What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragon and Captain
“Hey, Pirate. What are you doing in my sandbox?” “I'm not a pirate. I'm the captain of a ship.” What is Captain doing in Dragon's sandbox? He is moping. Because he’s lost his ship. “Oh, no! I'll help you find it! Come on!” “Where are we going?” “To my cave! I know I have a map somewhere.”
Armed with a (toy watch) compass, a (paper-towel tube) telescope, and a (hand-drawn) map, Dragon and Captain set off on a great adventure. Dragon is a boy in pajamas and a dragon robe. Captain is a boy with a three-sided hat. But as the boys' imaginations take over, we see them as they see themselves and the backyard as the boys see a dark forest, a craggy cliff, and the immense sea. Illustrated like a comic book, this book is a fantasy-filled graphic novel for the picture book set. Young readers will be enchanted with—and parents will appreciate—the creative backyard play, in which the boys use the simplest found items and the backyard features to create an elaborate adventure. Can Dragon and Captain find the lost ship before lunch?
Armed with a (toy watch) compass, a (paper-towel tube) telescope, and a (hand-drawn) map, Dragon and Captain set off on a great adventure. Dragon is a boy in pajamas and a dragon robe. Captain is a boy with a three-sided hat. But as the boys' imaginations take over, we see them as they see themselves and the backyard as the boys see a dark forest, a craggy cliff, and the immense sea. Illustrated like a comic book, this book is a fantasy-filled graphic novel for the picture book set. Young readers will be enchanted with—and parents will appreciate—the creative backyard play, in which the boys use the simplest found items and the backyard features to create an elaborate adventure. Can Dragon and Captain find the lost ship before lunch?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2015
264 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 4, 2016
(Please note: I received my copy of this book free from the publisher through the Goodreads giveaway program.)
Dragon and Captain is superbly illustrated by award winner Lucas Turnbloom. From the fantasy map rendered in childlike style on the end pages, to the rainbow of fluorescent colors that accentuate the story the whole way through, Lucas Turnbloom casts just the right light on the escapades of a boy and his friend...I mean, a daring blue dragon and a heroic sea captain in search of his stolen ship. Dragon and Captain's artwork is as much a factor in its success as P.R. Allabach's satisfying story about a pair of boys who set sail on a spectacular voyage using their lush powers of imagination.
The Dragon is suspicious when he spies someone who looks like a pirate loitering in his own private sandbox, but skepticism takes a backseat when the trespasser (who turns out to be the Captain) reveals that the real pirate is escaping, having stolen Captain's boat. Dragon and Captain join forces in pursuit, trekking through the dense, gnarled Dark Forest toward a bluff overlooking the sea. There's danger everywhere (including a few unexpected ones owing to minor mishaps in the boys' backyard), but when they spot Captain's missing boat stowed by an island, they'll have to take their biggest risk yet.
Coyly disguised as a pirate, Dragon follows his seafaring ally to the ship, which is guarded by a portly pirate who's treating his job rather casually. Once they've completed their daring heist, Dragon and Captain flee the buccaneers who give chase, forcing the pirates to bail out when Dragon chars their sea-craft with his fiery breath. Mission complete! But a thrilling quest works up an appetite, and the boys are happy to postpone any further undertakings until they've enjoyed a good meal of spaghetti and meatballs. A job well done deserves a hearty feast.
This book's illustrations are impressive enough that I think it merited consideration by the 2016 American Library Association Caldecott committee, though it wasn't selected for the recognition. Lucas Turnbloom's vibrant paintings blend with P.R. Allabach's jaunty story into a comic book in picture book form, with panels like a comic book and the text contained in speech balloons and little squares and rectangles on the page. Dragon and Captain could hold a lot of appeal for readers who enjoy comic books but haven't transitioned to other literary forms. The story encourages imagination and celebrates friendship, and that makes Dragon and Captain a worthwhile read in my opinion. I'm sure kids will have fun with it.
Dragon and Captain is superbly illustrated by award winner Lucas Turnbloom. From the fantasy map rendered in childlike style on the end pages, to the rainbow of fluorescent colors that accentuate the story the whole way through, Lucas Turnbloom casts just the right light on the escapades of a boy and his friend...I mean, a daring blue dragon and a heroic sea captain in search of his stolen ship. Dragon and Captain's artwork is as much a factor in its success as P.R. Allabach's satisfying story about a pair of boys who set sail on a spectacular voyage using their lush powers of imagination.
The Dragon is suspicious when he spies someone who looks like a pirate loitering in his own private sandbox, but skepticism takes a backseat when the trespasser (who turns out to be the Captain) reveals that the real pirate is escaping, having stolen Captain's boat. Dragon and Captain join forces in pursuit, trekking through the dense, gnarled Dark Forest toward a bluff overlooking the sea. There's danger everywhere (including a few unexpected ones owing to minor mishaps in the boys' backyard), but when they spot Captain's missing boat stowed by an island, they'll have to take their biggest risk yet.
