Dragons and Dragonslayers

by Tim Chester, Meghan Antkowiak (Illustrations)

This imaginatively illustrated book includes eight dragon myths from China, Greece, Japan, England, Iceland, and even America--and explains why we are telling these kinds of stories. This collection tells story after exciting story about dragons. You have probably heard some of them, but some of them will surprise and excite you. We don't just hear the stories of St. George, Perseus, and Thor. We also learn the story of John Lambtown, a man who goes fishing, catches a tiny dragon that quickly grows to epic proportions, and can only be defeated with a bizarre suit of armor. We laugh at the story of the tiny storm god Susannoo who outwits a dragon the size of eight hills with rice wine. We shudder as we hear about the fight of the red and white dragons of Wales and the king that cleverly trapped them. We even get to hear about a dragon that terrorized Indians in Illinois. Each of these stories resonates with us because of something deep in the human imagination that loves to hear about fighting fierce dragons. In the Garden of Eden, it was a dragon that tricked our first parents, and at the end of the Bible, the book of Revelation, the dragon is identified as Satan. Pastor and author Tim Chester explains what these stories mean, and how we should live in the world as a result. This book is published by Canonball Books. Canonball Books is the children's imprint of Canon Press. At Canonball, we believe stories are soul food, so you can expect excitement, danger, loyalty, virtue, and family in your Canonball books. Feed your kids the right books! Souls will be fed and shaped from the inside out. That much is inescapable.

Genres: Fiction, Christian, Fantasy, Childrens, Dragons, Mythology

98 pages, Paperback

Published January 14, 2020

About the author

Dr Tim Chester is involved in The Crowded House, a church planting initiative in Sheffield, UK. He was previously Research & Policy Director for Tearfund UK, and has been published widely on prayer, mission, social issues and theology. He is married to Helen and has two daughters.

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first thought was, "Really cool idea. Wish I'd have thought of it." Then I realized that someone had already thought of it. There's a Dragon Legends book that came out in 2008. It's basically got the same stories, so the Chester book is just a Christianized version of the 2008 book.

Could have been 5 stars, but it was mildly annoying to see about a dozen typos throughout. Should have been easy to catch.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little collection of dragon tails...er...tales from around the globe, ultimately pointing to Jesus, the great Dragonslayer.

Fine narration from Tim Stephenson. Looking forward to hearing more from him!

And although I couldn't see them in the audiobook, I have seen Meghan Antkowiak's illustrations and can recommend them too.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the last three capters

[Jason Herrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool little book that tells several different dragon stories from around the world. And then points to the great dragonslayer (Jesus) who kills the dragon (Satan) on behalf of his people.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not having read the book description, the ending was wonderful, convicting, and encouraging! I listened to the audio via the Canon app.

[Shaina Herrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the Audio via the Canon Press app.

I am always a fan of any book that points to the bigger picture of reality. Definitely give this one a read/listen!

Also, since it's a short audiobook, this is a great book to listen to on road trips! :)

[Toby Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chester recounts a number of dragon and dragon slayer fairy tales and finishes with thee brief chapters on how Jesus is the true dragon slayer.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really fun book! Makes me want to hunt down some of these old stories and read them in more detail. Hopeful to have a son some day and get this book to read together!

[Fëalórin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragons and Dragonslayers is an intriguing collection of dragon tales drawn from the mythos of various cultures of the Western world. They are woven in such a manner as to point to the Ultimate Dragonslayer and reveal the reason for the ubiquity of such tales.

[John Rimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really enjoyed these stories. The only hiccup I had was when he started talking about myth and history as if they were apples and oranges. The argument that “all those other stories we know couldn’t be true, but this fantastical tale of a man rising from the dead is the exception” feels like a sure recipe for robbing people of the wonder of the world, making Christianity some kind of “exception” in our closed off, materialistic test tube existence. And worst, it sets kids up for the “well if they lied to me about Santa, how can I believe when they tell me about Jesus” issue. I much prefer the thinking of the Inklings on these things. It isn’t that myths are the opposite to reality, but that there are false and true myths, and the ring of the gospel is heard in all of them as they echo that true myth that frames our reality. Chester doesn’t believe Dragons are real. I beg to differ, and I think the Bible is on my side here. We don’t live in a test tube called reality.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book of classic dragon stories that ends with the ultimate true dragon story from the Bible. I love how it draws connections between them and communicates the gospel. It only loses a star because I thought the earlier chapters were a little lacking and could have been told better. We listened to the audio so I’d love to get the print version with illustrations.

