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A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

(A Dragon's Guide #1)

Laurence Yep,

Joanne Ryder

3.74 · Rating details · 1,370 Ratings · 272 Reviews

Crusty dragon Miss Drake has a new pet human, precocious Winnie. Oddly enough, Winnie seems to think Miss Drake is her pet—a ridiculous notion!

Unknown to most of its inhabitants, the City by the Bay is home to many mysterious and fantastic creatures, hidden beneath the parks, among the clouds, and even in plain sight. And Winnie wants to draw every new creature she encoun ...more

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Hardcover, 152 pages

Published March 10th 2015 by Crown Books for Young Readers

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Jun 03, 2017 Cyndi rated it it was amazing

Such a cute book! Full of fun and magic.
A five thousand year old dragon lives in a mansion in San Francisco. She is still mourning the death of her pet, Fluffy, or Amelia, as normals called her. But for Winnie she was Great Aunt Amelia and she left the responsibility of the dragon, Miss Drake, to her.
This book is a lot of fun complete with tea parties and magical Fares. Excellent book!

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Sep 11, 2015 Glory rated it really liked it

У мисс Дрейк умер питомец. Умный, ласковый, любимый...
Мисс Дрейк в печали и не планирует больше никого заводить - слишком это хлопотно. Привязываешься, привыкаешь, а они потом бац... и умирают.
Вот только Винни - внучка почившего питомца мисс Дрейк - решила не спрашивать и сама пришла в логово дракона.
Бабушка очень много рассказывала Винни о своей крылатой подруге и даже оставила в наследство ключ от ее дома.
Мисс Дрейк в панике - этот ребенок совершенно невоспитан и удивительно нагл. Но, может, в У мисс Дрейк умер питомец. Умный, ласковый, любимый...
Мисс Дрейк в печали и не планирует больше никого заводить - слишком это хлопотно. Привязываешься, привыкаешь, а они потом бац... и умирают.
Вот только Винни - внучка почившего питомца мисс Дрейк - решила не спрашивать и сама пришла в логово дракона.
Бабушка очень много рассказывала Винни о своей крылатой подруге и даже оставила в наследство ключ от ее дома.
Мисс Дрейк в панике - этот ребенок совершенно невоспитан и удивительно нагл. Но, может, все-таки новый питомец не повредит?
Винни в восторге - у нее появился собственный дракон!

Удивительно милая и смешная детская книжка на 40 вордовских страниц)))
Повествование ведется от лица дракона - мисс Дрейк - и каждая глава начинается с мудрого совета по уходу за людьми.
Наблюдать за взаимным приручением очень интересно. Диалоги остроумны, но не заумны. Никакой грязи, лишь волшебство, приключения, детская непосредственность и ворчливая драконша-воспитательница xDD
Пожалела, что под рукой нет ребенка, которому можно почитать эту сказку)) Но и сама получила море удовольствия.
Если вы тоже любите книжки, предназначенные для детишек 8-12 лет *краснеет*, то не пропустите эту. Много времени не займет ;) ...more

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Apr 06, 2017 m a r y l i z rated it really liked it

Absolutely charming and delightful book! Loved the whimsy and magic. (Plus there were dragons. So yes. XD)

Read this while in the car on the way to my mysterious vacation destination. Maaaybe I'll get around to a more conclusive review when I get back. ;) But for now, I'll just say this book was darling. <333

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Nov 09, 2014 Evie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, middle-grade, fantasy

Miss Drake, a feisty three thousand year old dragon, hasn't yet properly mourned the loss of her last human pet, when a new one burst through her door, completely unannounced. Winnie, an outspoken and sassy 10-year-old, claims that Miss Drake's favorite human pet, Fluffy, was also her Great-Aunt Amelia and that, in her will, she left her mansion to Winnie's mother and her "guest" to Winnie. And by "guest" she means Miss Drake, of course! As if Miss Drake was Fluffy's pet and not the other way a Miss Drake, a feisty three thousand year old dragon, hasn't yet properly mourned the loss of her last human pet, when a new one burst through her door, completely unannounced. Winnie, an outspoken and sassy 10-year-old, claims that Miss Drake's favorite human pet, Fluffy, was also her Great-Aunt Amelia and that, in her will, she left her mansion to Winnie's mother and her "guest" to Winnie. And by "guest" she means Miss Drake, of course! As if Miss Drake was Fluffy's pet and not the other way around. How outrageously silly!

As Miss Drake reluctantly takes little Winnie under her wings, the two unlikely friends take to exploring San Francisco, starting with its magical side. To keep her new pet occupied and happy, Miss Drake buys her a sketchpad. Unaware of its magical properties, Winnie begins to fill its pages with drawings of magical creatures. Imagine their surprise when Winnie's drawing come to life and escape into the city! The two of them will have to capture them and put everything back I'm order before it's too late.

