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3rd out of 39 books
—
5 voters
When a Dragon Moves In
by
Jodi Moore (Goodreads Author),
Howard McWilliam
On a beautiful day at the beach, a young boy brings his bucket, shovel, and imagination, and builds a perfect sand castle. Right away, a dragon moves in. The boy decides to befriend his dragon and they spend time roaming the shore, flying a kite, braving the waves, defying bullies, and roasting marshmallows—all whileDad is busy sunbathing andMom is engrossed in her book. U...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
May 1st 2011
by Flashlight Press
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This story starts out with a boy and his family plying at the beach. It is said that if you build a perfect sandcastle a dragon will come and live in it. The boy, who is the main character, becomes very close with his dragon friend. They swim, eat, even play jokes on other family members. No one, however believes that the dragon exists. In the end the boy send the dragon away unless he learns some manners, until tomorrow! I loved the fantasy concept of this book. For the author, Jodi Moore, to t...more
This book will certainly remind you and your students of Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. In this case, a young boy discovers that "if you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in." The boy enjoys a day on the beach with the dragon until the dragon gets carried away. The dragon leaves fingerprints on the brownies and sprays sand all over the sister. Howard McWilliam cleverly shows the boy AND dragon committing these beach crimes, lending a charming element to fantasy/reali...more
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Reviewed by: Roxanne Werner
Synopsis: A little boy and his family spend a relaxing day at the beach until a dragon moves into the boy’s sandcastle. At first, the boy enjoys his new friend. The dragon toasts marshmallows, flies a kite and scares away bullies. Things start to go wrong when the boy tries to convince his family that there is a dragon. No one believes him and he must take the blame for the dragon’s pranks.
Overall thoughts: Jodi Moore’s debut book is a whimsical look at family life and...more
Synopsis: A little boy and his family spend a relaxing day at the beach until a dragon moves into the boy’s sandcastle. At first, the boy enjoys his new friend. The dragon toasts marshmallows, flies a kite and scares away bullies. Things start to go wrong when the boy tries to convince his family that there is a dragon. No one believes him and he must take the blame for the dragon’s pranks.
Overall thoughts: Jodi Moore’s debut book is a whimsical look at family life and...more
Reminiscent of the many popular children's books that follow the "if this, then this" format, but it's so familiar children will be able to pick up on the rhythms of Jodi Moore's story right away. This would make a wonderful late spring, summer read-aloud as kids are heading for the beach or as a "ladder" book to other titles featuring dragons (we collect these in Room 407 at Silver Creek High School ((where our mascot is the dragon)).
Howard McWilliams's illustrations are what really set this b...more
Howard McWilliams's illustrations are what really set this b...more
I love "what if" books because it tickles our imagination. WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN by Jodi Moore writes a running "what if" of the boy with his imaginary dragon. It starts off with, "If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in." The story proceeds with all kinds of fun and mischief. It's a story about a boy who tries to get the attention of his family with his imaginary dragon until he finds that is is more trouble than it's worth.
I find it fascinating that Jodi can create a story i...more
I find it fascinating that Jodi can create a story i...more
I love this story as a read aloud in my class during the beginning of the school year, just as fun book to read to the class. It is a newer book that I picked up recently at our school book fair. It is a cute story about a boy who builds a sand castle at the beach and goes through different scenarios of what could happen if you had a dragon move in to the sand castle. It really goes nicely along with the illustrations, which are hysterical and really what makes this book special. There is no "re...more
Moore and McWilliam danced the perfect dance in this picture book. The balance between words and pictures is one of my favorites. The words are simple, and in relatively short form. The pictures are dynamic and add all of the details one needs to enjoy this story.