Update: read again 2023 with my three boys, this time the print version. It’s stereotypical, but it’s true: boys love a good dragon story. It’s a good way to get truth into their hearts.

[Nathanael Ayling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book with small pages and big font size but a fun read.
Tim Chester shares dragon stories from around the world (Japan, America, Scotland, Wales, Scandinavia, England...) and asks why there are so many in different parts of the world that were unconnected for centuries.
Perhaps they all derive from the first ever dragon story...

Cue Garden of Eden, Christmas, Revelation - enter the Ultimate Dragon-Slayer, Jesus.

A fun and interesting short read.

[Katie Sharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars even.

[Enola Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun collection of stories and a lovely Gospel message. However, it's really poorly proofread and edited, which is such a shame. There are inconsistencies with whether the author chooses to give a pronunciation guide for a name or not, and in certain instances (King Lludd, for example) the pronunciation guide is wrong anyway!
I'm a firm believer in the fact that good children's stories should hold up to adult reading, and though the stories do, the writing itself doesn't quite. I should imagine that the audiobook is better.

[Alison Coles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Tim Chester's writings but this really didn't do it for me. The first 2/3 is a recount of various stories to do with dragons. It's okay, but neither fiction nor writing for children seems to be his strength. The final third seems to be concerted 'preach' which I didn't feel fitted in this book. A pity! He needs to stick to what he's good at - see my reviews of other books he's written.

[Gailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why are there so many dragons in so many stories? Could it be that every dragon story is an echo of an older, bigger, truer story..."

Charming little book with excellent introductions to some of the best dragon legends, and tying it marvelously into the gospel. I think young fellas would really love this.

[Joshua Jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stories are not written that well. They read just like one is conveying facts rather than telling a story (and there are an abnormal number of typos!). Then at the end the author states he doesn’t believe in dragons (!?) and then wants you to believe in Jesus the Dragonslayer after saying this. But I will say that his rendition of St. George and Dragon is one of the best I’ve heard.

[M P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eine Reise um die Welt und durch alle großen Drachengeschichten. Was haben sie alle gemeinsam? Sie sind ein Echo der großen Geschichte. Der Geschichte wie der Same der Frau das Haupt der Schlange zertrümmert.

[Daniel McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the dragon tales that Chester compiled. He is a good storyteller. I liked how he tied together the stories as reminiscent of the Great Dragon, Satan, and the Great Dragonslayer, Jesus Christ. It’s a book I’ll keep on the shelf for my children as they get a little older.

[Katie Marvel · Rating 5 out of 5]

We listened to this in a day in the car while running errands. My 7-year-old really enjoyed listening to it and it sparked fun conversations. I especially enjoyed and appreciated the last few chapters.

[Lindsey Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of dragon stories wrapped up in a Jesus, the ultimate-dragonslayer, bow! Satan may be strong and scary, a fire-breathing nightmare, but God is more powerful yet and has already slain him in order to win us, His people, His bride. Amazing!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book. Thoroughly enjoyed listing to this with my small sons. We need more books full of old tales and myths.

[Tifani Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not what I expected. . . So much better! It’s a few dragon stories, an interpretation of them, then the ultimate dragon story, Christ destroying Satan.

[Kyle Grindberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and enjoyable little book about dragons, I just wish there was more!

[Seth Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good

[Lea Berryreadinbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ties the stories of dragons throughout history to the ultimate dragon. What is the point of the Bible? Kill the dragon get the girl.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book! Read it out loud to my seven year old! We really enjoyed it! Recommended!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hudson enjoyed this.

[Rusten · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a fun little ride. Fascinating to think of how ubiquitous dragon stories are culturally in light of our common origin from the garden where the original dragon stallked.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved listening to all of these different dragon stories, and I loved how it all points to Jesus as the dragonslayer.