“Padraig, my friend, it is time for us to be courageous.”
Padraig the dragon and his best friend, Roger the turtle are determined to spend the whole night outside. As brave explorers at the base of Mount Sillymanborrow, the boys use their imaginations to have fun while munching on crunchy baked bugs and toasting s’mores over their campfire. But when the sky gets dark and the sounds of strange animals fill the forest outside their tent, their safari gets scary. This adventure is just what the boys need to discover that the dark might be frightening, but their friendship is stronger than fear.
This is the second book about Padraig the dragon and Roger the turtle. In the first book, Padraig and Roger learn the value of friendship so naturally this book delves into that friendship.
Excerpt
Roger the turtle blew on his toasted marshmallow. “It’s going to be fun spending the whole night at the base of Mount Sillymanborrow.”
“I didn’t know it got so dark on safari,” said Padraig the dragon.
“That’s why we have this fire,” said Roger.
“It’s a roarin’ good one too.” Padraig settled into his seat. “Toss me another marshmallow.”
“Proper adventurers always say please,” Roger teased.
“Yes, indeed. Please.” Padraig speared a puffy marshmallow with a stick.
Roger searched the ground. “Padraig, my good fellow, is the box of baked bugs on your side?”
As the dragon handed over the crunchy treat, a screeching noise made him jump, hover in the air, then return to the ground with a whump. “My stars! What was that?”
“Not to worry, old chap. That was definitely the call of a howler monkey,” Roger explained.
“Oh, righto,” said Padraig. “Very loud fellows, aren’t they?”
“Indeed.” Roger nodded. “Now about those baked bugs.”
“Oh, stinky aphids! I dropped them all over.”
“I’ll help you clean up.”
The turtle gulped a crispy bug, then paused. “Wait! Did you hear that rustling?”
Padraig squinted into the night. “What makes leaves rattle in the tippy top of a tree?”
The boys looked at each other. “Giraffe!”
My Review
This book was a fantastic follow up to the first book. Dragon and Turtle are sleeping under the stars when they begin hearing noises. As they identify the sounds they hear, they lean on each other when they are scared.
The boys had fun trying to guess what sounds were being described and the twist at the end of the story was a big surprise for them. This would be a perfect book to take on any camping trip.
Where To Buy
Pick up your copy of The Dragon And The Turtle Go on Safari from your local library, request it on Paperback Swap, or buy a copy on Amazon or directly from Waterbrook Press.
Disclosure: This post brought to you by Waterbrook Press. Our family received product for free in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are 100% mine.
