J.L. Sutton
666 reviews1,189 followers
“...my wants are few, and at any rate I had peace and quietness and wasn't always being asked to come along and do something. And I've got such an active mind - always occupied, I assure you!” Kenneth Grahame's : The Reluctant Dragon charming tale of a boy and a kindly, poetry-loving dragon who doesn't want to fight. It's a short book, but it put a smile on my face. Sometimes you can't ask for anything more than that.
Ivonne Rovira
2,256 reviews236 followers
Kenneth Grahame, best known for his rollicking The Wind in the Willows, wrote this beautiful short story in 1898, and it’s a classic that simply doesn’t age. In this time of COVID-19, Audible made quite a few of its children’s books available for free, and I took advantage and listened to Anton Lesser’s flawless narration. A silver lining to this dark, dark cloud.
- children-classics children-literature
Melanti
1,256 reviews139 followers
A really cute story. Though, I have to wonder if a modern child is going to get all the humor that the original child audience was able to get. They'll still think it' funny, of course, but some of the humor is more specific to the era that it was written. For instance, when the dragon says "You must tell him to go away at once, please. Say he can write if he likes, but I can't give him an interview. I'm not seeing anybody at present." the modern kids are going to get that the dragon is just going to refuse to see the knight, but unless they watch or read lots of late 20th century stories, they may not get the full intended image of a wealthy gentleman sending his butler downstairs to tell visitors that the lord of the house is not receiving visitors. It's a fun story, regardless, but I think it's even more whimsical if you picture the dragon as a slightly disreputable gentleman in his library, just waiting to be invited to the elite's dinner parties.
- 2016 audiobook children
Deborah O'Carroll
500 reviews103 followers
THIS BOOK IS MARVELOUS. EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT. <3
- 2014-reads 5-stars childrens
Najeefa Nasreen
66 reviews125 followers
5/5 stars When you're reading a big book that is consuming most of your time, you must be in want of short books to squeeze in between to keep yourself motivated. Well, The Reluctant Dragon did the same for me. A book to bring smile to your face. Sometimes you can't ask for anything more. If you want a great book for children, this is the one for you. It will best be a bedtime story. It tells a charming tale of friendship between a human and an animal. Not to forget, a short read. This is a tale of a dragon who is sweet, simple, and human friendly. He doesn't want to fight. Yes, he is that good, unlike other folks of his type. Also, he is not afraid of his human mates who are supposed to pose danger to his life. He wants to coexist with them. He likes the place and the people. The question is, will his nature win the confidence of these people who are afraid of him and are planning a way to get rid of him? Go and read the book and it will bring a positive impact on you and a smile when you close the book. One piece of advice, if you're listening to the audiobook version of The Reluctant Dragon, Anton Lesser is the perfect narrator in my belief. I had such a fun time listening to this book. Review Posted: 08 October 2022. Visit My Blog to read this and all my other reviews. "...my wants are few, and at any rate I had peace and quietness and wasn't always asked to come along and do something. And I've got such an active mind-always occupied, I assure you!"
- children-s
Lesle
215 reviews78 followers
The Reluctant Dragon is quite humorous. My first thought was I was reading a Fairy Tale, “Long ago…” A family of shepherds are raising a boy whose name is not given, he is just referred to as Boy, who was treated by his parents very fondly, quite proud and almost like an equal member of the household. The boy seems to have book knowledge and an inventive mind. The Dragon is in retirement mode, peaceable, loves poetry and not willing to put any effort into fighting. The Boy steps in to try and hide the Dragon from the Villagers but that fails and the Boy now has to take other means, as if it is his rightful duty, to save the Dragon from certain death. The tale goes from one event to the next quite simply and the characters are sympathetic with a bit of tension in the story. Is there a moral? Not really sure but there is imagination, bonding and a bit of deceiving. What a great read as me and my Grandsons pass the book around to read every other page! It definitely is a Fairy Tale where it ends happily ever after!
The book is a parody of the legendary St George and the Dragon, where the dragon is a menacing fire breathing dragon that is slain by the village champion.