As the reader is taught what happens when you build the perfect sandcastle, s/he also learns what can happen when you don't get enough attention. Small children will probably not fully understand the happenings in this story without so...more
As the reader is taught what happens when you build the perfect sandcastle, s/he also learns what can happen when you don't get enough attention. Small children will probably not fully understand the happenings in this story without so...more
My boys (ages 4 & 8) loved this book and wanted to read it over and over again. The first time we read it, they listened to it like a regular story but then we talked about it and read it again where they noticed the little things that proved the Dragon was really an imaginary dragon (when the dragon is a built-in marshmallow toaster the dad is really cooking marshmallows in the background, when the dragon is a raft the boy is really floating with his arm floaters, when the dragon scares the...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move right in. The boy in the story does just that, and spends his day roasting marshmallows, flying kites and blowing bubbles with the dragon. None of his family will pay attention to the dragon, though, and they tell him to stop pretending. Having a dragon is the best thing ever, until some things start to go wrong.
I kept waiting to figure out how the story would end, and it didn't end quite the way I would have liked. Or, if more would have be...more
I kept waiting to figure out how the story would end, and it didn't end quite the way I would have liked. Or, if more would have be...more
One day at the beach, a little boy builds the perfect sandcastle and immediately a dragon moves right in. Together the boy and dragon roast marshmallows, fly kites, float in the water, and defend the sandcastle against bullies who would knock it down. The little boy tries to disguise that he is hosting a dragon in his castle, but then wants to tell his family about it. He can’t get his mother’s attention, his father just tickles him, and his sister insists she knows better. But trouble comes alo...more
If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in. This friendly fire-breathing critter will romp and play with you all day. You can roast marshmallows over his fiery breath. You can float over the waves on a giant dragon raft. You can also get in trouble, when the dragon eats your sister's sandwich and leaves footprints in the brownies.
This friendly beach story, illustrated in pencil and acrylics, will be a quick, fun summer read-together for Pre-K through 1st grade kids.
This friendly beach story, illustrated in pencil and acrylics, will be a quick, fun summer read-together for Pre-K through 1st grade kids.
WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN is a masterful tale of imagination and emotion. We all know what it feels like to need a little extra attention: to have our inner Dragon rear his head and demand to be notice. Jodi Moore captures this childhood experience perfectly. Vibrant illustrations by Howard McWIlliam combined with Moore's humor and thoughtfulness, will have your child pulling this book off the shelf every night. I LOVE this book and my kids do too!!!!
In the style of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a boy on the beach explains what would happen if you let a dragon move into your sandcastle. He will toast your marshmallows and scare off bullies, but it will be hard to make your family believe that you really have a dragon when they see the brownies he nibbled. Was it a dragon, or was it a little boy's wonderful imagination?
Splashy beach illustrations by Howard McWilliam. Preschool to grade 2.
Splashy beach illustrations by Howard McWilliam. Preschool to grade 2.
“If you build a perfect sandcastle,
a dragon will move in.
He’ll settle in all cozy
and peep at you from inside…
and you’ll wonder how you ever got so lucky.”
There are a lot of advantages to have your own dragon. Bullies won’t bother you and you’ll have your own built-in marshmallow toaster. Still, there are also problems.
Amazing illustrations that are both smart and silly make this book a great read.
a dragon will move in.
He’ll settle in all cozy
and peep at you from inside…
and you’ll wonder how you ever got so lucky.”
There are a lot of advantages to have your own dragon. Bullies won’t bother you and you’ll have your own built-in marshmallow toaster. Still, there are also problems.
Amazing illustrations that are both smart and silly make this book a great read.
In a "If you build it, they will come" twist, a little boy builds a sandcastle and, of course, it's so good a dragon moves in. But you know when a dragon moves in, the fun doesn't last long before mischief sets in! But what's a boy to do when he's got a dragon to play with and nobody seems to believe him? Find out in this adorable picture book that's fun for dragons and their sandcastle builders alike!
