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Ologies #1

Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons

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For true believers only, a lavishly illustrated reproduction of a legendary volume by the world's most distinguished dragonologist. Don't let it fall into the wrong hands!

Do you believe in dragons? Now, for the first time, the long-lost research of renowned nineteenth century dragonologist Dr. Ernest Drake is presented in all its eccentric glory, happily bridging the gap between dragon legend and fact. The meticulous Dr. Drake assigns Latin names to various dragon species, ruminates on why dragons are able to speak, speculates on how they could fly, and explains the true purpose of their notorious hoarding habits. Here are just a few of DRAGONOLOGY'S fascinating features:

-- Novelty item on every spread, including tactile samples of dragon wings, dragon scales, and dragon skin
-- Booklet of dragon riddles (indispensable to the burgeoning dragonologist)
-- Sealed envelope containing a powerful dragon-calling spell
-- Embossed faux leather cover with silver foil, encrusted with three dragon gems

In his afterword, Dr. Drake reveals that one of the crucial goals of dragonologists is to preserve the magnificent creatures of their study wherever possible - a goal this tongue-in-cheek volume most affectionately achieves. An incomparable gift for secret dragonologists everywhere!

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2003

76 people are currently reading
4,978 people want to read

About the author

Ernest Drake

25books36followers
Dr. Ernest Drake is a pseudonym of Dugald A. Steer

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5 stars
4,539 (47%)
4 stars
2,734 (28%)
3 stars
1,807 (18%)
2 stars
378 (3%)
1 star
91 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,356 reviews1,233 followers
May 28, 2019
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons is an absolutely gorgeous hardback that will thrill dragon lovers of all ages. Set out a little like a scrapbook this book includes all kinds of information about dragons, from maps of their locations, tips on how to train, diagrams of their bones and muscles and even an explanation on how they can breathe fire. It's packed with all sorts of fun information and really does read like an old journal of someone who has spent decades watching dragons in their wild habitats.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and there are loads of little extras like fold out maps, flaps to look under, secret codes and even stroke-able textured skin samples with added glitter and sparkle. The front cover has a beautiful dragon embossed in metallic red that shimmers when the light hits it (I've tried to show that in one of the pictures below but it's really hard to capture in a photo) and it's even embedded with three small green gemstones. The final picture of a dragon at the back of the book even has a large gemstone eye.

The quality of this book is absolutely fantastic and it's a must have for dragon lovers of all ages, just have a look at some of the pictures below and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about!













Profile Image for Daria.
406 reviews130 followers
September 8, 2010
Once upon a time, I had aimed to collect all of the Ologies ever published by the magical Candlewick Press; Dragonology, Egyptology, Wizardology... Pirateology? Fairyology? (I do believe an Ology competitor sprung up after the initial success of the Dragon and Egypt Ologies.) Come to think of it, I wish to create a hoard of these books still. They're just so much fun - kind of like pull-outs/pop-up/puppet books all in one, and aimed for the older reader. I think that the Ologies would be useful for breaking in more complicated, especially scientific, words to young children. There are multiple awesome illustrations to gawk at. Of course, Dragonology doesn't fail to satisfy my inner geeky five-year-old, either; if I narrow my eyes and lean away far enough, the red-and-gold glitter looks more like the dragon dust it's supposed to be. I'll be passing notes in dragon-letters to you next.

I believe the Ologies will attract the eye of any person, of any age. Those who are too young to mind the words will find everything shiny and touchable to be the ultimate form of amusement. Children of an older age will find the content even more fascinating than the shinys themselves. And the way older folk (who, let's admit it, never really gave up on that dragon cuneiform anyway, now did they?) will appreciate the imagination which went into these passages and admire the intricate art detail.