- 1-uk-classics 2-young-adult read-in-2023
Rosh
2,018 reviews3,614 followers
I've never ever read a book with a "happy bohemian" dragon. 😄 This was an interesting story, and quite unlike typical dragon tales. A shepherd boy who is more interested in reading and yet his parents are perfectly happy with him. A dragon who is more interested in poems than battles. When the two come together, it makes for an unlikely friendship.
There are many themes subtly explored within this short story; struggling for acceptance amid your peers, striving to maintain a reputation though you aren't happy with it, judging people by looks and not willing to let them be who they want to be.
Overall, it's a quick and thought-provoking read with many deeper layers of truth.
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- 3-75-stars audiobook short-story-or-essay
Jim Ef
373 reviews94 followers
7.0/10 An old man narrates a story to two siblings ( a boy and a girl ), but this one takes a different approach to the whole dragon vs knight tales. A short and funny tale that will leave you with a smile. There is a moment when the brother says “I looked up at him and wondered whether I should ever live to smoke a big pipe with that careless sort of majesty!” I have two things to say here
As we all know dragons are mostly famous for one thing and that is…… poetry.
1st. I’m glad times changed on this subject and I hope we stopped portraying smoke as something cool
2nd. Dream a bit bigger my guy, I mean surely there are better things to be when you grow up, although I do like that you have realistic goals in life.
Manuel Alfonseca
Author77 books187 followers
ENGLISH: A singular parody of the legend of St. George and the dragon, with no princess, a dragon that refuses to fight, and a boy who acts as middleman. ESPAÑOL: Singular parodia de la leyenda de San Jorge y el dragón, pero sin princesa, con un dragón que se niega a luchar, y un chico que actúa como intermediario.
Jan
6 reviews1 follower
Kenneth Grahame is, of course, much better known for the Wind in the Willows. This book is an almost unknown gem by comparison. Kids and adults love dragons, and this one is drawn with such humour and wit that he is totally adorable. As a child I could never get enough of this book, and my daughter and her children are the same. The language will stretch a younger child but it is refreshing to have a child's book that does not 'dumb down' the writing. The illustrations are a delight and it is a joy to share such a book with a young audience.
Subashini
Author5 books168 followers
I love The Wind in the Willows and this has much of the same spirit in a shorter version. Wise, goofy animals with a philosophical bent who, for the most part, just want to be left alone to ponder the world. A cute satire on the chivalric romance and upending expectations about bravery, adventure, and perhaps crucially, violence. And this is cute in the best way; far from twee or cloying.
- british-fiction british-writers children
Rachel Aranda
940 reviews2,292 followers
3.75 stars This is strange to say but I randomized a list of classics to read and “The Reluctant Dragon” by Kenneth Grahame was the winner. I didn’t expect a children’s book to be the classic chosen nor did I expect to be unsure how I felt on this story. I had to read this classic children’s book twice to really gage my enjoyment and thoughts on it. This book is told as a story within a story, which is great for those who are looking for that kind of literary device, but I found it rather weakly done. Honestly, it felt jarring and unnecessary for the story. I also think that I had my expectations too high since I loved “The Wind in the Willows” so much and expected to love this just as much. Once we got into the dragon story I really started to like it. The scenes where the boy, St. George and the dragon were all together were my favorite. The fight scenes were great! Really liked it but not my favorite story of Mr. Grahame’s stories so far.
- ebooks library-rentals
Laurel Hicks
1,163 reviews113 followers
The Ferdinand of the dragon world. Delightful!
- 2017-8 audible books-read-in-2017
Cheryl
11.6k reviews466 followers
Reread. Have loved several different editions/ illustrators. This time I appreciated the Ernest Shepherd drawings, even though he couldn't decide how plump the dragon was, couldn't make it the size of "four carthorses," and couldn't decide what kind of armor St. George was lounging about in. I love the vocabulary stretchers. I loved William Steig and *The Phantom Tollbooth* when I was a child for the same reason - if I'd known of this then I would have loved it. Reread from openlibrary.org because the first part of the adult novella, The Dragon Griaule, reminded me of it. That story is also marvelous, but as it turned out, strictly for adults. Btw, if you do like this, you might also like another of my favorites, , which is a collection of fables and is in the public domain. And doesn't Tolkien have something short & light & somewhat satirical about dragons, too? I'd look it up, but I bet one of you can tell us in the comments.
