The weather here in Colorado is beginning to cool, though the days are still warm. The leaves are slowly turning gold, red and brown. Wal-Mart just sent out its Halloween costume flier and the grocery stores are bulging with candy. Ah October.

Here at A Readable Feast, I’ll be reviewing books on magical creatures and anything Halloween-ish. I’ll also post lots of fun Halloween recipes and some pumpkin ones, too, like the one I posted last year for Egg Free Pumpkin Cookies. (You can look up last year’s Halloween book reviews and recipes by clicking here.)

So let’s start October with DRAGONS!

Produced by Charlesbridge Publishing, Ralph Masiello’s Dragon Drawing Book is a more sophisticated version of the Ed Emberley drawing books. Masiello explores the world of dragon lore, from the Australian rainbow serpent to the imperial dragon of China. His book shows kids grade four to six how to create their own magical dragons. Children follow the steps in red, with extra bonus steps in blue showing how to add more advanced details. Ralph Masiello’s Dragon Drawing Book also features a pronunciation guide and short lists of recommended books and websites.

Keep in mind that the drawings require 12 to 50 steps to complete. So you may want to purchase this book for only the most dedicated dragon fan or artist/cartoonist. If you’re looking for simpler how-to-draw books, check out Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Halloween.

Dragon Stories at Usborne Books

One of the reasons I love Usborne Books so much is their fabulous stories of dragons. Here are a few favorites:

• Dragons (Luxury Lift-the-Flap book) – This is a big favorite at our house. Not only does Lucie love lifting up the flaps, but I actually learned the difference between South American, European, Chinese and ice dragons. For ages three and up.
• The Dragon and the Phoenix – For ages five and up, this is a story of a dragon, a phoenix and a very, very special pebble. I haven’t read this yet, but it’s on my wish list.
• The Dragon Painter – Why is Change afraid to paint in the dragons’ eyes? Find out in this lively retelling of a traditional Chinese story. For ages six and up, and a very good early chapter book for beginning readers.
• There’s a Dragon at My School – The story of why it’s better to leave your dragon at home. A flap book for ages three and up.
• Stories of Dragons – Another beautifully illustrated favorite of ours. Each chapter is a different story, and just the right length for nighttime reading. For ages six and up, though the book will appeal to older children as well.

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