School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-- Darek, nine, is envious of his older brother Clep's first dragonquest in spite of its inherent danger. When the hunters return to the village with their prize, the body of a Great Blue (one of the largest and fiercest of dragons), they also bring the body of Clep's best friend. Later that night, Darek discovers a whimpering young dragonling emerging from the dead beast's pouch. In spite of his lifelong conditioning to hate dragons, he finds himself befriending the orphan; in helping him find the Valley of the Dragons, he learns that the few dragons left in the valley have no natural enmity toward humans and need not be feared or hunted. In a final confrontation between creatures and villagers, Darek speaks up for harmony, and changes the future for them all. Simple and predictable stuff, indeed, but while this book lacks the depth or subtlety of Jane Yolen's or Anne McCaffrey's dragon books, it is entirely suitable for the intended beginning chapter-book audience. Full-page black-and-white drawings are scattered among the brief chapters, depicting villagers in vaguely medieval dress and a thoroughly adorable dragonling. Darek and his new friend are sympathetic characters, at once brave and timid, charging forward while hanging back, like children everywhere. Young readers will identify with Darek, share his fondness for the dragon, and applaud their final success. --Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Young Darek longs to be a great hunter of dragons, but when he finds an orphaned dragonling, his sympathies lead him into a meeting with and an understanding of dragons. Openly moralistic, but with a charming little dragon and an exciting adventure. From HORN BOOK 1990, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Appealing sf in the ""Springboard"" series for newly independent readers. Darek, nine, can't wait to prove his manhood by killing a dragon as his older brother, Clep, has just done. But when he discovers a young dragon in the pouch of Clep's quarry, it charms him with its affection and he decides to return it to its own kind. Along the way, Darek discovers to his surprise that ""Zantor"" is a vegetarian; by book's end, he has unexpectedly proved his courage by dissuading the men from attacking the dragons in order to ""save"" him, and by suggesting that both people and dragons might benefit from cooperating instead of fighting. Beginning as an unusual-pet story, this quickly takes a didactic turn, with the mothers readier to adopt behavior that will save their sons from death-defying risk than are the tradition-bound fathers. Still, the message doesn't overwhelm. Meanwhile, Koller tells a briskly moving, satisfying story, and the dragons are nicely endearing in both the text and the b&w illustrations. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5. Koller's illustrated chapter book continues the story begun in The Dragonling (1991) and A Dragon in the Family (1993). Jealous of the growing affection between his little dragon, Zantor, and the chief elder's daughter, Rowena, young Darek turns down the village leader's offer to buy Zantor as a gift for Rowena's birthday. Darek's refusal sets in motion a dragon hunt that will end in violence for the hunted, the hunters, or both. Written with regard for ethical concerns as well as headlong adventure, this full-of-action fantasy reads well. The delicately shaded pencil drawings sensitively depict the characters and underscore the drama. The ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger, but readers will look forward to the sequel that must be in the works. --Carolyn Phelan