Luisa Knight
2,949 reviews1,090 followers
Here's a pretty fun and unique fairy tale! Written with a little tongue and cheek, this tale is sure to please. There's a little boy, who's name is "Boy", a reluctant, can't be bothered dragon and a sparkle-on-his-tooth kind of knight that all agree to strike a deal and play a comical charade in order to meet the demands of the silly village people. Enjoy this uncommon lark! Ages: 9+ Cleanliness: normal fairy-tale magic. "O Lord" is said. **Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that! So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
- books-children-love-wilson children fairy-tale
Eileen
2,265 reviews116 followers
4.5 stars I thought this was really cute! I read Wind in the Willows not long ago, which is probably what the author is best known for. But while poking around, I came across this book and intended to read it, but with one thing and another, I didn't end up getting to this. Then I discovered that Audible had it with a different narrator (I have a copy with multiple actors) so I decided to give it a try. It was very enjoyable and I thought the reader was very easy to understand. But I've been listening to many Scottish and English readers lately, so I didn't have any trouble adjusting. I'm wondering if younger kids might. This story reminded me a little bit of Puff the Magic dragon with the friendship between the little boy and the dragon, but there was also a little bit of Ferdinand the Bull in it as the dragon was not at all interested in fighting. I enjoyed this book a lot more than Wind in the Willows and I'm wondering why I never heard of this book until now. Either way, I'm glad I found it.
- 2020 2020-ng-group-challenge audiobook
Marta
1,033 reviews115 followers
This was such a lovely story, wonderfully narrated by Anton Lesser. Free on Audible. A great listen for children and adults alike.
- audio children classics
Wilme ("Vilmie") Steenekamp
52 reviews1 follower
Lovely, heartwarming. 😊
Shanna Gonzalez
427 reviews40 followers
The Reluctant Dragon is a mild-mannered specimen of his breed who, unlike the "active and earnest" fellows who used to charge around battling knights, has survived long enough to develop his passion for poetry. He is befriended by an intelligent young shepherd boy, who is placed in an awkward position when the villagers discover the dragon's presence. Although the dragon has harmed no one, the villagers are so aroused that they call on Saint George to battle this "pestilential scourge." When Saint George arrives the dragon flatly refuses to fight, and the boy is left to find a solution to the impasse. This is a brilliantly written satirical fantasy, lambasting the traditional knight-and-dragon stories and providing a wonderful protagonist that boys of all ages (and many girls) will want to identify with. The fantastical pleasure of friendship with a dragon is enhanced by encounters with the famous knight, a theatrical battle, and plenty of intelligent wit to amuse both children and adults. The language is advanced, suitable for reading aloud or for confident self-readers. Some of the humor will be above young readers' heads, but there is enough action to make it interesting for younger ages. The original classic version is charmingly illustrated in pen-and-ink by Ernest Shepard (who also illustrated the Winnie-the-Pooh books), but for younger readers a more colorful version may be more appealing. There is a visually pleasing paraphrase by Inga Moore, which unfortunately preserves almost none of Grahame's marvelous prose. The unabridged edition by Michael Hague has lavish illustrations on almost every page, and it is my favorite version.
- children-08-12
Sophie (BlameChocolate) *on hiatus*
173 reviews29 followers
Another cute fairy tale! I enjoyed myself way too much and found myself so attached to the endearing dragon that I was seriously fearing for his life! He was just such a sweetiepie and I mean, a dragon who loves reading and making up poetry? How adorable is that?? The boy was also incredibly entertaining and resourceful and will definitely resonate with a lot of readers who just don't feel like they fit in with anyone, and especially their own families. He was just so spunky and kind of a drama queen. They find themselves in quite the predicament but nevertheless keep their spirits up throughout! Overall, a sweet little read for all the book dragons out there. 4 stars ~ This book grants an Outstanding (O) grade in Care of Magical Creatures (N.E.W.T.s) ~
Althea Ann
2,251 reviews1,151 followers
Of course, I had 'The Wind in the Willows' as a child. I truly wish I'd had this story as well. It's less well known - but I'm not sure why. This is a truly wonderful story-within-a-story: two children, fancying that the snow tracks they've followed from their yard are those of a dragon, encounter a kindly neighbor, who tells them a story - of course, about a boy who meets a literarily-inclined, and unusually good-tempered dragon. Whimsical, warm and clever.
