How to Raise and Keep a Dragon: Feedback from Kids
My friend Joe Nigg, channeling dragon buyer John Topsell, published a book called How to Raise and Keep a Dragon back in 2006. Joe has written a number of wonderful books about mythological and folkloric creatures, but this one had a particularly interesting story behind it--one that's still unfolding. As Joe explains, "A funny thing happened. The book went from a commissioned adult spoof of animal-raising guides to [being] marketing as an illustrated children's book. The book's surprisingly enthusiastic reception internationally (see matches for John Topsell on Google.com) has shown how fervently many young readers dream of raising their own dragon--and that many adults shared that dream as children, some apparently still believing there are such creatures."
Fueling this impression, Joe says that "Topsell lists fictitious Dragon Suppliers in the back of the book," a resource page that has, in part, led to a lot of correspondence from kids--a veritable outpouring. They run the gamut from literal belief and doubt to imaginary play. Sometimes, Joe says, he responds by writing, "John Topsell's dragons have been in myths and stories worldwide since time immemorial. But there are real animals called 'dragons': the Komodo Dragon of Indonesia (which grows up to 10 scary feet long!), and Chinese Bearded Dragons and Water Dragons, tiny lizards that people raise as pets. What I recommend is that you create your own imaginary Dragon friend. Select its breed, size, and color. Name it, and raise it as you read the book."
Below you'll find some wonderful (uncorrected) excerpts from the many emails and letters received by Joe, which once again show just how imaginative and passionate kids can be about the things they love.
(The cover of How to Raise and Keep a Dragon and another great book by Nigg, The Book of Dragons and other Mythical Beasts)
I loved the book "How to Raise and Keep a Dragon." I live in California, but my parents are unwilling to drive to Dragon House, Inc. to get a miniature Standard Western Dragon. First of all, is there any way to get a dragon egg shipped here? And, my parents have no belief in dragons whatsoever. I need to find some way to get a dragon, no matter what the cost. In addition, I need to know how much they cost. Thanks! how long wold it take for a dragon to fly from canada to south america?
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I am five years old. I want a Standard Western Dragon. I also want the Mushussu Dragon. I want the Piasa Dragon and the Dragon of India. Where can I get them? Can I have a dragon? That is it.
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dose a baby dragon think your its mom wen it haches?
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I have your book and I had wanted to purchase a mini western dragon so I looked in the resources and found a place to purchase a dragon from, so I looked on the internet to look up the place I wanted to get my dragon from, and when I searched it said:"Nothing matches your search."I obviously knew the place you mentioned in the resources wasn't real.I asked my dad to help me find a place where someone sold real dragons on the internet but my dad insisted they were not real.I NEED YOU TO GET ME A LINK FOR A FEW WHERE THEY SELL REAL DRAGONS ON THE INTERNET!!!
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i saw the thing about mouthrot but how do you see it and kier it.
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I read the book "How to raise and keep a dragon" and I think it's FANTASTIC. But still have questions I would like to ask. Does a dragon exists(I really really really wish it does.)? If so, can you please give me the phone numbers of the dragon suppliers in China (If [you] have them. If not,the addresses will be ok.)and send me a picture of a stanrd western dragon(green,if possible.), too. Thank you!
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How big should a miniture dragons room be, at the smallest?
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I am taking care of a standard western dragon and I am wondering where to buy riding equipment for it.
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Why did you lie to me? I was so upset when I asked my mom where Babyon was, because I wanted to train a Mushussu dragon. She told me about how it was now Iraq and that it no longer exists. I hate you!
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What if my dragon goes Buzerk and gets really mean? (not that it has)
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I am an eleven year old fan of dragons, and I am wondering what you think about them. I must ask, do you truly believe dragons are/were real? Please answer truthfully, I do not like being misguided. I would like to discuss this topic more with you, if you don't mind.
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I would like to know if you really have dragons because I would like to get one and I can't get one if they're not real.
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I have a full grown European Dragon, a mini- European dragon, and a European Dragon egg, but where can I find a home for them in a mountain? (I am an excellent trainer but people keep spotting them and faint, while some call the police!) Please reply A.S.A.P.!!!!!!!!
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roxy on March 09, 2008 at 08:57 AM
I wanted a dragon after I saw the movie eragon and i think it would be really eat to have one. the only problem is that my parents dont believe. same with the spiderwick books. anyway i really really want a dragon.
