Reviews

A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey

undertowsoul's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

thedizzyreader's review against another edition

3.0

Wow! What a weird, surprising mix of humor and melancholy. Dragon is lonely until he encounters apple. At first Dragon thinks apple is just a great listener and great sharer, but his new friend's continued silence concerns Dragon enough to schedule a doctor appointment. When his apple meets an untimely end at the doctor's office, Dragon buries his friend in the backyard. Things seem pretty grim until spring rolls around.

kimchi_kong's review against another edition

1.0

I thought this was going to be a cute book to read to my kid. Awww, look! Someone played a joke on Dragon and he thinks that Apple is his new friend! Hah hah hah...

Oh wait, Apple is getting sick.

And someone just CANNIBALIZED Apple.

Now Apple is dead and Dragon is crying and digging a grave for his best friend Apple.

WHAT THE FUCK


And now I have to explain death and grief to my sensitive, worried toddler. Some warning about how macabre this book really is would've been nice.

acedragonrider1's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

4.75

This was one rollercoaster ride of emotions for the ages! 

bel017's review against another edition

1.0

It is not clear from the cover that this book is about death. Dragon is sad because he is lonely - something lots of kids can relate to, especially now (being in lockdown). No one wants to be his friend and he's tricked into thinking an apple is his friend. His friend is then murdered. He buries his friend's body. Then he grieves. While he grieves an apple tree grows where he buried his friend. When he finishes grieving he sees the tree. It's a full-blown mature tree so he grieved for a good decade, even longer if there was no gardener or it's a slow growing variety. In all that time of grief he doesn't make a single friend. The book ends with him getting a new apple to befriend.

I can see how this could be used for children mourning the death of a loved one, but there's nothing about that on the cover. All the poor thing wants is a friend and he never ever gets one. It's pretty heartbreaking.

bookdragon_library's review against another edition

3.0

Written by Dav Pilkey of Dog Man and Captain Underpants fame. There are about 5 - 7 lines of text on a page, some have 2 - 3. Dragon Characters are fun and friendly-looking. Scholastic Acorn book series, ideal for K - 2nd graders and ELL students. Split in to 5 chapters and about 50 pages with a pretty easy "how to draw Dragon" at the back which should be appropriate for the target audience of readers. I like how the book has meaningful friend lessons like "friends always share" and "friends are good listeners." However, overall the book was actually kind of sad. It starts out as a snake tricking Dragon in to thinking an apple was talking and wanted to be his friend. So then he spends some time with apple talking to him and he never answers. Apple gets eaten to his core, turns brown and Dragon buries him and cries and is lonely. It made me a bit sad to read and it ended with Dragon looking up to see an apple tree full of apples and being happy but I just thought, "sadness. They won't talk to him either."

adaptation1988's review against another edition

5.0

This book was so traumatizing for me.

Spoiler

THE FUCKING APPLE DIED, OKAY? I WAS NOT OKAY.

musshel's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This is a beginner chapter book. The sentences are simple and dragon is cute. 

karmakat's review against another edition

4.0

I was first introduced to the wonders of Dragon on TV a few years ago. Sadly, it was only on network TV for a season or two. I love Dragon, and obviously the books are very closely based on the books. Poor, simple-minded Dragon. Love him!

amanda_12's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0