My Dragon Books – BookBunnies

Caramel reviewed Train Your Dragon to Accept NO by Steve Herman a couple weeks ago. He really liked the little dragon Diggory Doo in the book so he wanted to read and review a second book from this series (My Dragon Books). Sprinkles is taking notes and asking some followup questions as usual.

Caramel reviews Train Your Angry Dragon by Steve Herman. — Caramel reviews *Train Your Angry Dragon* by Steve Herman.

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

Caramel: You always say that!

S: Ok, I won’t. I take it back. so you can start!

C: Ok. So I want to tell you about the book. You know how it’s about a dragon which has a temper. He keeps having temper tantrums.

S: The dragon is Diggory Doo from the other book, Train Your Dragon to Accept NO, that you reviewed earlier, right?

C: Yes. Drew is teaching us how to train a dragon. Here is how he starts:

First, you start with common tricks
like roll over, sit and stay …
Then you must potty train your dragon
and teach him how to play.

Caramel shows the page where Drew is telling us how to train one's dragon. — Caramel shows the page where Drew is telling us how to train one’s dragon.

S: Then what else do we learn?

C: We learn that dragons make a good pet, but they have a bad temper. And their temper tantrums can ruin your day!

S: Hmm, so then how are we supposed to train our dragon to manage their temper? Reading through the pages we see Drew teaching Diggory Doo to calm himself down in different circumstances.

C: Yes. So for example when Diggory Doo doesn’t want to share Drew tells him to think about the other kids and how they feel:

“Instead of getting mad,
here’s what you should do…
Just treat the other children
how you want them to treat you.”

S: Yes, then there is the time when Diggory Doo gets upset because it’s raining and he can’t get out.

C: Oh yes, that’s when Drew says:

So I told him that when angry
thoughts begin to fill his head,
He can make them go away by thinking
happy thoughts instead.

S: Yes, that does seem like a good idea, doesn’t it Caramel?

C: Yes, I think so too.

S: Do you think you could use some of these tricks when you are feeling upset or angry?

C: Yes, maybe I can.

S: Which ones in particular sound most realistic to you? Let us pick one that you will try to use next time.

C: Happy thoughts. I like that one. I will try to think happy thoughts the next time I feel angry.

S: That sounds like a good plan Caramel! Apparently there are several other books with Diggory Doo and his human friend Drew, right? Looking at the last few pages of the book, you can see at least twenty more books from this My Dragon Books series!

C: Yes, I want to read all of them!

S: Wait! Why? What do you like most about this book?

C: The characters. When Diggory Doo cries or gets mad, he’s pretty funny.

S: How about the ideas? The idea to handle powerful and unpleasant feelings might be helpful too, don’t you think?

C: Yes! Happy thoughts! I love that! Ommmmmmm!

Caramel pledges to try to think happy thoughts the next time he feels upset or angry, trying out one of the tricks in the book Train Your Angry Dragon by Steve Harmon. — Caramel pledges to try to think happy thoughts the next time he feels upset or angry, trying out one of the tricks in the book *Train Your Angry Dragon* by Steve Harmon.

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.

Caramel reviews Train Your Dragon To Accept NO by Steve Herman. — Caramel reviews *Train Your Dragon To Accept NO* by Steve Herman.

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.

Caramel is looking at one of his favorite pages in Train Your Dragon to Accept NO by Steve Herman, where we learn about what happens when a dragon gets angry and cannot control his emotions. — Caramel is looking at one of his favorite pages in *Train Your Dragon to Accept NO* by Steve Herman, where we learn about what happens when a dragon gets angry and cannot control his emotions.

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!