Product Description

Dragons are popular as never before—and here they pop up in fire-breathing action!

Five dramatic dragon stories from around the world, including Beowulf and the Firedrake, St. George and the Dragon, and those from ancient China and Japan come to life, literally flying from the pages. Dynamic paper-engineering has these magnificent dragons snapping their jaws, casting fire, and flapping their massive wings. A book sure to be a hit with dragon-lovers of all ages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #223911 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 12 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4–This book's handsome cover features two flying fork-tongued beasts, a backdrop of touchable green scales, and leather-toned edges. Inside, dramatically illustrated spreads introduce five dragon tales: Saint George and the Dragon; a Chinese legend telling how four compassionate dragons transformed themselves into crop-saving rivers; the story of young Maud and her out-of-control pet wyvern; the elderly Beowulf's last battle with the Fire Dragon; and a Japanese tale about a sea dragon princess. Throughout, colorful, three-dimensional creatures pop up to uncurl a snakelike body, rear an awe-inspiring head, or stretch their mammoth wings. The focus is on the art and kinetic paper engineering as the tales are briefly–and sketchily–retold. While readers will devour the action-packed illustrations, the superficial text will leave them hungry for more substantial storytelling. An additional purchase for display purposes or perhaps for classroom presentations.–Joy Fleishhacker,School Library Journal
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About the Author
M. P. Robertson studied graphic design at Kingston University and has specialized in children’s book illustration since 1988. He has illustrated over sixty book jackets, several novels, and many picture books featuring dragons. His art has been exhibited in England. Mr. Robertson lives with his wife and his two children.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Pop-Up
This is yet another fantastic pop-up book. I collect pop-up books and I certainly was not disappointed with this one, DRAGONS: A Pop-Up Book of Fantastic Adventures.

Excellent Pop-Up Dragon book for young children
This book has beautiful illustrations (lovely color and details) with simple, but impressive, pop-up art. As another reviewer noted, complex pop-up stuff is easily destroyed by kids. My four year old likes to feel the fangs and make the dragons 'fly' by opening and closing the book. It has remained durable over the past several months, unlike other pop-ups. This is one of his all time favorite books.

Although the retellings are rather dry, I like the fact that it includes dragon stories from a wide range of cultures: England, China, Sweden, Japan. With a (very little!) extra imagination, it is easy to fill the stories out. My husband uses fake British and horrid Scottish accents that make our son giggle. Discussion about how fables and rules work (Why did the Dragon Princess leave?) generate more discussion... and at bedtime, I appreciate being able to tell my kids they only get one or two dragon stories, if it's already late. Or, if it's the only story, even reading all 5 does not take that long.

Because these are familiar legends, one can find other versions, and I think it's really good for kids to learn that there are different ways to tell the story of St. George and the Dragon. Or that in some versions of Maud and the Wyvern the knight who kills the Wyvern is named Garston, and in some versions he's a high born local Knight, and in other versions he's a prisoner who figured that the risk of fighting a wyvern would be worth the possibility of freedom. We parents can learn a lot with a little research!

Some of the stories are a little boodthirsty, so it could be scary for young children, and when my son finally gets to take it to share at his preschool, I am planning to let the teachers know which stories are best for the littlest ones...

Dragons: A pop up book
This is a beautiful book. It is the second one I've purchased for a gift. I think if you are a person interested in dragon lore, then this is a great book to buy. The quality of the "pop ups" is amazing. The text interesting and informative.