MrsK Books: Dragon in the Sock Drawer Series

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Dragon in the Sock Drawer Series

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer (Dragon Keepers Series #1)

Our Green Mt. Bears book club began a journey into "There Be Dragons," and what an amazing quest we were on! The Dragon in the Sock Drawer has been a favorite read aloud and so picking up the journey of Emmy proved to be just as delightful.

Meeting Jesse and his cousin Daisy becomes a relationship with new characters that will be everlasting. In spite of the reason for Jesse's trip to his cousin's house, he gets an unexpected adventure when he discovers a thunder egg. No one is expecting the thunder egg to hatch, and yet it does and a baby dragon becomes their quest. Not only do they need to learn about being dragon keepers, but how does someone hide a baby dragon who is growing and always hungry. How can you keep a baby dragon from wanting to explore? With the help of their Librarian they discover a dragon keeper's guide which leads them to the internet site of Professor LB Andersson, Doctor of Draconology. There is so much fun, many adventures, and the best of all.... a little dragon that takes your heart.

This is a perfect read aloud for all 3rd graders. Excellent word choice and outstanding characters.

The journey continued with The Dragon in the Library. By now the baby dragon is growing, growing, and such a reader. Not only does Emmy have to be incognito as a very large sheep dog, but Emmy gets to help pick out books in the public library. Can you imagine the potential for chaos? Well, that library invites its younger readers to an overnight with their pets and that's when you meet the library's Self-Elves. They are fabulous care-takers of all books (dragons). During this journey the cousins must save the Professor from Saint George's Princess. That's right, the legendary St. George and the Dragon becomes real for Jesse, Daisy, and Emmy.

The Dragon in the Library (Dragon Keepers Series #3)

Kate Klimo website

This series is a perfect "any time" read for 3rd graders, family and classroom read aloud enjoyment!

Amazing read
Added to my shelf

No comments:

MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)