The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari

In case you are not already familiar with them, Roger the turtle and Padraig the dragon are two imaginative young reptiles always on the lookout for fun and adventure.  The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari is the latest book in the popular series by Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark.  In it, we find the two friends on a over night adventure in the great outdoors. Determined to spend the entire night outside and with imaginations running wild, the friends look deep inside to find the courage needed to face the mysterious creatures that lurk at the base of the famed Mount Sillymanborrow.

My little guys were enthralled by the imagery evoked through the author's use of silly names, word play, and friendly banter.  They even decided to add on to the story with other adventures they imagined the two friends would have together.  It took them just a minute to realize that Roger and Padraig were not, in fact, on an African safari, rather on a fantastic adventure in their own backyard.  Once they did, I could see their wheels spinning and knew they were each planning some incredible backyard camping trip of their own for this summer!  My boys are (almost) 7, 5, and 3 and they all really enjoyed this book.  I think some of the imagery was lost on my 3 year old, but with very basic explanations, he understood that this was a make believe adventure being played out in the backyard.

I must add that I adore the illustrations in this book!  They are colorful and imaginative and play a large role in helping the reader determine the difference between fantasy and reality in this fun adventure.

You can purchase The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari for $11.99 from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  Be sure to stop by and check them out on Facebook.

*Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group, for the purpose of this review.  The views expressed are my honest opinions based on the experience of me and my children.