Coyly disguised as a pirate, Dragon follows his seafaring ally to the ship, which is guarded by a portly pirate who's treating his job rather casually. Once they've completed their daring heist, Dragon and Captain flee the buccaneers who give chase, forcing the pirates to bail out when Dragon chars their sea-craft with his fiery breath. Mission complete! But a thrilling quest works up an appetite, and the boys are happy to postpone any further undertakings until they've enjoyed a good meal of spaghetti and meatballs. A job well done deserves a hearty feast.
This book's illustrations are impressive enough that I think it merited consideration by the 2016 American Library Association Caldecott committee, though it wasn't selected for the recognition. Lucas Turnbloom's vibrant paintings blend with P.R. Allabach's jaunty story into a comic book in picture book form, with panels like a comic book and the text contained in speech balloons and little squares and rectangles on the page. Dragon and Captain could hold a lot of appeal for readers who enjoy comic books but haven't transitioned to other literary forms. The story encourages imagination and celebrates friendship, and that makes Dragon and Captain a worthwhile read in my opinion. I'm sure kids will have fun with it.
April 23, 2015
A graphic novel picture book about two boys - one imagines himself as a dragon, the other a ship captain - team up for imaginary adventures. Such a wonderful celebration of imaginative and costume play and friendship. Excellent!
August 10, 2018
Shows good imagination between two boys playing in the yard as a dragon and the captain of the ship. Goes back and forth between comic strip to home and tells a story. I found it confusing to go back and forth so much but the illustrator and the cells and layout helped with this. Word count suggests picture book age. Older book and clear, colorful illustrations
July 21, 2017
Bold and colorful. A nice way to introduce young readers to graphic novel format.
April 15, 2018
While this wasn't my cup of tea, I can appreciate the beautiful illustrations and the graphic novel concept that I know my students will love!
January 10, 2019
Perfect story for mid Elementary readers.
September 9, 2020
Wonderful! Love how Dragon and Captain team up to find a lost ship. Chock full of adventure, imagination, and humor. Brilliant. I sure hope there are more Dragon and Captain adventures
April 2, 2015
Dragon and Captain is a real joy to behold. Told in comic book style, it is a quick and light read which is simply enchanting. But the crowning glory of this whimsical book is the illustrations which nearly steal the show from the witty humor penned within the pages of this delightful book. Author P.R. Allabach and Illustrator Lucas Turnbloom are quite a team as they depict a day in the life of two boys playing make-believe. Vivid illustrations charmingly depict the boys becoming immersed in a wild and daring adventure. As they don makeshift costumes the two are transformed into a life-like dragon and his wily companion, a ship's captain. Creativity runs rampant in this book which is sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of young children.
Dragon and Captain comes highly recommended and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
Dragon and Captain comes highly recommended and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
November 16, 2016
I received this book free through goodreads giveaway however these are my honest opinions.
I loved this book at first glance. The pictures are very engaging for young children and adults alike. It is easy for me to get all my toddler colors right off the cover of this book. The Hardcover is a nice touch since it keeps the book nicer for a longer time. On to the actual content of the book. I liked it quite a bit. It engages the child to guess what might happen to the dragon and captain and if they will ever get the ship back. It has some great aspects such as new vocabulary and similar words that a child who is beginning to read can easily catch on to. I did however knock a star off from the simple fact that it seemed quite scattered. Other than the plot being all over the place It is quite a nice read for a child.
I loved this book at first glance. The pictures are very engaging for young children and adults alike. It is easy for me to get all my toddler colors right off the cover of this book. The Hardcover is a nice touch since it keeps the book nicer for a longer time. On to the actual content of the book. I liked it quite a bit. It engages the child to guess what might happen to the dragon and captain and if they will ever get the ship back. It has some great aspects such as new vocabulary and similar words that a child who is beginning to read can easily catch on to. I did however knock a star off from the simple fact that it seemed quite scattered. Other than the plot being all over the place It is quite a nice read for a child.
March 21, 2015
A comic book styled story of Dragon and Captain, two young boys playing in the backyard pretending to be on an adventure to find Captain's lost ship. Shows great imagination and humor through the whole adventure.
April 1, 2015
Dragon (aka a young boy) is eating his oatmeal when he spies a possible pirate on the beach (aka another boy in the sand box). The interaction between imagination and reality is brilliant. It will show kids that anything is possible.
October 2, 2015
I think this should be a cute story, but this edition appears to have the pages mixed up as there are several places where the exact same page is reused. The events seem out of order. Colorful, graphic-novel style.
