Caramel reviews Train Your Dragon To Accept NO by Steve Herman

Both of the younger book bunnies have been enjoying the How To Train Your Dragon series; Marshmallow even reviewed one of her favorites in the book series: How to Steal A Dragon’s Sword (Book 9) by Cressida Cowell. Below Caramel shares his thoughts about a book that initially got into our shopping cart because it had the “train your dragon” phrase in its title, but then we read it and enjoyed it (especially the illustrations) immensely: Train Your Dragon To Accept NO, by Steve Herman. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions as needed.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, what do you want to tell us about this book?

Caramel: The book is about a boy named Drew and his pet dragon Diggory Doo.

S: So what do they do, Drew and Diggory Doo?

C: Drew teaches Diggory Doo how to stop his anger sometimes.

S: Hmm, that sounds promising. Tell me more.

C: Diggory Doo gets angry when you tell him no. Like once he wanted chocolate pie at dinner time. And Drew said no. So Diggory Doo got super duper angry.

S: Why did he get angry?

C: He really wanted chocolate pie. I would too. Wouldn’t you?

S: Hmm, I like chocolate a lot but I don’t love pie. So I’m not so sure. But apparently Diggory Doo likes chocolate pie. Why did Drew say no to him?

C: Hmm, let me see. Ok, here is what Drew says:

“If you’d taken just a minute
and not behaved your worst,
You’d know that you could have
your pie-just eat your dinner first!”

So Drew said no, because he first had to eat his dinner, so he had to eat the healthy stuff first.

S: This sounds familiar. Sometimes you want to eat things that I want you to postpone until after dinner, right?

C: Yes, sometimes I want to eat grapes and you tell me to eat my mac and cheese first.

S: And do you like that?

C: No, I don’t, not at all.

S: So do you scream at me?

C: Yes, sometimes.

S: And how does that work out for you?

C: Terrible! I don’t get any grapes then.

S: Hmm, so what is the point of the book then?

C: To teach little dragons, and little bunnies too, to accept no.

S: But it’s not that easy, is it?

C: Nope.

S: Does Drew have some suggestions for Diggory Doo when he hears the no and is about to get angry?

C: Yes. Here it is:

“Before you throw a tantrum,
take a breath and count to ten….
… Then slowly, slowly breathe it out,
then do that once again.”

S: That sounds like a good idea. So when you are about to get really angry because someone said no to you, you are supposed to stop and take a deep breath and count to ten. And then breathe it out, and do this whole breathing thing again. Do you think it might work?

C: Hmm, I don’t know. Next time I get mad, I’m going to try it.

S: That sounds like a plan. And a good place to wrap up our review.

C: Yes! Let me say my usual words: Stay tuned for more reviews from the Book Bunnies!