Tuesday, December 2, 2008

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer by Kate Klimo

Review by Erica Moore

"Jesse! Jesse, let me out!” Jesse looked around, he was alone except for the rocks on top of High Peak. He could see his cousin and uncle in the distance but this voice was very close. “Jesse!” Jesse looked down at the rock in his hand. The voice was coming from the rock, if that was even possible. It was just like those magic adventure stories Jesse and his cousin Daisy read. Could something like this happen to them?

Jesse and his cousin Daisy take home the rock from High Peak only to discover it’s really a dragon’s egg with a baby dragon named Emmy inside. Jesse and Daisy search the internet and find a site named foundadragon.org with a mysterious professor that offers advice on feeding Emmy and the dangerous St. George who hunts dragons.

This book is well suited for kids 3rd to 5th grade, and there are lots of mishaps in the story line placing the kids or dragon in danger only to be saved in the nick of time by each other. Grown-ups are well meaning but oblivious to what’s really going on except for the evil St. George. This is an interesting take on the St. George character and curious kids might want to investigate the story of St. George. There are also unusual vocabulary words sprinkled in thanks to the mysterious and cranky professor Andersson at foundadragon.org. It might facilitate a trip to the dictionary to discover their meanings which professor Andersson would approve. It’s possible to visit the website foundadragon.org and meet professor Andersson too.

There are many unexplained threads in the book, but this won’t bother younger readers and it does leave much to be explained in future books. This is perfect for middle to upper elementary kids craving stories about dragons and magic.

What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Bobbi's Book Nook: "This book is adorable and young children will love its unique and modern twists." (read more...)

Cheryl Rainfield: "Klimo keeps readers turning pages through the fun of the magic, and also the thread of danger that is woven throughout the story, as Emmy is threatened by the dragon slayer." (read more...)


More Info:
  • Reading level: Ages 9-12
  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (July 22, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0375855874
  • ISBN-13: 978-0375855870
  • Source: Review copy from publisher


4 comments:

  1. This sounds like fun, I think my son would like it. He's a little young yet for it, but maybe I could read it to him.

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  2. My son is 10 years old and reading it for school, he loves it!!!

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  3. Hey Kate Klimo i am Destiny L. i am a girl who loves your books and my techer is reading the third book Dragon in the Libery and i am telling you have to make a movie.My class will like you to and maybe others will please make a movie on Emmy the dragon so really we are hoping you might make a movie.

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  4. I read these books to see if they were good for my children ages 3-8. I loved them, so fun. I am going to read them to my kids.

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