When Billy Bixbee finds a tiny dragon in his bedroom, his mom tells him, “There’s no such thing as a dragon!” This only makes the...
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reviews
May 21, 2010
Heidi
rated it: 
Sarah N. was right--this is fabulous! She just barely told me about it and then I came across it while shelving some books. I love the pictures and the story and the "hidden" humor. This should work very well in a preschool storytime.
5/18/10 & 5/20/10 I had a blast reading this. I think the kids enjoyed the story, but missed the whole "noticed" part. Still--they loved the bread part! A group setting might have kept them from getting some of the humor in the pictur More...
5/18/10 & 5/20/10 I had a blast reading this. I think the kids enjoyed the story, but missed the whole "noticed" part. Still--they loved the bread part! A group setting might have kept them from getting some of the humor in the pictur More...
Feb 07, 2010
Nicole
rated it:
A personal favorite from my own childhood - and actually, one of the few picture books I remember with total clarity. It has stayed with me over the years. There's something so endearing about this story...the small dragon that befriends the little boy. And then in defiance of all who keep saying he can't possibly exist (despite what they see), he keeps getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger... It's not until they finally recognize that, indeed, a giant dragon is stuffed inside their house that
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Apr 25, 2009
Josiah
rated it: 
I might give this smartly rendered book two and a half stars.
Adorned with charming illustrations, Jack Kent uses very adept humor and strong writing skills to make the point that it's ridiculous to deny something obvious just because one doesn't want to believe it to be true. This lesson has applications in many areas, and I can think of no better way to be introduced to the idea than through "There's No Such Thing As a Dragon". Very well done!
Adorned with charming illustrations, Jack Kent uses very adept humor and strong writing skills to make the point that it's ridiculous to deny something obvious just because one doesn't want to believe it to be true. This lesson has applications in many areas, and I can think of no better way to be introduced to the idea than through "There's No Such Thing As a Dragon". Very well done!
Aug 02, 2011
Louise
rated it:
When I was young I used to know the opening page of this book off by heart, that says it all really. My parents and grandparents must have been sick to the teeth of it. I think this book is enchanting and hope that my niece will love it as much as I did. I still have my original copy and intend to keep it for when I have children and then grandchildren, as I need an excuse to read it every night once again.
Mar 21, 2010
Tricia
rated it: 
How hysterical a tale of a little boy named Billy who awakes with a dragon the size of a kitten...who grows and grows throughout the day. Billy's mother denies that this dragon exists which aggravates the situation. Children will love the illustrations showing the dragon taking over the house and Billy's insistence about the dragon being real.
Apr 14, 2011
Finny
rated it:
Mommy says: This cool little book about a dragon that "doesn't exist," but gets bigger and bigger the more people ignore it, gives parents a chance to talk about metaphors and how ignoring a problem will only make it grow bigger and get worse. Once you acknowledge the dragon/problem, watch how it shrinks back to a manageable size.
Sep 04, 2011
jeayci
rated it:
This was one of my favorite books as I child, one that made a lasting impression on me. Although it's been well over 30 years since I last read it, it's come to mind many times in many situations over the years. I should re-read it now, and see if I still remember every bit of it as clearly as I think I do.
May 21, 2011
Elisabeth
rated it:
I missed this one as a kid, but I love meeting it as an adult. This one is a multi-layered book and can be used to fit a variety of themes (imagination, dealing with problems, being noticed). It's just a great story and will be fun to read aloud to older kiddos.
Nov 23, 2009
Jim
rated it:
Another old favorite from my childhood. I haven't read it in forever, but I still remember the illustrations and the mother's amusing obliviousness to a dragon that gets so big it's eventually carrying the house around on its back like a snail shell.
Dec 01, 2009
Grant
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Eleanor discovered this little book and loved it. I was reminded by my mother that this was one of my favorite books as a young boy. Can good taste be hereditary? It was fun to hear Eleanor parrot Kent's fun phrases at just the right time.
Jul 17, 2009
Alison
rated it:
A friend recommended this one, and I checked it out, and found an old favorite. I used to read this one all the time when I was little. The pictures drew me in first, but then I really like the moral of the story.
Nov 24, 2011
Polly
rated it: 
My family's copy of this has corrections written in by my mother--it's a good story, but there are a couple of places where the grammar is appalling. The worst being "and she said it like she meant it". Grrr.
Nov 11, 2010
Kaethe
rated it:
Good concept. That comes across as "damning with faint praise" but for a lot of picture books, that's really all there's time for. Oh, sure Elizabeth Bird can write a long, insightful interview speaking knowledgeably of artistic influences, and literary predecessors and so forth, but when we come home from the library with a tall stack of picture books, I'm really perfectly happy if it amuses the kid and me for a few minutes. I'd so much rather read a good picture book than a medioc
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Oct 13, 2011
Sierra
rated it:
I love this book! It is adorable! It also teaches good lessons about what it means to believe, being open-minded, and the power of recognizing people (or dragons) for who they are.
Jan 06, 2012
Amy
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My niece, nephew, and I all liked this book. The story was cute, and it had kind of a funny, but valid, message. I thought there were several semi-comical passages in this book, and so did my niece. For my nephew, though, it was just a story about a dragon. I'm not sure he's going to remember it tomorrow.
Feb 11, 2011
Sarah
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Super cute book about a little boy who finds a baby dragon. Of course his mom doesn't believe him! Love how the story develops and I would read this to k-2
Apr 21, 2010
Crystal
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Jack Kent does it again with this wonderfully illustrated story about a child and his dragon. Do dragons really exist? Say they don't and watch him grow!
Jan 08, 2011
Shelley
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My son loves hearing the words spelled & figuring out what they are. Dragon is a fun word to spell over & over, and the illustrations are beautiful!
Nov 26, 2011
Claire
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This became one of the books that we could recite by heart, really magic. Off to the school library & we don't want to forget it.
Mar 19, 2011
Dylan & Belle
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Rated and reviewed by Dylan, age 7
My favorite part was when the dragon was kitten sized, at the very front of the book, because he was as small as a kitten and I love kittens.
My favorite part was when the dragon was kitten sized, at the very front of the book, because he was as small as a kitten and I love kittens.
Dec 11, 2010
Nicole
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This was a hysterical book to read. The kids loved that the dragon kept getting bigger and bigger thorough out the story.
Sep 30, 2010
RobesonBoys
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A mom pick ... but Max (age 4) wants me to read it to his class. Such a sweet story about what the the truth is to a child.
Feb 28, 2010
Joanie
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I absolutely loved this book as a kid. I wonder if it's still available-I'd love to have it now to read to my kids.
Apr 10, 2009
Jessica
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Jack Kent's drawings of dinosaurs are among my favorite. This is one of my very favorite stories. Good for all ages.
Sep 12, 2011
Rachel
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This book needs to be re-issued with new illustrations. It has potential to be adorable in a not-so-70s way.
Jan 29, 2010
Amanda
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A wonderful book that I loved as a kid and am able to read to my son now. A great bedtime story!
Aug 05, 2011
Brooklyn
rated it:
Best Children's Book EVER!! Not only does it have dragons but it also has a moral!!!
May 26, 2009
Nikki
rated it:
A fun rediscovery from my own childhood that's great to read to my kids now.