A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans is quite a charming and delightful book. Fans of adventure stories filled with magical creatures (including but not limited to grouchy dragons) and witty humor will have a fantastic time reading it. This is a perfect little read for kids ages 8-12, though I'm confident adults will enjoy it, too. I certainly did!

While in parts it can get a bit heavy on descriptions, it is overall a nicely paced, fast-moving and engaging story. And the descriptions are really quite breathtaking, adding to the magical atmosphere of this novel. The dialogues are sparkling and bursting with clever humor - I absolutely loved the good-natured bickering between the big old dragon and the little girl, their back-and-forth was very heart-warming and chuckle-worthy.

Both Winnie and Miss Drake are wonderful characters. Their adventures are exciting and fun to read about! They make a fabulous team, even if they seem tiny bit ill-matched to begin with. Their friendship is truly extraordinary and they compliment each other well.

Winnie is a bright and resourceful girl. Having grew up poor, she has a good understanding of the concept of money and knows not to be wasteful. She's the farthest thing from spoiled, though her family is now wealthy - all thanks to Miss Drake and her pearls. She's clever, witty and very mature for her young age, which makes her a relatable and fun character.

I can imagine how much fun kids will have while reading this book. The idea of a pet dragon crying pearls and casting magical spells is exciting and very appealing, and I don't think there's a kid out there who wouldn't want that for himself. That alone makes this a great addition to every kid's bookshelf. A Dragon's Guide is a story that combines wisdom with entertainment, humor with moments of vulnerability that really touch your heart. It's definitely a book worth reading, even if children's stories are not your usual choice of reading material. ...more

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Apr 07, 2016 Raina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: j

Charming! And a bit... erm... more... daringdo gristly than I expected.

Narrated by a grumpy dragon who is being invaded by a new person in her life. Since I'm a "World-building" reading appeal person, I love love loved the descriptions of places. Clipper's Emporium. The gathering near the end (avoiding spoilery specifics).

Some of the grumpiness made me impatient, but my memories of this are fond.

Took this out to the local elementaries leading up to Summer Reading 2016. It wasn't the runaway hit ...more

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Apr 15, 2015 Ms. Yingling rated it really liked it

When Winnie's great aunt Amelia passes away, she leaves the family mansion in San Francisco to Winnie and her mother, a horse trainer who has been badly injured. Amelia had been corresponding with Winnie, and has told her the biggest secret of all-- the mansion comes complete with Miss Drake, a dragon! Miss Drake is sad about the demise of her pet (whom she called Fluffy), and is a bit annoyed that Winnie has found her. Winnie is insistent, however, so Miss Drake takes her shopping to a magical When Winnie's great aunt Amelia passes away, she leaves the family mansion in San Francisco to Winnie and her mother, a horse trainer who has been badly injured. Amelia had been corresponding with Winnie, and has told her the biggest secret of all-- the mansion comes complete with Miss Drake, a dragon! Miss Drake is sad about the demise of her pet (whom she called Fluffy), and is a bit annoyed that Winnie has found her. Winnie is insistent, however, so Miss Drake takes her shopping to a magical store. There, the two purchase a sketch book, which has the power to make whatever is drawn in it real. They don't know this at first, however, and Winnie completes 20 drawings of magical creatures that come to life and flee the book, endangering the delicate balance of magic that Miss Drake has tried so hard to keep. Most of the creatures are easy to catch, but the pemburu is unwilling to be caught, and is growing and growing, feeding on the magic of others. While working together against this common threat, Miss Drake and Winnie learn a lot about the other, and Miss Drake begins to understand why Amelia left Winnie in on their secret.

Even though Winnie's situation is somewhat sad (her father passed away when she was young, her grandparents disapproved of her mother, and things were not easy), things are improving, and the discovery of Miss Drake doesn't faze Winnie at all. The two have an uneasy relationship at first, with Winnie thinking that Miss Drake is the pet, but they both come to see that the other has skills and powers that are valuable.

This reads much like classic children's fantasies such as No Flying in the House or the Ruth Chew books, and the reader is sent right into a magical world without apology... and the world makes sense because we want so much to believe it is true. Flying on a dragon to a magical shop over San Francisco? Absolutely. A magic sketchbook that brings drawings to life? Hand it over. A tiara with a tiny dent where the pteranodon bit it? I will fight all of the pemburus you want me to as long as I can have a dragon like Miss Drake living in MY basement!