November 1, 2016
Illustrated in the style of a graphic novel, two young boys imagine themselves as a Dragon and a ship captain and enjoy adventures of all sorts through seas, caves, and more. Perfect for young comic fans. I won a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a review.
April 7, 2015
A clever and whimsical encounter with the elasticity of childhood's imagination. A grand blending of image and story. Top notch.
February 29, 2016
Full review to come
February 26, 2016
Fantastic illustrations!
August 3, 2016
Delightful. The illustrations are key in this graphic book of sorts – the young reader will be captivated by the “imaginary” versus “real.” Very entertaining for this audience.
Read
September 27, 2016Bold, colorful illustrations but with a story that didn't interest me much. Pirates and dragons always find their audiences, though.
Want to read
December 7, 2016I've given it for Christmas to the 5-year-old grandson of the woman across the hall from me.
November 26, 2017
Dragon and Captain is a fun story that celebrates the power of imagination and play.
Picture book, fiction
Interest level: K-3; Reading level: 1.4
YHBA Picture Book nominee 2017
5 out of 5 stars
There are so many things to love about Dragon and Captain — the bright illustrations, the celebration of imagination, a good friendship story, the graphic novel style format, and … who doesn’t love pirates and dragons!
The story begins with a young boy, dressed in a partial dragon costume, enjoying a bowl of cereal, when he suddenly notices there is a pirate playing in his sandbox. After introducing himself to the pirate, the dragon discovers that he is not a pirate, but just a regular captain who has lost his ship. The dragon, while slightly disappointed that he is not a pirate captain, takes charge and comes up with a plan to help the captain find his lost ship.
What makes this story outstanding is the flow and timing of the illustrations. The story switches back and forth between depicting two boys playing dragon and captain to the story being ABOUT a dragon and a captain. This follows the way a child’s imagination perceives the world as they play. They no longer see themselves as wearing a costume and playing a part, they become the part and the way they see the world changes to accommodate immersing themselves in play.
Lucas Turnbloom utilizes graphic novel style panels to keep readers on track as they read the story. He flawlessly melds the worlds of real and make believe while keeping the plot moving forward. At no point does the storyline stop progressing.
The bright and cartoon-like illustrations capture your attention, and the strength of the story will keep young and older readers engaged. This would make a fun read-aloud, especially if done with different voices for the characters. It could also be adapted into a 4-person readers theater production.
As an aside from the wonder of the story and illustrations, I want to note that I really appreciate the way the parents are depicted. The story primarily features the two kids playing, but in the background we see two female figures talking while one puts laundry onto an outdoors clothesline. My first thought was that the wife/mothers in the story had been placed in some 1950s-style role. However, this is balanced by the end of the story where the father/husband is inside cooking the meal. While this isn’t really integral to the plot, I appreciate books that don’t stereotype male/female roles with dad as the breadwinner and mom taking care of the domestic tasks. Kudos for parents sharing in household tasks!
Picture book, fiction
Interest level: K-3; Reading level: 1.4
YHBA Picture Book nominee 2017
5 out of 5 stars
There are so many things to love about Dragon and Captain — the bright illustrations, the celebration of imagination, a good friendship story, the graphic novel style format, and … who doesn’t love pirates and dragons!
The story begins with a young boy, dressed in a partial dragon costume, enjoying a bowl of cereal, when he suddenly notices there is a pirate playing in his sandbox. After introducing himself to the pirate, the dragon discovers that he is not a pirate, but just a regular captain who has lost his ship. The dragon, while slightly disappointed that he is not a pirate captain, takes charge and comes up with a plan to help the captain find his lost ship.
What makes this story outstanding is the flow and timing of the illustrations. The story switches back and forth between depicting two boys playing dragon and captain to the story being ABOUT a dragon and a captain. This follows the way a child’s imagination perceives the world as they play. They no longer see themselves as wearing a costume and playing a part, they become the part and the way they see the world changes to accommodate immersing themselves in play.
Lucas Turnbloom utilizes graphic novel style panels to keep readers on track as they read the story. He flawlessly melds the worlds of real and make believe while keeping the plot moving forward. At no point does the storyline stop progressing.
The bright and cartoon-like illustrations capture your attention, and the strength of the story will keep young and older readers engaged. This would make a fun read-aloud, especially if done with different voices for the characters. It could also be adapted into a 4-person readers theater production.
As an aside from the wonder of the story and illustrations, I want to note that I really appreciate the way the parents are depicted. The story primarily features the two kids playing, but in the background we see two female figures talking while one puts laundry onto an outdoors clothesline. My first thought was that the wife/mothers in the story had been placed in some 1950s-style role. However, this is balanced by the end of the story where the father/husband is inside cooking the meal. While this isn’t really integral to the plot, I appreciate books that don’t stereotype male/female roles with dad as the breadwinner and mom taking care of the domestic tasks. Kudos for parents sharing in household tasks!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews