Lang, Suzanne. (2026). Dragon Dog. Random House Studios.
In the land of Quatsch, “mad wizard Simpkin Sowerbutts dreamed of ruling over all that he could see.” To do so, he was determined to make a dragon who was as loyal as a dog to help him fulfill his dream. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on who you ask, what he created was a fierce and mighty, little fluffy green dog, FIERCE as a dragon.
Personally I think he is pretty adorable, even if he is trying to be scary. But that mean old wizard Sowerbutts didn’t want him! At first, he put Dragon Dog in the dungeon and he was sad. But again, he was fierce! He could not be contained.
But once he was out of the dungeon he had no idea where to go. So, he wandered hoping to find a home. He came up against foul beasts, but bested them all. That’s how everyone came to be afraid of him.
Except a lost lamb called Dandelion, who frankly had excellent social-emotional skills and boundaries. Good on you Dandelion. Dandelion asked Dragon Dog to help them find their way home, because the shepherd told them always to look for a dog, because they are “loyal protectors.”
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE?!! Dragon Dog reluctantly agreed, but in the meantime tried to show Dandelion how to be fierce like a dragon. It didn’t quite work out as Dragon Dog expected, but Dandelion loved them anyway and when they came upon Dandelion’s home, the whole flock AND the shepherd were missing! But there was a lingering odor that Dragon Dog recognized.
It was wizard Sowerbutts. Back to the castle they went to confront the wizard, who had created an actual dragon this time, who didn’t have the loyalty he sought, but required dinner to keep her invested. Her name was Clawdia. Dinner that night was to be SHEPHERD’S PIE! OH NO! Sowerbutts HAD captured Dandelion’s flock and shepherd for nefarious purposes.
Then, Sowerbutts made the mistake of calling our intrepid hero fluffy, and Dragon Dog made a good show, in his anger, of showing his ferocity instead! Nothing could stop him…except Clawdia. She was fierce. She was big. She was unstoppable. Even Dandelion tried. So, they said…NOPE…we are not going to defeat this one. They knew it was time to bail.
They released the flock and the shepherd, despite Clawdia and made a run for it! Oh, but what about that terrible wizard and his goons? Well…Claudia was still waiting for her dinner. And Dragon Dog and Dandelion lived happily with the shepherd, “as loyal as a dog, as fluffy as a sheep and as fierce as a dragon.” He had found home.
In my opinion, this is another winner from the team that brought you Grumpy Monkey. Dragon Dog is loveable, cantankerous, fierce and adorable, and learns to love it exactly who he is and learns where he belongs. Even with the insinuation that the wizard gets eaten at the end, I didn’t think it was too much. I know 3-year-olds that would squeal with delight just as much as 6-year-olds.
Recommended Ages: 3-7
Activity Sheets:
Original Source: Dragon Dog by Suzanne Lang: 9798217223718 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
