I have dragons on my mind a lot lately.
Dragons, Dinosaurs and Thylacines. Animals that are extinct or endangered.
It’s all because of the stories that I have been writing. Research can be a lot of fun.
Dragons are the main characters in my up coming picture book which will be released early next year, while dinosaurs and thylacines play a major part in book 4 of my middle grade Adamson Adventure. Yes, for those of you who are anxiously awaiting the final book in the series, it’s almost here. I have finished the first draft and my major edits. So stay tuned for more on that soon.
Last month I looked at the differences and similarities between dragons and dinosaurs. You can find the link to that post here.
Today I am thinking about dragons in children’s stories. Here are a few that come to my mind. They appear in no particular favourite order.
Norbert from Harry Potter.
Norbert is the first dragon we encounter in the series as he hatches under the care of Hagrid the gamekeeper, in the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Hagrid is very fond of the cute little dragon that he won in a card game. The dragon is a Norwegian Ridgeback and as it grows to full size, Hagrid must agree to let it go even though to do so breaks his heart. Norbert is soon to be revealed as a female, hence the name change to Norberta. After book 1 this dragon is never seen again.
Image of Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback taken from https://www.quotev.com/story/11666155/The-Sisters-Black-and-the-Philosophers-Stone/14
However, other dragons do appear in book 3, the Goblet of Fire. A Hungarian Horntail, the Chinese Fireball, the common Welsh Green and the Swedish Short-Snout. These dragons are part of the first test in the Triwizard Cup, and Harry must try to gather an egg from a dragon’s nest to find a clue to continue in the competition.
While Norbert is seen as a cute and cuddly hatchling, these other dragons are far more fierce and deadly creatures. I think I know which dragon I would prefer to have as a pet.
Falkor from the Never Ending Story.
Falkor is a very different dragon to the usual scaly skin reptilian dragon. He is a 43 foot, (roughly 13 metres) long, soft, furry luckdragon more like a Chinese dragon than those found in British mythology.
He has a kind heart, is optimistic and only wants to help and encourage people, like Atreyu, who is trying to save the world of Fantasia from ‘the Nothing.’ Falkor is a wise dragon full of advice. He would be a great companion on any quest.
Elliott from Pete’s Dragon.
Elliott is a green scaly dragon with little pink wings and a tuft of pink hair on the top of his head. He is an adorable dragon who always means well. Elliot is a guardian dragon that becomes Pete’s best friend when the dragon sees that Pete is in need. The trouble is, that Elliott is a bit of a clumsy dragon, and with his ability to disappear, Pete often finds himself in trouble for the dragon’s misadventures. I think Elliott could be a fun dragon to have around, despite his clumsiness, as it is his job to protect and help children without any family support. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that there is a dragon out there doing his best to keep us all safe from harm.
Elliott from Pete’s Dragon
Draco from Dragonheart.
This story perhaps is more for older kids, teens and adults but still worth a mention. In essence, I find Draco absolutely adorable as his voice is narrated by the wonderful actor, Sir Sean Connery. I just love hearing a dragon speak with a Scottish accent.
Draco is like the dragons of British medieval legends. While he could be portrayed as a fierce fire-breathing dragon that attacks villages and fights knights, he is given a kind heart and soul. Draco agrees to give half of his heart to the injured Prince who is next in line to the throne. This is in the hope that the prince will become a kind and benevolent ruler. Sadly, the prince becomes a harsh tyrannical ruler of his kingdom. If Draco could always speak like Sean Connery, I would have him as a pet any day.
H.R. Pufnstuff from the TV show of the same name.
This one takes me right back to my childhood. Pufnstuff was a big yellow dragon with orange hair. His head was a bit too big for his body but this made him appear all the more friendly and lovable. It’s a magical story of flutes, witches and dragons. When a young boy named Jimmy finds a magical talking flute, he is promised an adventure of a lifetime. Taking a trip on a boat, unknowingly owned by the evil Witchypoo, Jimmy is lead to a magical island. Lucky for him, H R Pufnstuff comes to his recue. Would this story work for the kids of today? Probably not, but as a child of the Sixties, I found it very entertaining.
H R Pufnstuff from the 1969 children’s TV show of the same name/
Puff the Magic Dragon.
No list of dragons could be complete without the mention of this one, even though strictly speaking it is not a children’s story. Puff the Magic Dragon is a song written by the group, Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963, so again it is from my childhood. To this day I can still remember the words and tune to the chorus of this endearing song. It’s all about a little boy and his wonderful imagination. As he plays with his magical dragon they frolic and have wonderful and whimsical adventures. But sadly all little boys must eventually grow up and their imagination is lost. Puff’s scales all fall away as he fades from memory. It’s a tale of childhood wonderment and the wish that we all could keep that hint of playful childhood alive as we grow into adulthood.
Do you know all these dragons? Have you read their stories or seen their movies?
Which is your favourite dragon? Or can you think of one I haven’t mentioned?
Leave a comment below, I am curious to know.