to draw animals and especially like to give them human characteristics.
I've been writing children's books for about 6 years and have already had several picture books published with more in development.
I've got 4 great children and although they're all adults now, my memories of them growing up inspire and inform my writing.
Steve Smallman on Steve Smallman:
I started working as an illustrator when I was in my final year at Art College and now, over 28 years later I still haven't got a proper job! I've illustrated literally hundreds of books, predominantly in educational publishing. A few years ago I was main illustrator for Longman's 'Story Street' reading scheme, illustrating 79 titles and writing 5.
I've worked in children's television, specifically in character development and most notably in the 'Raggy Doll' series in the mid to late 1980's. I have also done a certain amount of licensed work, illustrating characters such as Postman Pat, Bill and Ben and Sesame Street.
I've been described as an 'Animal Artist', not I hasten to add because I'm wild and hairy but because I love to draw animals and especially like to give them human characteristics.
I've been writing children's books for about 6 years and have already had several picture books published with more in development.
I've got 4 great children and although they're all adults now, my memories of them growing up inspire and inform my writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 15, 2017
Uma história muito giro, para se ler em conjunto com as crianças. O meu filho mais novo adora
March 7, 2025
خمسة من الفايكنج جربوا كل شيء يبحثون عن مغامرة جديدة. يقترح أحدهم اصطياد تنين وتحضير وجبة من لحمه الشهي، فيتحمسون للفكرة رغم عدم معرفتهم المقصود بالتنين. وهكذا ينطلقون في البحر، يقابلون الوحوش، ينتهي طعامهم، وأخيراً يصلون لجزيرة التنين، فما الذي سيحدث؟
تتميز القصة برسوماتها الجميلة المليئة بالتفاصيل الطريفة التي تمتع الكبير قبل الصغير. فمثلا شكل التنين الضخم وهو يرتدي قبعة صغيرة الحجم، بينما يحتسي الشاي من فنجان صغير كان من التفاصيل اللافتة المضحكة.
أما حبكة القصة فمسلية، سيحبها الأطفال ولكن للأسف هذا كل شيء، فحتى طريقة التغلب على الحبار الضخم اعتمدت على الدعابة السطحية، وأخيراً جاءت النهاية أقل من عادية. طبعاً هذا تقييمي الخاص، أما أطفال العائلة الأعزاء فهم لا يملونها أبداً، ودائما ما يطلبونها بالاسم: يللا نحكي قصة "الدراجون".
تتميز القصة برسوماتها الجميلة المليئة بالتفاصيل الطريفة التي تمتع الكبير قبل الصغير. فمثلا شكل التنين الضخم وهو يرتدي قبعة صغيرة الحجم، بينما يحتسي الشاي من فنجان صغير كان من التفاصيل اللافتة المضحكة.
أما حبكة القصة فمسلية، سيحبها الأطفال ولكن للأسف هذا كل شيء، فحتى طريقة التغلب على الحبار الضخم اعتمدت على الدعابة السطحية، وأخيراً جاءت النهاية أقل من عادية. طبعاً هذا تقييمي الخاص، أما أطفال العائلة الأعزاء فهم لا يملونها أبداً، ودائما ما يطلبونها بالاسم: يللا نحكي قصة "الدراجون".
August 27, 2019
Vikings are bored with pillaging and the like so they decide to cook up some dragon stew. On one hand, the vikings started attacking the dragon which I didn't like but then on the other hand, they learn to not mess with dragons. The moral of the story is to not mess with dragons just because you're bored. The story and illustrations are okay and it's always fun to mix it up sometimes, plus I do like vikings and dragons.
May 8, 2021
My daughter picked this book out the last time we were at the library, and it was actually really good.
This was a funny story about some bored Vikings trying to find something to do, so they decide to try to make dragon stew.
This was a hilarious, rhyming story that both of my kids enjoyed. The illustrations were colorful, and the story was fun. I’d definitely read this to my kiddos again.