When a Dragon Moves In is about a boy who goes to the beach with his family and buds a sand castle. He imagines that there is a dragon and lives there and becomes his friend. They do all kinds of things together and the Dragon begins getting the boy in trouble. This book is written almost like a comic book which is neat. It would be good to talk about pretending and predicting.
Lovers of dragons will be over the moon with this book about a boy who builds a sandcastle to find that a dragon moves in. Something about the cadence of the book is very "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie". While my audience seemed to enjoy this one, I'm not feeling it enough to bring out in preschool storytime (those who are feeling it will undoubtedly have success).
Absolutely loved this book, especially the illustrations that went along with it! We read this in our Children's Literature class and had a demo lesson on it. After I decided I wanted to add it to my goodreads account so I can remember this one for when I get into the classroom. Overall great story to look into when doing a lesson on modern fantasy.
I love this book! It is so cute, and the illustrations are amazing! I was hooked from the first page, and stared, captivated until the end, and then I wanted more. So cute! You may read my full review on my book blog: www.the-readathon.blogspot.com.
This book is a great representation of the imagination that a little kid can have - and how it can affect his entire family. The illustrations are great in demonstrating this - what the world looks like to the imagine-er versus the reality of what is going on around them. This may be one of the "funnest" books you've never heard of.
This book is funny, and tales about a boy who builds the perfect sandcastle, so a dragon moves in. It is told in the if you give a moose a muffin or a mouse a cookie format. The text is simple and spread out so it is great for younger readers, the illustrations are realistic and vibrant. Perfect for sequencing or prediction lessons.
Audience: P-2nd Grade Classroom Teacher, Counselors and students that have huge imaginations.
Appeal: Children would love reading this book, because they have connections with the book when their parents don't believe them, and they have experiences that are unusual like finding a dragon on the beach. It also has great illustrations.
Appeal: Children would love reading this book, because they have connections with the book when their parents don't believe them, and they have experiences that are unusual like finding a dragon on the beach. It also has great illustrations.
This book shows the wonders of a boy's imagination. When finished building a sandcastle at the beach, a boy finds an unexpected guest has moved in, a DRAGON! He befriends the dragon and tries to "introduce" him to his family, but they don't believe the boy has a dragon. It is fun to see what exactly the boy and his new friend get into!
Perfect for grades preschool to Grade 2.
Funny feel good story about a young boy who builds a sand castle at the beach and a dragon moves in. Of course none of his family can see or believe in the dragon. The boy enjoys the whole day with the dragon who gets him in trouble again and again for misdeeds.
Reminded me of Numeroff If you give a Mouse a Cookie series.
Funny feel good story about a young boy who builds a sand castle at the beach and a dragon moves in. Of course none of his family can see or believe in the dragon. The boy enjoys the whole day with the dragon who gets him in trouble again and again for misdeeds.
Reminded me of Numeroff If you give a Mouse a Cookie series.
A boy is having the best time at the beach with his dragon. They are eating snacks, building sand castles and teasing his big sister. The boy finds that the dragon keeps getting him in trouble, but still the boy has fun. This book shows how commas work and how to use them in their writing.
I really enjoyed the illustrations - they were realistic and yet cartoonish. The little boy's antics were often amusing, (though they could be distasteful at times) and he obviously was blaming his imaginary dragon for his deeds. But while it was fun and games for most of the book, I did find it a little distasteful...I wouldn't want kids to get the bright idea they could do whatever and not take any of the blame. They need to realize this book is fantasy and then it's an appropriately fun story...more
LOVE the illustrations (and it's only his second book!). But of course I also love the story. No one believes the little boy. That's OK up to a point, because he is having so much fun with his dragon!
If I were a public librarian doing summer storytimes this would be a must read.
If I were a public librarian doing summer storytimes this would be a must read.
I found this cute but it reminded me of the Numeroff books. It almost felt like the author was trying to recreate them but it just didn't work out as well for her. The one thing I really didn't like was how mean the boy was to the dragon at the end. Otherwise it was okay.
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