639 reviews
December 27, 2010
I dunno why, this book was so captivating to me for some reasons unknown. I think the whole concept of the fact that dragons exist may have gotten me hooked on this book. I got it at a garage sale for a steal. My friend asked me why I was reading such a weird book, you see, I usually read different books than this one. But I'm so glad that I bought it. It has such amazing featues to the book. Dragon dust, dragons scales, dragon feathers. LOL. Made me laugh at random times. There were also riddles and envelopes. They told you about people who have encountered dragons orstudy them. SIGH, I couldn't get enough of the book.
Anyway, I recommend this to everyone because everypne should believe that dragons exist. I do. :D
Profile Image for Kathrynn.
1,184 reviews
March 5, 2008
I read the whole thing to my youngest daughter, some of the words were beyond her comprehension level--not to mention pronunciation. We had fun with it. Funny! The author tries to be serious in a pretend kind of way.

From page Chap IV,
"While the dangers of suffering from bites, burns, slashes from claws, death-by-constriction, tail lashings, venom attacks, and so forth should never be underestimated, the lesser danger of hypnosis is often ignored. The mechanism for this is little understood, but it seems to occur in a similar way to that seen when a snake hypnotises a frog. Dragons can hypnotise large groups of individuals at one time, and the effects may last for some months, with the hypnotised person often found apparently carrying on their everyday life. The signs are easy to read: an obsession with dragons, wizards, fairies, or tales of other words, a mad delight in fantastic illustrations and ideas; a dislike of human rules or authorities. Luckily, there is a tried and trusted method that may be used as a sure remedy:

* A person who has been hypnotised by a dragon should be made to do a large number of complicated mathematical sums.

* All books on dragons, wizards, or suchlike should be confiscated, and books on stimulating topics---politics, economic theory, the history of benzene in the manufacturing industries, etc---should be substituted.

* Exhortations to the person to "snap out of it" or to "stop living in cloud-cucko land" are rarely successful."
Profile Image for Wendy.
413 reviews57 followers
March 6, 2016
I know I read it as soon as I got it, and the publication year says 2004, but I'm not very good at remembering exactly what year/how old I was when something happened, so that's just an estimate. It's been a decade, cut me some slack. ;)

I liked this book all right at the time, and I got it out and looked through it a bit before adding it to ŷ, and I liked it all right now. It's got some funny bits, and it's set up just like a kids' book about dogs or other animals, so that makes it fun. Any kid who likes dragons will love this. I probably would have loved it more if I'd read it younger, since I think it's targeted at a younger age group--although I think I got some of the jokes more now, when I'm older and have more context.
Profile Image for Sean.
85 reviews5 followers
August 20, 2014
A fun, imaginative read with plenty of tactile-kinesthetic learning attributes.
Profile Image for Greta is Erikasbuddy.
852 reviews27 followers
January 1, 2014
This book was cool as heck!!

Written like a field manual and a scrap book and a journal and a kid's dream... it's freaking awesome!!

Full of things you can touch and pull out. Secret spells to help you get a dragon, how to train a dragon, how to hatch dragon eggs, the difference between most dragons and habitat locations. Just sooo much fun!!

This would be a great fantastic book for your elementary kid who loves dragons. A great book you can bond over and maybe try a spell or two. Hey! You don't have to use real salamanders when trying to get a dragon to protect you. Just use a gummy one!!

I loved it!! One of the best Christmas gifts I got this year!!
Profile Image for Galia.
26 reviews
March 19, 2008
every who likes dragons has to read this book! it is the greatest book ever!
Profile Image for Emma.
Author5 books91 followers
November 14, 2008
For anyone interested in writing about or drawing dragons, it proves invaluable, with it's wealth of high-quality artwork and descriptions on the creatures. For fleshing out your idea of dragons for your fantasy art or novels, it's perfect, and anyone with artistic sense will adorable the effort put into the illustrations.

For those looking for some absorbing fiction, though, it will only disappoint - as much as it pretends to be serious, it falls flat on it's face with cheap props - shiny paper and glitter make up most of the 'proof' of dragons existing.

What makes it worse is that "Dragonology" still stands as one of the higher-quality and more convincing of the 'Ologies'.

So if you're looking for something thought-provoking, or, for the odder among you - 'proof' - then it will sorely disappoint.

But if you're willing to let go of the resentment at that, or if you just read it for the fun of it, it's great. An interesting, interactive book that young children would adore.