An excellent choice for a first fantasy book, A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans was a heartfelt magical romp with lots of adventure as well as some deeply poignant moments. ...more

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May 17, 2015 Small Review rated it liked it

Shelves: g-historical-fantasy, pages-100s, 2015-read

Such a lovely book. The adventure was fun, though probably more thrilling to the target audience. Transcending age, though, are all the parts about friendship and grief. These parts are touching and make the book worthwhile reading for all ages.

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Jan 28, 2016 Aeicha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

San Francisco is home to many magical creatures...not that humans notice much. Miss Drake, a refined and sensible dragon, has just inherited a new pet, the young and inquisitive Winnie. And Winnie and her mother have just inherited the grand house where Miss Drake lives, hidden in the basement. Miss Drake and Winnie, both believing the other belongs to them, start off a bit rocky, but soon form a strong bond. When Winnie is accidentally given a magic sketchbook, her drawings of magical creatures San Francisco is home to many magical creatures...not that humans notice much. Miss Drake, a refined and sensible dragon, has just inherited a new pet, the young and inquisitive Winnie. And Winnie and her mother have just inherited the grand house where Miss Drake lives, hidden in the basement. Miss Drake and Winnie, both believing the other belongs to them, start off a bit rocky, but soon form a strong bond. When Winnie is accidentally given a magic sketchbook, her drawings of magical creatures come to life and escape into the city. Winnie and Miss Drake must catch them before the magic is noticed. Humans most definitely make for time consuming and sometimes difficult pets, but Miss Drake has just the rules to follow!

Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder’s A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans is a whimsical treat from beginning to end. Full of magical adventures, captivating creatures, laugh-out-loud humor, and two unforgettable heroines, this middle-grade read is simply irresistible.

With a pitch-perfect voice, hearty imagination, and sparkling storytelling, Yep and Ryder weave a consistently amusing and engaging story. Young readers will be dazzled and intrigued by the magical world hidden within the city and all its inhabitants. From a market in the clouds to shops run by magical creatures, a school matriculated by both magicals and humans, an Enchanter’s Fair, and so much more, this is a world readers will easily be swept away by.

I just adore Winnie and Miss Drake! They are both equal parts charm, feisty-ness, and cleverness. They have such an endearing bond and zingy interaction. These two marvelous gals also bring a great deal of heart and emotion to the story.

Winnie and Miss Drake’s wildly fun magical adventures are full of mishaps, mayhem, thrills, and triumphs. Young readers will be thoroughly entertained. And Mary GrandPre’s gorgeous black and white illustrations perfectly capture the story.

my final thoughts: A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans is both exciting and tender, funny and sweet, and shines as glittery glimmery as Miss Drake’s pearl tears. ...more

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Aug 06, 2017 Reading is my Escape rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-fiction, fantasy, read-2017, sunshine-state-17-18

Dragon's Guide...

It was a lovely funeral for Fluffy, the best pet I ever had.
- Opening sentence

Avoid spoiling your pet with too many treats; however, spoiling yourself is all well and good.
- Chapter 4

Be firm with your pet and make it clear what is acceptable behavior. Both you and your pet will be happier for it.
- Chapter 6

This is a cute book told from the point of view of the dragon (Miss Drake). Amelia was Miss Drake's pet (although she called Amelia Fluffy). Amelia left the dragon to he ...more

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Aug 09, 2017 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-s-literature, fantasy, here-there-be-dragons, our-own-world, summertime

This book is delightful. Then again, with that title, how could it not be?

It is a children's book, yes, and the bookworm who wishes to read it must brave the accusingly short shelves of the children's section. But it's the lovely sort of children's book that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether age 9 or age 90. This is partially because it's narrated by a centuries-old dragon and partially because it's such a sweet story of love and loss and friendship. (It's also an interesting twist on the Inhe ...more

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Oct 22, 2015 Brooke rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s

This is a charming, humorous story told by an ancient dragon living in San Francisco. Children will immediately see that while Ms. Drake may consider her human, Winnie, her pet, Winnie, likewise, sees Ms. Drake as her pet. And while Ms. Drake may consider her manners entirely proper, Winnie gently chides her for being a grouch. Both characters are suffering from the loss of loved ones, Ms. Drake from the loss of Winnie's Aunt ("Fluffy") and Winnie from the death of her father. At the end there i ...more

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Jan 30, 2017 Amanda The Book Slayer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, kid-lit

3.5 stars

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Feb 13, 2018 Tori Christensen rated it really liked it

Shelves: delightful-kidlit

Loved the reader for the audiobook. Great book to listen to in the car with the kids. My daughter (6yo) gets scared or uncomfortable when things are too intense and this is exciting enough without making her uncomfortable.

Loved the switched paradigm of a dragon having a pet human. Fun world created within our own.