This was a funny story about some bored Vikings trying to find something to do, so they decide to try to make dragon stew.
This was a hilarious, rhyming story that both of my kids enjoyed. The illustrations were colorful, and the story was fun. I’d definitely read this to my kiddos again.
March 19, 2019
I wasn't too keen on the characters saying they were "bored" - an idea I try to avoid with my little one. Fun adventure, though!
October 5, 2014
Dragon Stew follows the story of five Vikings who are bored and thus go on an adventure to find a dragon and turn it in to stew. Its quite straight forward.
Most of the humor in this book, sadly, comes from toilet humor, which is a shame as I was really hoping that this book may have been rather clever and thought provoking. But then I suppose that one could argue that the main characters are Vikings, who are often portrayed as quite ill mannered.
As for the pictures, they are very well done and are quite imaginative and colorful. Children will be able to identify certain characteristics of characters just by the pictures alone (e.g. The clumsy Viking, the smelly Viking....)
However there is one key aspect that hinders my enjoyment of this book and that's how the story flows. At first it seems that its going to be told mostly through rhyme, which a lot of it is. But then the rhyming will stop for a line or two. But then it starts again in the next paragraph. But then sometimes a page won't have any rhyming, but the next one is all in rhyme save for a line or two. It almost feels as though they were trying to write a story that rhymes consonantly throughout, but then gave up. Which is a shame as I really liked the idea of the whole story feeling like it was written by Dr. Seuss.
The book is best used in a Key Stage 1 environment (years 1/2) as although it's pretty easy to read and enjoy, I imagine that there's a number of concepts that children younger then this won't understand.
In a classroom I think that this is a book best suited for the bookshelf or ,if desperate, one to be read to the class. Children will enjoy reading it on their own, looking at the pictures (and laughing at the poo jokes.) But asides from this it has little use in the classroom. There are many other picture books out there that are more suited to being read out to the class (such as Beware of Boys.) And many others that rhyme better (any Dr. Seuss story.)
Most of the humor in this book, sadly, comes from toilet humor, which is a shame as I was really hoping that this book may have been rather clever and thought provoking. But then I suppose that one could argue that the main characters are Vikings, who are often portrayed as quite ill mannered.
As for the pictures, they are very well done and are quite imaginative and colorful. Children will be able to identify certain characteristics of characters just by the pictures alone (e.g. The clumsy Viking, the smelly Viking....)
However there is one key aspect that hinders my enjoyment of this book and that's how the story flows. At first it seems that its going to be told mostly through rhyme, which a lot of it is. But then the rhyming will stop for a line or two. But then it starts again in the next paragraph. But then sometimes a page won't have any rhyming, but the next one is all in rhyme save for a line or two. It almost feels as though they were trying to write a story that rhymes consonantly throughout, but then gave up. Which is a shame as I really liked the idea of the whole story feeling like it was written by Dr. Seuss.
The book is best used in a Key Stage 1 environment (years 1/2) as although it's pretty easy to read and enjoy, I imagine that there's a number of concepts that children younger then this won't understand.
In a classroom I think that this is a book best suited for the bookshelf or ,if desperate, one to be read to the class. Children will enjoy reading it on their own, looking at the pictures (and laughing at the poo jokes.) But asides from this it has little use in the classroom. There are many other picture books out there that are more suited to being read out to the class (such as Beware of Boys.) And many others that rhyme better (any Dr. Seuss story.)
February 23, 2013
This story was chosen by my year 2 class to read to them during story time. After reading it with them I now know why they love it so much.
It is written in rhyme and is really easy to read aloud for both adults and children. The pictures are really colourful, with lots of detail and humour and the speech bubbles went down a storm with my class as they read them in various silly voices, much to their amusement.