Indago Kenison on March 17, 2008 at 05:12 PM
This sounds really unreal but it is true. two weeks after i read this book i was looking dragons up on the internet and i came across a spell that helps you obtain a dragon. After going through the inconvince of getting thirty banana slugs, i did the spell. A week later i thought the spell hadent worked. We were getting a new fish tank and fish. there was one sculpture that was a Dragon of India. i insisted on getting it. the next day the sculpture was gone and so were the fish. i walked out onto our two acre lot. in the middle of the lot was the dragon but it was alive. a type of spell had been cast on Gold Fire (My Dragon) so that he was smaller and a sculpture. i now live happily with Gold Fire, and he is normal sized. i thank that spell.
Grace Chambers on May 27, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Are the dragon adds real?
Josephine Kroger on May 27, 2008 at 11:34 PM
How do you get a real dragon?
or are they just toys?
Roxanne on June 21, 2008 at 02:57 PM
I have NO IDEA of how to get the FULL address of where the Mushussu dragons are sold. I don't know the cost either.My mom, though, is willing to pay for a live one. PLEASE TELL ME AS MUTCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN ABOUT IT!!!!
P.S. I LOVE dragons!
Jeff VanderMeer on June 22, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Eeek! All of these dragons are imaginary, I'm afraid!
Melanie on June 27, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I have a miniature Ice dragon. She is white with a blue tint. her name is Tarasque. I have drawn a pic of her but I can't find it. (Personally I think she doesn't like the pic and ripped it up XD)
P.S DRAGONS ARE REAL!
Julie on July 11, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Hello.
I loved the book How to Raise and Keep a Dragon. I do have a dragon pipling (baby) that no one knows about except for a few of my friends. He is a green and red Standard Western Dragon named Briton (Br-it-on) he looks just like the one displayed in the dragon breed section of the book. He is so cute and loveable and yes he is real but he turns invisable and unhearable when strangers come around he also shrinks for fun and when strangers are around. He is very protective of me and everybody I know that is nice to me. If your parents tell you that dragons do not exist, they're wrong, they probably think that because they lost their kidlike mind and plus, it is very hard to purchase a dragon. Thank you!
from,
Julie age 10
Melanie on July 11, 2008 at 05:26 PM
I just bought another dragon egg. It is a mini european dragon. By the colour of the egg it should be a green dragon with blue speckles and a golden tint. I have named her/him Giberorite (Gib-bear-or-right) AKA Gibbs
Camii on July 24, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Where can I buy one?? PLEASE TELL ME!
Camii on July 24, 2008 at 01:07 PM
also is everyone posting serious? post a link to a picture of your dragon please::)
Camii on July 24, 2008 at 01:27 PM
PLEASE REPLY A.S.A.P!!! By the way Im 12 and am a total magic/dragon believer, so please, please, PLEASE help me get a dragon egg/dragon, and if you people are telling a joke, your sick..no offense if theyre real!
P.S: What website do you go on to get a spell for a dragon or get a dragon, i live next to ocean and mountain, is that a good place for them?
olivia on July 27, 2008 at 12:02 PM
i love the mushussu dragon we sent a letter to him to get prices on them! my mom likes the green and red standard western dragon but my mom might let me get 1!
mallory on July 27, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Me and my friend olivia sent a letter to the seller of the mushussu dragon about the price on them!! olivia's mom might let her buy one!!!!!! how much were the dragons you bought? Me and olivia are dieing to get a letter back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
olivia on July 27, 2008 at 06:16 PM
MALLORY DDDDDDDDDUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH it is spelt dying not dieing
lori on July 27, 2008 at 06:32 PM
hi. i'm olivia's mom and i wanted to say what are the prices on a miniature mushussu dragon? kids if you believe in dragons you should because they are real and can you send me a website with pics of your dragon on it. i check this website every day so you can post saying olivia mallor or lori saying this is the website with the pics on it. please send it to post it to me soon really really soon and if it is fake or your just lying please tell us all because it is really mean. please write back
olivia on July 27, 2008 at 06:37 PM
does anybody know blake baker?????? i'm toatly in love with him. he reminds me of a dragon but i can't pcture what kind. post back if you know him.
camii on July 27, 2008 at 07:32 PM
where do you send your letter to??
olivia on July 28, 2008 at 08:14 AM
camii, you send it to babylon.
olivia
olivia on July 28, 2008 at 02:54 PM
camii, post back. i'll keep sending you info if you post back and check this as much as you can. anyone else that wants to know info just post back to olivia and tell me your name and i'll give you info
olivia on July 28, 2008 at 06:28 PM
camii, get the book how to raise and keep a dragon. it is a really good book. if i do get a dragon i'll tell you and post it on here. do your parents beliven dragons too? i also read about a spell about how someone got a real dragon from a spell in a book that she got but i don't know if it is true or not. i don't know what the spell is but it has something to do with 30 banana slugs.
