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Summary: Very Well Done - It Makes You Believe...
Review: ...I wish there were more books like this for my kids. It really opens their imaginations. Egyptology is also well done, but this really covers it all. It's an interactive book with all the goodies and secrets in it (did you decode the front cover?). Very well done. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Dragonology Review
Review: After just a brief view of this book's pages online, my son and I knew we HAD to have this book. No sooner did we rip open the package did we find ourselves OHHing and AHHing at this wonderful creation. Young and old dragon lovers will not be disappointed by the attention to detail as wonderful "samples" of dragon skin, scales, dust, and other surprises await to delightfully surprise the reader at every page turn. I highly recommend this book to all. :)
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Summary: Strong "Book of Dragons"
Review: Ever wonder why Smaug hoarded all that treasure? Apparently it was just to impress the lady dragons. That's only one detail of "Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons," a faux-scholarly book that gives intricate details to the legendary beasts. (The actual author is Dugald A. Steer).
Without robbing dragons of their mystique, we get an overview of them: there are intricate studies of the different kinds of dragons, from the Eastern lung to the Australian marsupial (which is a bit too silly for the tongue-in-cheek tone of the book). "Dr. Drake" also examines their habits, such as courtship rituals and parenting, as well as the the biological means by which they spew flames, and the reason why they hoard gems.
He also gives quite a bit of advice for the budding dragonolist, ranging from the obscure (hide shiny objects from baby dragons) to the ordinary (wear fireproof clothing). Finally, there is a historical overview of famous dragonologists from around the world, and spells that assist them.
Dragons are a staple of legend and literature, although a neglected one. Though "Dragonology" is presented as a serious work, Steer never forgets to keep his tongue in cheek. It's a fun read, with lots of detail and thought -- after all, it can't be easy to document the physiology of a beast that doesn't, technically, exist.
Taken on its own, the book might merely be cute. But Steer also includes little details like a faux library card belonging to Ernest Drake, a little letter enclosed in a special envelope, and an inscription on the inner front cover: "To Friendly Dragons" followed by a bunch of Tolkienesque runes.
And the illustrations are as much a part as the faux-scholarly text. Classic-looking pictures of various kinds of dragons are only one part of it; there are also looks at embroyonic dragons in the egg, the different egg shapes, a foldout map that shows where the various species live, and several pictures of the anatomy of dragons, including musculature, skeleton, and things like claws, wing "fingers" and optic nerves.
Okay, maybe dragons don't exist. Big deal. The faux-scholarly tone, exquisite illustrations and intricate detail of "Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons" makes it an immensely fun read.
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Summary: Whaddaya mean just for kids??
Review: Grades 2-7, pfeh. We got this for our kids, but my wife & I had almost as much fun reading it as they did. Full of cool and imaginative writing, illustrations, etc.
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Summary: Why I Want To Be A Dragonologist
Review: I am only seven, and this book was the best book I have ever read--and believe me, I've read a lot! My favorite dragon in this book was the Frost Dragon; I also liked the Marsupial Dragon. I like the spells because they were awesome, and they taught me how to seize dragons. One spell was you put dragon dust on a mirror and point it directly into his eyes, and then you could steal the gold! I also like the back page where the dragon has a mirror for an eye. In one of the secret envelopes I read "Beware: this spell will turn the dragon against you." The letters were camoflaged and kind of squished together, but my second cousin and I figured it out! Do you know why the author mentioned a duck-billed platypus in a dragon book? I'll tell you...because it once wasn't believed that the duck-billed platypus existed, so why shouldn't you believe in dragons? This book made me fascinated with dragons, and now I would like to become a dragonologist. Please read this interesting book if you love dragons, too. Cameron
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Summary: Here there be dragons!
Review: I bought this book for a friend's daughter for Christmas, and I hate to part with it! It is magical, gorgeous and stunning, from its rich, bejeweled cover to its many treasures within: beautiful illustrations, witty text, fun pull-outs, even samples of shed dragon skin, wing membranes and dragon dust (all lovely!) We learn much about dragons, from their life cycles and behaviors to their flying techniques ("A happy dragon is a dragon that loops") and how they're REALLY able to breathe fire (Ah, I'd always wondered....) And at the end, a wise message about caring for the world and its creatures lest they vanish....and another charming surprise that I won't give away. No serious dragonologist should be without this enchanting book! :-)
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Summary: It's not just for kids!!!
Review: I bought this book for my adult sister who has a bit of an affinity for dragons, thinking it would be a "cute" little gift. When the book arrived, I was so impressed with the cover alone! It's a deep red, with red foil lined dragons and four "emeralds," alluding to the notion that dragons are attracted to gems. I couldn't help but read it myself...and I must say it will be hard to relinquish it to my sister! It's full of illustrations, as well as "samples" of dragon scales and dragon dust. It references some of our greats, such as Merlin, Marco Polo and Magnus...just to name a few. Yes, it's fiction. Yes, it's an easy read. Yet any adult who appreciates our old world legends will have a blast with this book!
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Summary: What a wonderful book!
Review: I bought this for my 8 year old son after reading the reviews. He absolutely loves it and carries it around with him everywhere. I'm not even a big dragon fan and found myself enthralled with this book!
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Summary: This book makes you want to be a kid again!
Review: I came across this book by chance,and me and my children (7 & 3 years old) felt in love with it. It is written like a diary/notebook, with little annotations, compartments with notes, the drawings are just fantastic. This book will make you believe in dragons!
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Summary: The Coolest Book Ever!!!
Review: I just read this book, and I hate to admit it, but I found this book fasanating. I hope to see more like this (*hint* *hint* ^^;;). Anywho, I love the way the book was made. It looks like it could actually be a real book, like a nonfiction book. I hope others like this book as much as I do. ^_^ - Christine
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