A Book of Dragons
Fairy Tales by Ruth Manning-Sanders Series
What’s inside...
A fairy tale collection featuring dragons from around the world. The stories were collected and retold by Ruth Manning-Sanders. Each fairy tale is illustrated by Robin Jacques. The book contains 130 pages and fourteen stories, each concerning a dragon and the occasional dragoness. It includes a color illustrated title page, and black and white illustrations of the fairy tales.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-12
Length
150 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes each dragon in the stories different from the others?
If you could have a conversation with one of the dragons, what would you ask and why?
Which dragon's story did you like the most, and what lesson did you learn from it?
How do you think the people in the stories felt when they met the dragons?
If you could create your own dragon story, what would it be about?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to describe their favorite dragon in detail, which helps in enhancing their descriptive vocabulary.
Discuss the moral of each dragon's tale to reinforce values such as bravery, wisdom, and kindness.
Use the different settings in the book to ask your child to imagine other worlds, boosting their creativity.
Compare and contrast different dragons' characteristics with your child, aiding in developing critical thinking.
After reading, ask your child to draw their favorite scene from the book, which supports their artistic expression.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of kindness
Explanation: In 'A Book of Dragons', characters often face dragons that seem fierce but are won over by acts of kindness.
Real-World Application: Children learn that being kind, even in challenging situations, can lead to positive outcomes and can turn adversaries into allies.
Example Lesson: Courage in the face of fear
Explanation: The heroes in the stories demonstrate bravery when dealing with dragons, who symbolize large and daunting challenges.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to confront their own fears and understand that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act despite it.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving and ingenuity
Explanation: Characters in the book often use cleverness and wit to outsmart the dragons, rather than force.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of using intellect and creativity to navigate obstacles and resolve conflicts.
Example Lesson: The power of storytelling
Explanation: The book itself, filled with various tales about dragons, showcases how stories can captivate and impart lessons.
Real-World Application: Kids see how storytelling can not only entertain but also educate, helping them to understand complex messages in an engaging way.
Example Lesson: Value of perseverance
Explanation: Several stories highlight characters who succeed through persistence despite initial failures or setbacks with dragons.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of perseverance and resilience in achieving goals, no matter the obstacles they face.