olivia on July 28, 2008 at 06:45 PM
she said, i found a spell on how to get a dragon and i kept repeting it for 1 week. i finally gave up because it didn't work. the next day, we went to get a fish and i saw a asian dragon sculpture that i had to get. the next morning, i went to go feed the fish and it and the dragon sculpture was gone. i went out to our 2 acer lot and in the middle of the field was the dragon sculpture but it was alive. now i live happily with my dragon(GOLDFIRE).
olivia on July 28, 2008 at 06:49 PM
roxanne, the full address to get a dragon is in the website we are on for this book.
olivia on July 28, 2008 at 06:50 PM
DRAGONS ARE REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
olivia on July 29, 2008 at 06:10 AM
hey everybody. does anyone have a question/questions abou dragons because i can tell you anything you want to know.
olivia on July 29, 2008 at 06:11 AM
hey everybody. does anyone have a question/questions abou dragons because i can tell you anything you want to know.
olivia on July 29, 2008 at 06:12 AM
i didn't mean to post it 2 times.
olivia
camii on July 29, 2008 at 06:14 PM
ok
Camii on July 29, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Olivia? hats the Adress to buy a dragon at?
on July 29, 2008 at 06:17 PM
my dad believes, but he believes they are in a different word and that you have to get there through a portal. He knows a draon summoning spell, bu he said its too hard for me:(
on July 29, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Olivia? My e-mail is Roxie_xox@hotmail.com can you e-mail it? I have to go
olivia on July 30, 2008 at 06:19 AM
hi, what did you want to know i think cami and someoneelse????????? write your name on the top of the letter and the bottom so i know who you are.
olivia
olivia on July 30, 2008 at 06:23 AM
what kind of dragon did you wanyt to know about????????? do you have the book HOW TO RAISE AND KEEP A DRAGON.
olivia
olivia on July 30, 2008 at 10:29 AM
ask your dad the spell and post it up on here.
olivia
camii on August 03, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Camii:
I wanted to know the FULL adress to get a dragon, like whats the zip code is and stuff, also Im going to ask my dad toight
olivia on August 04, 2008 at 04:50 AM
camii, what is your e-mail address so that i can send it to you.
lucy on August 04, 2008 at 09:36 AM
ware can i get a stander western dragon?
olivia on August 04, 2008 at 10:09 AM
lucy, the standerd western dragon is in the book HOW TO RAISE AND KEEP A DRAGON. you can get the address in there and you can get that book at walmart,target,or BJ'S.
olivia
olivia on August 04, 2008 at 11:52 AM
camii, 'll give you the address in a few days or so. my friend has the book and she's in Ohio till tonight and maby tommorow i can send it to you. can you give me your e-mail address so that i can send it to you secretly. and what dragon do you want the address for? do you have the book HOW TO RAISE AND KEEP A DRAGON???????
OLIVIA
olivia on August 05, 2008 at 03:49 PM
how old are you lucy????????
lucy on August 06, 2008 at 09:16 AM
i rented th book from the libray but the addresses showed me nothing.
Kio on August 06, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Idioits! They say in the book that dragons are really real, but here? OOOHHHH NNNOOO! they say they are not. i have yet to see a dragon but however, i believe they are still real!
olivia on August 06, 2008 at 03:19 PM
kio, what are you talking about???? dragons are real!!!!!!!!
olivia on August 06, 2008 at 03:23 PM
lucy, what kind of dragon did you look for in the book????? i probly can give you the address if you tell me what dragon you want to know about. my nextdoor neighbor has that book that i look at. how old are you lucy?
olivia
mallory on August 06, 2008 at 04:54 PM
OLIVIA HOW COULD YOU SNEEK AROUND AND TELL PEOPLE THE ADRESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wE MADE A PROMISE NOT TO TELL ANY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kio on August 07, 2008 at 11:08 AM
It says at the top!
Sora on August 07, 2008 at 11:12 AM
I just got a dragon! Her name is Sora. She is a Standard Europion Dragon. She is sky blue with a white tummy and wings! Her eyes are a yellow-ish green like the sun.
Kio on August 07, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Wow! I want one! Where can i get one?
Sora on August 07, 2008 at 11:19 AM
The spirit world! you get there by saying... well it is kinda secret. But if you wactch avatar youll get lucky enough to have a dream about the spirit world. Then try to get to Ordona's forest and talk with her. she will give you an egg to watch in the spirit world. AND if you get really lucky youll get your dream dargon
Kio on August 07, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Thnx! that should work out well. Guess what? I LOVE avatar. ive had millons of dreams that im in the spirit world. the only problem is...ORDONA IS FROM ZELDA AND THE TWILIGHT PRINCESS!