A cute little story. The meter and rhyme were a little forced at times, but the story held up okay. I would think it would be more fun in book form (rather than digital, as I read it) with color pictures. A good series for kids who like adventures and myths.

The Dragon Hunters by James Russell is a cute and quick to read rhyming story about two brothers and their dog Coco. A dragon snatched Coco, and Paddy and his brother Flynn have to find him! Follow along with them on their Dragon hunting adventure.

The coolest feature in the book is a map that can be used with the free AR Maps app. It's for Android or iOS users. When you hover over the map, it comes alive with audio! Kids love it and look forward to the next book.

4****

A very cute story about two brothers, Flynn and Paddy, and their beloved dog, Coco, who is whisked away by a dragon. They set out on a journey to find the dragon and rescue their pet.

Told in rhyming verse, this fun little adventure is sure to become a favorite of young children everywhere. The illustrations fit the mood of the story, are fun, and even include a map!

This is the first in a trilogy of picture books for children so this is perfect for young children who want more to the story. Keep an eye out for the sequels, The Dragon Tamers and The Dragon Riders!

4.5 Stars.

Flynn and Paddy live on an island with their mom and dad. When they witness a dragon snatch their dog, Coco and fly away the brothers determine to bring her home. They prepare the night before making sandwiches (not quite like mom's) and packing needed supplies like rope.

I have the unique pleasure of sharing children's books with my nephew. We love to read a book together after school and he picks out his favorite illustration to draw himself. He loves books with dragons so I knew he had to read this book...and he loved it! His favorite was the dragon by far so that is what he drew.

The first thing that struck me was that the story was written in verse. I thought it was a cute gimmick, though there were a lot of words on each page for it to all be in verse. Also my nephew struggled to understand what the boys were doing. The verse complicated talking about the story. Not all children will struggle like he did but I think it is something unusual that if the subject matter is one they enjoy will expose them to a different sort of writing and storytelling.

I'm a great lover of illustrations and many in this book were stellar. I adore the cover so much! I have to believe that the color adjustment in my ebook was not exactly true to the printed version, some spreads had really dark colors so much so you couldn't see what was happening in them. The map is really cool and I like that there is an interactive map through a free app. My nephew adores digital interactions like this and that he gets to hear dragons, etc.

I really liked that their mother didn't believe the boys that they saved Coco from a dragon. There is something heartwarming that speaks to childhood and imagination in forging adult-less with only your little brother (or big brother) at your side.

I was slightly disappointed in this book, the odd colors in a few of the illustrations and the oddly defining choice of using verse for the text. Yet there is something totally charming about this story that sparks the imagination. There are two more in the series and I think my nephew and I need to look them up!!

BOTTOM LINE: Dragons, my favorite!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An adorable book to read to a child at bedtime! The story and pictures will delight any child. I found it to be very imaginative and engaging. Children will easily identify with the two brothers on their quest to save their doggy from the fierce dragon who stands between them and their pet.

A book that I would recommend to anyone wanting an adventure that will surely continue on.. in a dream!

A rainy day. Two siblings. Their beloved dog. And...a dragon? Yes, Flynn and Paddy and their chocolate lab, Coco, are stuck inside due to bad weather. But when Coco is sent outside, she is carried off by a dragon while the boys helplessly watch through the window. Mom doesn't believe them, so the boys have to stage a rescue themselves. Can two small boys really vanquish a mythical beast and retrieve Coco?

James Russell's jaunty rhyming text swoops us up and carries us into the story just as easily as the dragon snatched poor Coco. Parents and teachers will be pleased to see words such as wondrous, brandishing, fearsome, and scampered. Young readers will be expanding their vocabularies while they delight in the story. But there is also a great message in their quest to rescue Coco, "...never underestimate a boy's ability." The brothers may be smaller and younger than the dragon, but they have their own skills.

Link Choi's illustrations bring the story to vibrant life. Full color artwork captures moments such as Paddy's cheek mashed against the window glass as he stares open-mouthed at the dragon flying out of sight, or the brothers gathering their supplies by night. There are also pencil sketches showing Flynn tugging Paddy's hat into place, or giving him a hand up the steep slope to the dragon's lair. My favorite scene is the last double-spread showing the results of the boys' efforts (I can't tell you what that is without spoiling things).

But beyond all that, there is even more. Using the AR Reads app, readers of all ages may explore the world of Flynn and Paddy's island in interactive 3D. The large map found in the endpapers of the book comes alive with motion and sound. The giggles of the boys, the whoosh of the dragon's flames, the roaring of a waterfall, all drift out of the scene. And we can see the dragon swoop in and out of view, the boys running down the mountain from the cave, or the flickering on the Ridge of Rising Flames. There is a video demonstration available at http://bit.ly/2eQbQeD.

Young readers who have enjoyed tales such as <i>Dragons Love Tacos</i>, <i>This Book Is Not About Dragons</i>, or <i>Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library</i> will love having a new dragon story to read and re-read. They will be even more thrilled to learn that this is only the first in a series of adventures starring these brave brothers.

Highly recommended for ages 4+.

Cute early reader title. Perfect for boys and reluctant readers.

A really cute book about brothers who set out to save their beloved dog from a dragon. Easy to read rhyming rhythm which easily caught my kids attention. We look forward to reading the next books in the series.

What is it about parents not seeing magic? This is such a common thing in children's literature, it is getting old. I love it when parents do see magic. It can change the story and keep it fresh.

But this is not that story. This is the story of two brothers, who lose their dog to a dragon, and must get it back. The pictures showing the dragon are splendid, but the ones of the kids and their mother are toned down. Was there a dragon? Or did their mother just not see what the kids could see?

It is a good enough red. Kids might enjoy the prospect of dragon hunting (or rather dog hunting, since that what who they were really looking for).

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.