Dragon’s Stew is a story that follows five very bored Vikings, who one day decide for a bit of excitement that they plan to ‘tie a dragon to their wagon, bring him home and chop him up to make dragon stew’. So they load up their boat with all the essentials such as sardine sandwiches, a poking stick (which is literally a pole with a silly hand tied on to it) and some smelly socks and off they set on their dragon adventure. Obviously, things don’t quite go to plan, with hilarious consequences along the way.
Their adventure is very silly and the mention of stinky socks and dragon poo is all it takes to make the children laugh and I must admit me also! The escapades of the Vikings are very amusing, and what happens to their bottoms in the end is imaginative to say the least.
I think this book is very refreshing and really appeals to both boys and girls alike. The use of nonsense words for the Vikings names are also really valuable in assessing if a child can correctly use their phonic knowledge to decode the words.
I would definitely think about using this book again for other areas of the curriculum and not just for reading for pleasure, as the children really engaged with the story which will help them engage with other activities such as; in history if looking at Vikings, or in literacy children could write their own recipes for dragon stew, or write their own rhymes for what the Vikings went on to do next. I would highly recommend the book to all.
It is written in rhyme and is really easy to read aloud for both adults and children. The pictures are really colourful, with lots of detail and humour and the speech bubbles went down a storm with my class as they read them in various silly voices, much to their amusement.
Dragon’s Stew is a story that follows five very bored Vikings, who one day decide for a bit of excitement that they plan to ‘tie a dragon to their wagon, bring him home and chop him up to make dragon stew’. So they load up their boat with all the essentials such as sardine sandwiches, a poking stick (which is literally a pole with a silly hand tied on to it) and some smelly socks and off they set on their dragon adventure. Obviously, things don’t quite go to plan, with hilarious consequences along the way.
Their adventure is very silly and the mention of stinky socks and dragon poo is all it takes to make the children laugh and I must admit me also! The escapades of the Vikings are very amusing, and what happens to their bottoms in the end is imaginative to say the least.
I think this book is very refreshing and really appeals to both boys and girls alike. The use of nonsense words for the Vikings names are also really valuable in assessing if a child can correctly use their phonic knowledge to decode the words.
I would definitely think about using this book again for other areas of the curriculum and not just for reading for pleasure, as the children really engaged with the story which will help them engage with other activities such as; in history if looking at Vikings, or in literacy children could write their own recipes for dragon stew, or write their own rhymes for what the Vikings went on to do next. I would highly recommend the book to all.
November 12, 2014
Originally published on my blog,
Nine Pages
with links.
Now Smallman seems about as enthusiastic about dragons I am, and I understand that Vikings and dragons have a long history, but there are so many echoes of Cowell and of DreamWorks here that it seems nothing so much as a leech to the How To Train Your Dragon franchise’s fame (the movie was released about six months prior to Dragon Stew’s release). In Cowell the bathroom humor of middle-grade boys is age-appropriate. In a children’s picture book, it seems grotesque (though I do recognize that my disgust is also mixed with my outrage at the book so blatantly coasting on Cowell’s success without acknowledging it). For an older audience, I’d love it, and maybe for, say, ages 7-8 (ages which are within the realm of picture book marketing), it would be great. It’s an exciting adventure about bored Vikings who decide to go and hunt a dragon for their stew without knowing what a dragon looks like, battle their way past sea monsters, eat all of their teatime sardine sandwiches, land on a dragon’s island with the help of a killer whale, examine a pile of dragon poo, and then are confronted with the dragon itself, who rather than allowing himself to be chopped up for stew, sets their bums alight. It might be a delightful picture book, but it’s not one I’m likely to read to my children while they are young enough and incompetent enough readers for picture books—and by the time they’re ready for it, I hope we’ll be reading chapter books.
