Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Dragonology: Pocket Adventures
Illustrator: Douglas Carol , Nicholas Lenn , Helen Ward
Novelty Series
For ages 8 to 12
Candlewick Press, 2007 ISBN: 978-0763637002
Now that you are a member of the Secret and Ancient Society of Dragonologists you are now ready to go into the field. Your first mission is to go to Iceland where a frost dragon is running amok. Your job is to find out what is causing this dragon to behave so strangely and to do something about it.
Of course in a mission of this kind anything can happen. You are going to have to make lots of very difficult decisions and any one of them could end up costing you your life. After all you are dealing with a dragon here and Iceland is an inhospitable place. So, for goodness sake make sure you think through what you do. For example if this Iceland Wyrm does not like you you could end up going “up like a torch in a blaze of magma.”
Your second mission is not going to be any easier. You are going to have to find the Dragon Star - a very powerful jewel which was said to have been taken by Dr. Dee from England to Prague. Dr. Dee lived in the time of Elizabeth I so you are going to have to do some detective work to figure out what this famous dragonologist did. It will not take you long to realize that this is not going to be an easy mission.
For your third mission you are going to have to go to Australia where a marsupial dragon is planning to attack the goldfields. You and one of your fellow agents will have to use a dragon charm to calm the dragon and then, if all goes well, you will be able to take her home.
Your final mission will take you to the jungles of Colombia. A “savage serpent” has been disturbed by treasure hunters and you will need to seek the help of the dragon guardian in the lost Chibcha city of Manoa to get the treasure returned and thus calm the angry reptile. Remember that all kinds of dangers lurk in jungles of these kinds.
Dragonology fans will have a wonderful time with these mini adventure tales which allow the reader to choose how the story will unfold. Of course if the reader makes the wrong choice he or she will end up getting crushed, smushed, blasted with flames, eaten, or will come to some other sticky end, but one can always begin the story again and try a different scenario.
Cleverly created and beautifully illustrated throughout, this neatly boxed set will make a perfect gift for a budding young dragonologist.
