FROM THE PUBLISHER

From the author of the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestseller DRAGONOLOGY! Attention, devoted dragonology students! How many classic riddles do you know that could help you survive a dragon encounter? What dragon species attacks its victims with a "frosty blast" instead of a jet of flame? Which historical questions should you ask a dragon in order to estimate its age? Can you write your name using only dragon runes? Contained in this beautifully designed, comprehensive course book are invisibility spells to memorize, charts to complete, maps to shade in, matching exercises to do, journal entries to write, experiments to conduct, even instructions for making a dragon attractor. Among the volume's charming novelty elements are: Dr. Drake's own school report card A pullout official ID card from the Secret & Ancient Society of Dragonologists Four sheets of stickers featuring dragons, gems, vintage ads and posters -- and more! This indispensable workbook teaches everything you need to know to become an esteemed dragonologist.

SYNOPSIS

Are you ready to become a Dragonmaster?

First, Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology was discovered and published to great acclaim. And now, a student's course in dragonology, written by Dr. Drake himself, has come to light.

In this illustrated textbook, Dr. Drake guides you though twenty-one lessons that promise to make you an undisputed expert in dragonology!

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Fans of Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology will flock to The Dragonology Handbook: A Practical Course in Dragons by the esteemed Dr. Ernest Drake, illus. by Wayne Anderson, Douglas Carrel and Helen Ward. With facsimile pages that emulate an antique sketchbook, envelopes to open, a pullout I.D. card from the Secret & Ancient Society of Dragonologists and suggestions on how to draw dragons plus a glossary of hieroglyphs, this elegantly designed paper-over-board volume is a necessity for dragon fans of all ages. (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

Riding the tail of the successful Dragonology comes this spoof of late Victorian pedagogy. Printed on suitably faded and worn pages complete with ink splotches—not to mention marvelous pseudo-marbleized endpapers—Dr. Ernest Drake's course is presented for young scholars interested in acing membership in the Secret and Ancient Society of Dragonologists. Among the more amusing touches is the description of the French "Gargouille" as one of the few city-dwelling western dragons. Then there are the tongue-in-cheek descriptions of dragon food chains by species (the top of the Arctic Dragon's is the polar bear.) Anonymous committees of writers usually fall flat, but this group obviously had a sense of humor, and a lot fun in the creation process. The end result is entertaining to page through, and for kids who have already plumbed the depths of the latest Harry Potter, the book offers additional diversion, as well as lots of membership cards and shiny (non-period) stickers. 2005, Candlewick, Ages 8 to 12.