Miss Drake is a dragon who just inherited a new pet, Winnie, a 10 year old obnoxious little girl (or, as her pet thinks, it is she who is inheriting the pet). I couldn't stand Winnie at ...more

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Jul 12, 2017 Aj rated it liked it

A cute read about a dragon, her pet human and the trouble they can get into. A great read for the girl who wants a dragon. A fairly simple and easy read, probably 3rd to 4th grade level chapter book.

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May 28, 2018 Heidi Goehmann rated it liked it

Shelves: middle-range-children-s

Cute! Good for younger middle readers. We read the audio and it was a fun, quick read for a road trip. Dealt well with topics of friendship and loss.

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Jun 18, 2017 Anisa rated it it was amazing

Harry Potter-ish.

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Jun 27, 2017 Jodi rated it really liked it

Cute story!

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Mar 21, 2015 Julia rated it liked it

Shelves: childrens-books

Meh.

Not bad, but not truly excellent.

First, way too short. The relationship between the characters, the complexity needed to describe both San Francisco in today's time and the alternate reality of the magical beings and places Miss Drake and Winnie visit, the building action, and the running gag/motif of a guideline to keeping a "pet," all deserved more than the book gave them. Everything felt rushed, underdeveloped, too clipped. I didn't believe the characters as round people. The rising actio ...more

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Feb 07, 2016 Yenny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A lovely children book, where it defies the usual dragon related stories: the dragon thinks humans are their pets. Mrs. Drake, the red dragon, was grieving for her previous 'pet' when Winnie a 10 year old girl came into her life. From then they enter to an adventure that create a bond between them. I love how Winnie is so brave and smart and how attentive Mrs. Drake to her even when she doesn't show herself as a caring one. This short book has a great moral to the story about sacrifice, grief, a ...more

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Feb 01, 2016 Catherine rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016, fantastical, childrens-chapter

This was a cute story of a curmudgeonly dragon who is grieving the loss of her latest pet, Fluffy. Her solitude is interrupted by a young girl named Winnie, who knew "Fluffy" as Great Aunt Amelia. Winnie and her mother have inherited Amelia's house and, apparently, Miss Drake the Dragon along with it. Miss Drake sees things a little differently and sets about trying to train her new pet.

It was cute, but not great, and probably would have been a better one to let my children read themselves.

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May 20, 2016 Adriana rated it it was ok

I enjoyed the plot and the magic this story had to offer. The dragon thinking the humans were her pets was a fun twist and her growing relationship with Winnie was very sweet. I would like to know more about Winnie's past. I wish there wasn't so much focus on catching magical creatures because although it was the problem in the story it wasn't as fun as getting to know the characters.

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Oct 14, 2016 Terra rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-books, kids-books, ebook

cute little book. I'm eager for my daughters to be at the age where they read books like this. not too eager of course but just a little.
the dragon and the girl grow such a nice little friendship. I liked it.

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Mar 30, 2015 Aimee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015, favorite-books, children

BEST. BOOK. EVER. It has such a light, humorous voice, beautiful descriptions, and a truly, magnificent, FANTASTIC plot! Miss Drake and Winnie have such great chemistry as characters, that its impossible for them to not become friends. Again, I repeat: BEST. BOOK. EVER.

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Mar 25, 2015 Mari rated it really liked it

Shelves: dragons, juvenile

A great title for elementary school kids eager for more tales of dragons. I LOVED the characters. The plot was fine, though I found myself wanting something more, plot-wise. For myself, I'd probably give it 3.5 stars, but for the right reader, this book is going to be just the thing.

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Dec 30, 2014 Anya rated it liked it

Very cute and fun adventure. This is on the younger side even for me and was less humorous than I'd been expecting, but I definitely recommend it for young readers but they'll probably need help with a couple longer words ;).

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Dec 21, 2015 Amanda Blanco rated it really liked it

Adorable story. Now I want to be a dragons pet human!!!

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Jul 20, 2015 Sandra Proto rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-children-s-books

I read this book as a selection for a reading club for my daughters and their friends. I simply loved it!

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Feb 18, 2016 Marisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, childrens

Great narrator and a fun story!

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Jan 09, 2016 Nicole rated it really liked it

More of a 3.5...

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Mar 09, 2016 Stephaine rated it liked it

Cute

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About Laurence Yep

Laurence Yep

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Born June 14, 1948 in San Francisco, California, Yep was the son of Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep. Franche Lee, her family's youngest child, was born in Ohio and raised in West Virginia where her family owned a Chinese laundry. Yep's father, Thomas, was born in China and came to America at the age of ten where he lived, not in Chinatown, but with an Irish friend in a white neighborhood. After ...more