A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

Written by Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder · Illustrated by Mary GrandPré

A young girl discovers a magical sketchbook that brings her drawings to life, but also attracts a monster that feeds on magic.

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·3.8/5 Goodreads · 2,266 ratings

192 pages· 29,050 words· Est. 4 hour read· 840L

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Bookroo's summary

In a city teeming with hidden magical creatures, dragon Miss Drake and her 'pet' human, Winnie, face an unexpected challenge. Winnie's sketchbook, filled with drawings of fantastical beings, has unleashed its creations onto the streets. As chaos ensues, the unlikely duo must work together to recapture the mischievous sketchlings. Can they restore order before it's too late, or will the city be forever changed by Winnie's imagination?

From the publisher

Fans of How to Train Your Dragon will love this whimsical tale, the first in a series, by a Newbery Honor winner, featuring charming illustrations and pet “training tips” in each chapter.

Crusty dragon Miss Drake has a new pet human, precocious Winnie. Oddly enough, Winnie seems to think Miss Drake is her pet—a ridiculous notion!

Unknown to most of its inhabitants, the City by the Bay is home to many mysterious and fantastic creatures, hidden beneath the parks, among the clouds, and even in plain sight. And Winnie wants to draw every new creature she encounters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But Winnie’s sketchbook is not what it seems. Somehow, her sketchlings have been set loose on the city streets! It will take Winnie and Miss Drake’s combined efforts to put an end to the mayhem . . . before it’s too late.

This refreshing debut collaboration by Laurence Yep, a two-time Newbery Honor winner and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award winner, and Joanne Ryder features illustrations by Mary GrandPré.

At a glance

Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Words: 29,050
Reading age: 7–11
Audience: Juvenile Reader
Lexile: 840L

Themes & topics

Books about artists Books about problem solving Books about San Francisco Books about dragons Books about magic

After the last page

Talk about it together

Winnie and Ms. Drake, the main characters, learn to work together as a team and understand each other’s differences. Consider talking with your reader about how teamwork and friendship can help allies accomplish common goals.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.3

out of 7

5.5

“This humorous story of a dragon and her "pet" human takes you on an adventure with plenty of mayhem! It takes teamwork to fix the chaos Winnie accidentally created, but this story of adventure is so fun with all the humor weaved inside! You'll laugh with and love these characters.”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

4.5

“We read this aloud as a family and found it to be an entertaining read. It's an early chapter book, so the storyline and plot were fairly straightforward, but there was still enough creativity and imagination to hold the attention of children and parents alike. A favorite inclusion is Miss Drake's ability to cry pearls.”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

The author