Now Smallman seems about as enthusiastic about dragons I am, and I understand that Vikings and dragons have a long history, but there are so many echoes of Cowell and of DreamWorks here that it seems nothing so much as a leech to the How To Train Your Dragon franchise’s fame (the movie was released about six months prior to Dragon Stew’s release). In Cowell the bathroom humor of middle-grade boys is age-appropriate. In a children’s picture book, it seems grotesque (though I do recognize that my disgust is also mixed with my outrage at the book so blatantly coasting on Cowell’s success without acknowledging it). For an older audience, I’d love it, and maybe for, say, ages 7-8 (ages which are within the realm of picture book marketing), it would be great. It’s an exciting adventure about bored Vikings who decide to go and hunt a dragon for their stew without knowing what a dragon looks like, battle their way past sea monsters, eat all of their teatime sardine sandwiches, land on a dragon’s island with the help of a killer whale, examine a pile of dragon poo, and then are confronted with the dragon itself, who rather than allowing himself to be chopped up for stew, sets their bums alight. It might be a delightful picture book, but it’s not one I’m likely to read to my children while they are young enough and incompetent enough readers for picture books—and by the time they’re ready for it, I hope we’ll be reading chapter books.
November 3, 2015
Gorgeous detailed illustrations with rhyming story perfection.
Bored vickings are on a mission to make Dragon Stew and set off on their quest. Every tot I know has squealed or grinned with delight as they come across a big steaming, gleaming pile of poo!
Even the dragon is sooo posh drinking his tea? with his curling bib and claw/pinkie raised. He tells them that making Dragon Stew is such a nasty thing to do (I imagine him/and speak his lines with a posh accent).
Does he teach them a lesson? He certainly does and it's hilarious. But do they really learn? As many would often say of kids, "Here we go again" while feverishly wiping brow.
Bored vickings are on a mission to make Dragon Stew and set off on their quest. Every tot I know has squealed or grinned with delight as they come across a big steaming, gleaming pile of poo!
Even the dragon is sooo posh drinking his tea? with his curling bib and claw/pinkie raised. He tells them that making Dragon Stew is such a nasty thing to do (I imagine him/and speak his lines with a posh accent).
Does he teach them a lesson? He certainly does and it's hilarious. But do they really learn? As many would often say of kids, "Here we go again" while feverishly wiping brow.
January 19, 2011
I always struggle with books like this one...where I was so NOT impressed but my audience LOVED it and demanded a re-read! 5 vikings (who aren't too bright) apparently are tired of pillaging and want to find a dragon to slay and eat. The illustrations are terrific...detailed and quirky but the text left me flat. And teh ending...well, it was flat.
picture-books
June 24, 2023Date: 03.06.23
81 Attendees
Theme: Dragons
Introduction and announcements: Hype up Bookmobile
Shake my Sillies out by Raffi
Book one: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Song/rhyme/game one: The Princess Pat (call and response)
Book two: Dragon Stew by Steve Smallman
Song/rhyme/game two: The Floor is Lava by the Kiboomers
Book three: The Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann
Song/ rhyme/ game three: We are the Dragons with dance scarves
We are dragons
We have wings
We can fly and do dragon things
We can breathe fire
Swish our long tails
Travel for miles without leaving trails!
Roaring, soaring dragons fly
And now it’s time for dragons to say goodbye.
Special Signs and announcements: Hype up Bookmobile
Activity: Dragon Coloring Pages
81 Attendees
Theme: Dragons
Introduction and announcements: Hype up Bookmobile
Shake my Sillies out by Raffi
Book one: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
Song/rhyme/game one: The Princess Pat (call and response)
Book two: Dragon Stew by Steve Smallman
Song/rhyme/game two: The Floor is Lava by the Kiboomers
Book three: The Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann
Song/ rhyme/ game three: We are the Dragons with dance scarves
We are dragons
We have wings
We can fly and do dragon things
We can breathe fire
Swish our long tails
Travel for miles without leaving trails!
Roaring, soaring dragons fly
And now it’s time for dragons to say goodbye.