Tim
1,232 reviews
The Reluctant Dragon is a delight of language and plot. The pacifist and poetical dragon, the wise and well-read boy, and the compassionate St. George come together in a small story that I love to read and hear aloud.
Robin
438 reviews4 followers
Anton Lesser is the perfect narrator for this wonderful classic story! I so enjoyed listening to the book this morning--an especially fun listen!
Syed Ali Hussain Bukhari
184 reviews2 followers
The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame A children story by a famous children storywriter. But, for me, it was little bit dull, having no attraction in it. Taking the famous theme of St. George, anyhow, it was a good effort to teach that there must always be a table talk to resolve the issues, wheather we like or don't.
Deborah Sherman
393 reviews4 followers
LOVED IT!!! Both my grandson and I loved this short story. We listened to it on a short road trip we took together today. The performance was great as were the descriptions of the characters; especially the dragon. I really liked the fact that the dragon was more interested in poetry than fighting battles. Left me with a smile on my face.
Sanja_Sanjalica
862 reviews
Funny, witty, entertaining and quite satirical.
- 19th-early-20th-century audio-books children-books
Megan Larson
120 reviews15 followers
What a clever twist on a dragon tale. The shepherd boy is such a great reader of fairy tales that he takes the advent of a dragon to his hometown quite in stride. The only problem is that, although the dragon is thoroughly tame, the townspeople love a good fight and absolutely insist that a dragon-slayer be sent for. Thankfully, the man in question, none other than St. George himself, knows how people sometimes exaggerate, and doesn't care too much for killing. The solution is agreed upon by the boy, the dragon, and St. George, and all turns out for the best. Even the bloodthirsty townspeople are chastened.
The writing style is a pleasure to read. The book-loving shepherd boy is the responsible party in all areas of his life, which is so enjoyable in a children's story. The tone reminds me of A.A. Milne and C.S. Lewis at the same time, and the illustrations by Ernest Shepherd are delightful. Of course, the vocabulary is spectacular. One sentence I read aloud to my husband was, "Meanwhile the Dragon, a happy Bohemian, lolled on the turf, enjoyed the sunsets, told antediluvian anecdotes to the Boy, and polished his old verses while meditating on fresh ones." While the English language and the overall quality of children's literature have taken a sad turn since this book's 1898 publication, my children don't have to know about it just yet.
- children-and-ya
Tori Samar
575 reviews89 followers
A fun twist on the legend of St. George and the dragon.
- 19th-century-literature 2022-reading british-literature
Anastasiya M
1,006 reviews10 followers
A sweet classic that I didn’t know even existed before finding it on Audible. It was free too, so win-win. It’s not the usual fantasy trope you’ll find in books, though I haven’t read enough children’s fantasy to form an opinion there, but it stood out with its unique premise and unbalanced approach. When I say not the usual, I’m not referring to the boy and a dragon trope, we have plenty of those around! Seriously though, a poetry-loving dragon, how cool is that?? The humour might be hard to catch onto for modern younger crowds yet easily understood with a little thoughtful effort. An unlikely friendship between a boy and a dragon, and a beautiful element that brought the two together. Read more here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2023/...
Michelle F
232 reviews85 followers
A delightful little treat. Full of good-natured commentary on smarts, books, friendship, peace and the silliness of society. Something for the giggling but thoughtful heart. A stay-at-home trek for the common sense adventurer, with beautiful illustrations and a happy little ending. Also, this lazy, rambling dragon is my spirit animal.
- fantasy high-fantasy illustrated