This is exactly the kind of book that I wish there were more of - a first grade level reading book, with chapters that LOOKS like a chapter book. I see so many kids every day at work who are reading at a first grade level but want to read something that looks like a Magic Tree House book, not an easy reader. While the "Dragon" books are a little bit larger than a traditional 2nd grade level chapter book, they do have chapters and are easy to read. And, they're funny!
Most of you are probably familiar with the work of Dav Pilkey even if you don't realize it. His Captain Underpants chapter books have been huge sellers for over 10 years now and his Dumb Bunnies picture books for even longer. Pilkey is a funny guy who is interested in appealing to kids on their level, which means he really gets potty humor and thinks "underpants" is a silly word. However, not much of that sensibility pops up in the Dragon books, although Dragon can be a little clueless most of the time, which makes for some funny situations and an entertaining read.
In my favorite, Dragon Gets By, which is (hopefully only temporarily) out of print, Dragon wakes up very tired. He reads and egg and fries his newspaper, butters his tea and sips his toast and, sooner than later, ends up back in bed where he belongs. In the chapter titled, "Shopping," Dragon restocks his cupboards, but he is so hungry that he sits outside his car and eats all of his groceries. Afterwards, he is so stuffed that he cannot fit in his car to drive home. He decides to push it home, since it's all downhill, but things get out of hand. In some ways, Dragon reminds me of Frog and Toad, Arnold Lobel's great beginning to read series, which is my standard bearer for all good easy reader books. Like Dragon, Toad is a little neurotic, a little difficult and a little confused about the best way to get things done. But that, along with Pilkey's bright, cartoon like illustrations, are what makes for great, hilarious reading!
9 comments:
These sound great for my younger daughter -- she likes the "easy readers", but most of them are so bad. I've put them all on hold at the library...thanks for the recommendation.
I agree. So many of the easy to read books are dead boring. It's a joy to find entertaining chapter books and hard to wade through picture books that might fit the bill.
These sound like wonderful books for my first grade son! We also love "Frog and Toad," but I have never heard of these. As everyone seems to agree, most early readers are boring and pointless. I'm off to try and find this series now.
Thanks for this recommendation and thanks for commenting on my chapter book post. Your blog is a fantastic resource and am going to add it to my blogroll!
Thanks for the kind words. One of my main goals is to find and review beginning reader books that are good quality. Until then, I think I'll write a post on Frog & Toad!
As expected, Ella (only four, but reading well) LOVES these books...so thanks again for the recommendation. Spot on!
I'm so glad Ella liked the Dragon books - too bad there are only a small handful. Has she tried the Poppleton books yet? I love, love, love those. Also, I hope there are a few picture books in the pile from my post that she can enjoy reading...
I didn't immediately leap at the Poppleton books because of my longstanding bias against walking, talking, dressing animals. I've avoided them whenever possible, along with any book composed of rhyming text. It's my own peculiar compunction, brought on by getting so thoroughly sick of them early on and realizing that most of them are terribly formulaic. That said, the Poppletons sound charming and I did put the first one on hold for Ella.
:)
I LOVED the dragon books when i was younger and now I cannot wait until my nephew is a little bit older to share and read those books with him.
I'm so glad to hear that - and I'm glad they are still in print. Pilkey's humor reminds me a little of James Marshall's hippos, George and Martha - if they got silly once in a while...
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