Special Signs and announcements: Hype up Bookmobile
Activity: Dragon Coloring Pages
May 28, 2019
Viidellä viikingillä on tylsää ja he yrittävät keksiä tekemistä. Mikään jo aiemmin koetuista seikkailusta ei kelpaa, joten viisi hurjaa viikinkiä keksivät lähteä lohikäärmejahtiin. Hieman poikkeavaa Kustannus Mäkelän muista kirjoista. Kohderyhmänä taitaa enemmän olla pojat, vaikka yksi viikinki onneksi edustaa myös vastakkaista sukupuolta. Pientä miinusta siitä, että väkivaltaan vastataan samalla mitalla ja viikingit pääsevät vain jatkamaan rellestystään.
November 3, 2017
Miss 3 and I like to explore different books at the library and try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
This was a random selection as she often likes books about dragons. Miss 3 ASD was horrified that they were attacking the dragon and it definitely didn't work for either of us.
This was a random selection as she often likes books about dragons. Miss 3 ASD was horrified that they were attacking the dragon and it definitely didn't work for either of us.
July 30, 2018
Five bored Vikings go looking for a dragon to make dragon stew. They learn a valuable lesson that you do not want to mess with a dragon. I liked the illustrations in this book but plot wise I would have given it 3 stars. My son really loved it though and so we are giving it 4 stars.
July 16, 2023
Viikingeillä on tylsää ja he päättävät lähteä lohikäärmejahtiin. Otus osoittautuukin isommaksi kuin he olivat kuvitelleet. Kirjassa lapsen mielestä hassuinta taisi olla liekit viikinkien pyllyissä kun lohikäärme antoi niille lähtöpassit. Ihan hauska kirja, mutta ei jäänyt erityisesti mieleen.
November 12, 2023
My two-year old daughter's favourite book right now. She points at Bushi Bigbeard and says: "This is Daddy".
This is a fun adventure about bored vikings seeking a dragon to make a dragon stew. Good fun, doesn't take itself seriously.
This is a fun adventure about bored vikings seeking a dragon to make a dragon stew. Good fun, doesn't take itself seriously.
January 28, 2024
A fun story that only loses a star for the slightly strained nature of the rhyme which makes it difficult to read smoothly out loud. Beautifully illustrated though, and more imaginative than your typical children's book about loving your parents, staying quiet, going to bed and being good.
February 8, 2026
A fun story that only loses a star for the slightly strained nature of the rhyme which makes it difficult to read smoothly out loud. Beautifully illustrated though, and more imaginative than your typical children's book about loving your parents, staying quiet, going to bed and being good.
April 25, 2018
Great story and good illustrations!
January 27, 2019
My son loves this book and it's so easy to read with it's rhyme and wit.
Read
October 3, 2019year 2/3
February 27, 2020
A favourite from my childhood and it’s just even more beautiful with my kids 💓
April 18, 2020
A great story
We love this story, it’s so adventurous and funny 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂👍👍👍👍👍👍 by Ruby age 6, love the dragon too, he’s brilliant
We love this story, it’s so adventurous and funny 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂👍👍👍👍👍👍 by Ruby age 6, love the dragon too, he’s brilliant
December 28, 2020
We got this book out of the library and my 3.5 year old loves it. He wants me to read it to him every evening now.
April 6, 2021
Review by Sai Balmuri
Loved this book. Amazing it is💵💵💵worth this much
Loved this book. Amazing it is💵💵💵worth this much
August 2, 2022
It was kind of cute, I think that mid-elementary students would enjoy the silliness.
July 4, 2023
Moodles liked this book a bit. He says he didn't like the big poop and the smelly sock but he did like the silly vikings thinking the dragon was a hill.
October 20, 2023
Found in L4L Volume 92
March 19, 2017
I would give the quirky illustrations four stars.
The text didn't run smoothly in places and this I would give three stars.
But I am sure younger children will find delight in the book.
The text didn't run smoothly in places and this I would give three stars.
But I am sure younger children will find delight in the book.
February 20, 2017
An amusing story of five pirates who are bored and so they decide to sail to Dragon Island to find a dragon to have for supper. However, the dragon they find has other ideas.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews