Rago Gets A Pet Dragon by Matilda Peter

 Who wants a pet dragon? Okay, maybe not a true pet in the house. Maybe, not even in the shed outside? Who simply would like to have a dragon friend? Today's read embraces the idea of loving dragons and explores what it might be like to have one (a very small one) as a pet. It should be packed with humor, and I'm ready for a giggle. So, off we go!

RAGO GETS A PET DRAGON    

A Colorful and Most Unique Dragon

by Matilda Peter

Illustrated by Gul Sari

AMC Publishing

Picture Book / Chapter Book

ages 3 to 7

A fun, magical picture book story filled with humorous mishaps as Rago, a little wizard gets a pet… a most colorful, and quite unique, kind of dragon!

A young wizard named Rago always wanted a pet but wasn’t quite prepared when he got Zalon… a rather unique dragon! Now, what could possibly go wrong when a dragon learns spells? Or sneezes (fire)?

Through a series of funny and chaotic events, Rago soon learns that looking after a dragon is not easy—from finding a dragon-proof bed to discovering Zalon’s favorite food ( it’s smelly and blue).

“Well now, Rago knew dragons ate huge plates of food.
Then he thought, ‘Hmm, but what did they think tasted good?’
Old snake soup, maybe red spider cake, or bug pies?
Or sour pickles and cookies with toasted green flies?”

Can determination and the power of friendship help Rago and Zalon through such chaos?

This humorous and beautifully illustrated rhyming book will make children giggle and spark their imagination. It touches on friendship, acceptance, and perseverance, with fun vocabulary and challenging words to encourage your child’s love for reading.

AMAZON    /    GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Not only dragon fans will enjoy this up-beat and silly tale, which lets rhymes dance around a little mishap, a bit of chaos, and a dab of heart.

Rago wants a pet, and as a wizard, the possibilities are pretty broad. When Zalon, a dragon, ends up being his companion, he's happy and somewhat unsure. This is a unique dragon, which also makes it unpredictable. Plus, Rago isn't quite sure what a dragon needs or wants...or much of anything, really. And not meeting a dragons needs, even one as lovely as Zalon, can quickly lead to sticky situations.

This read was written with the intention of being fun, and it hits that mark nicely. The rhyming bounces along with energy and quirky twists while keeping the humor side high. Zalon is a sympathetic wizard and comes across as normal as can be...well, ignoring the wizardy aspect. It's easy to connect to him and understand his problem. The classroom settings add silliness as do more than a few of the home situations. There's something to smile at on every page, and the tension at one ridiculousness might happen next keeps the anticipation high.

The text makes a great read-aloud for story times and can be read by those who have a good grip on their words. It's not overly text heavy but keeps things light the entire way through. The illustrations add to the humor and fun, bring Zalon to life. Zalon is such a fun dragon, too, and some readers might be left wishing they could have this dragon as a pet themselves.