The Dragon of the Month Club- Review

As my children get older, I’m finding it more and more difficult to find quality literature that will appeal to them. Young children are generally very open to a vast array of books, as long as they are being read to. As time goes on, however, they tend to become more and more particular about what they read.

Don’t get me wrong. This is a good thing. It means that they are finding their own preferences, and thus are much more likely to actually pay attention when reading. The hard part for us parents is locating books that fit our growing kids’ criteria.

The Dragon of the Month Club, by Iain Reading, is a valuable option for parents to consider. This isn’t your ordinary fantasy genre book about a dragon. It’s far, far more. 

This piece centers around two best friends, Ayana and Tyler, who both have trouble fitting in with kids at school. After an accidental meeting in a dusty corner of the library, they become fast friends who have a bond like no other- access to a mysterious book they discover that teaches them how to conjure various dragons,- one per month- such as: a paper dragon, a fog dragon, a waterfall dragon, and a water dragon, just to name a few.

Following an unexpected side effect to a spell gone wrong, they suddenly find themselves in a fantastical world that is based on the numerous books Tyler has scattered across his messy room. Unable to find a way out, they begin their journey through a world of pop-up trees in which inhabit rather troubling characters from old German folktales, after which they find themselves in a vast desert from the classic science-fiction book, Dune. After traveling through several other literature settings, they finally find themselves in the fortress-like home of a brilliant scientist, whom they hope will discover a way to get them home.

Are you wondering where the dragons come in?

Since The Book, as Ayana and Tyler call it, contains the instructions on conjuring so many types of dragons, they are able to summon specific dragons which have particular talents to help them in whatever current needs they have at the time, such as summoning a waterfall dragon to get them over a death-defying waterfall unscathed.

On a side note- these aren’t ferocious fire-breathing dragons most of us think of, but adorable pet-type creatures that win your heart just as easily as the main characters do.

As a bookworm and a homeschool mom, I absolutely love the use of classic literature throughout this story. Reading about Ayana and Tyler interacting with characters many of us know, love, and sometimes fear, adds a depth to these stories that will have your kids begging you to read the classics alluded to in this book.

I, personally, cannot wait to read this book aloud to my children. If you’re interested in reading an excerpt, you can find one here.

The Dragon of the Month Club would also make an excellent gift for an upper elementary to middle school age child who enjoys reading books that are unique, creative, and imaginative because it fulfills all of those characteristics and so much more.

Disclaimer- I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.