A job well done, really.
Profile Image for Christina Baehr.
Author7 books433 followers
September 25, 2024
This book is a fabulous, lavish, imaginative compendium of REAL historical dragon lore and a must for anyone with dragon-fixated children. They will be introduced to renaissance mapmakers like Magnus and crypto zoologists like Topsell. This is the real stuff, packaged with all the joy and whimsy of lift the flap/tiny envelope bells and whistles.
Profile Image for La La.
1,069 reviews154 followers
October 25, 2015
This is a "cute and shiny" book says Cait from Paper Fury. My son was very fond of it when he was young. It was part of his "Hogwart's schoolbooks" shelf. It has a companion book that we also have, but right now I cannot remember the title. I think there is also a witch and wizard book we have from this series, too.
Profile Image for Katy.
64 reviews
February 14, 2024
Dragonology? More like Duolingo. I'm fluent in written Dragonology 🐉
Profile Image for Sophie Crane.
4,922 reviews171 followers
January 14, 2020
A wonderful, detailed, simply beautiful book, with gorgeous illustrations, secret messages and codes to crack. Mock-serious academic advice on types of dragon, how to hatch and care for young dragons - all very tongue in cheek. Good for anyone 8 upwards who loves dragons and can care for a beautiful book.
Profile Image for Anna Bueller.
26 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2014
Dragonology? Why not Baseball-Jewology? By Chaim Potok.
Profile Image for Kristin.
327 reviews
July 29, 2015
My son loved this book. So many neat little aspects and details such as samples of how the various dragons skins feels. Great for the dragon lover.
Profile Image for Mara Wells.
15 reviews3 followers
November 4, 2016
This is a wonderful book to have on hand!
Amazing pull outs and feely things to awaken you inner 6 year old.
Profile Image for Emma.
Author3 books74 followers
Read
February 23, 2018
I'm gonna count this toward my reading challenge because I read it for class and had to actually read all the words
Profile Image for moi, k.y.a..
2,028 reviews374 followers
March 11, 2022
iki yıl sonra şu kitabı pdf de olsa bulduğuma inanamıyorum ama yani bunu kanlı canlı, ciltli olarak istiyorum
ÇÜNKÜ ÇİZİMLERİ DEHŞET GÜZEL, kafayı yedim her ayrıntıda.
açıp açıp bakmalık, fazla söze gerek yok
Profile Image for guiltlessreader.
379 reviews124 followers
February 26, 2012
Originally reviewed on my blog with tons of photos!

Have you ever heard of the Ology World series? The Ology World series are beautifully illustrated fantasy books presented like they were encyclopedias with letters and flaps and folds galore. The first in the series is Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons.

During one of our bookstore visits, we couldn't pull the daughter away from it ... and she would be on the lookout for them each time we visited. She became quite addicted to this series starting at about eight or nine years old because the books present fantasy as if it were fact. She totally believed that say, dragons, existed. Keeping mum about this being fiction was kind of like keeping her believing in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy!

Read the rest of the review here: and yes, with photos!


Profile Image for Peekablue.
145 reviews2 followers
January 23, 2016
This is an amazing book. I discovered it in the book section of K-Mart, of all places. I couldn't buy it just then, but I remembered the title and put it on my wish-list. This was one of many books I asked for last Christmas and my mom got it for me. Books like this are really great in an age when fewer and fewer people are reading books. Even my husband, who hates to read was interested in this book.

The book itself is a work of art. The cover reminds you of an ancient volume, perhaps owned by a wizard. It even has green jewels set in it. The inside is full of beautiful illustrations of all the different types of dragons. There are sealed envelopes which you can open to find letters from the author or even magical spells. There are "samples" of dragon scales and wings...This book really brings them to life.

It's great for both the young and old, I'm 24 years old and I love this book, my mom also really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to adding Wizardology and Egyptology to my collection as well. I hope there are more 'ologies to come.
2,151 reviews
Read
December 27, 2014
I originally picked up this beautiful book, published by Candlewick Press, just to look at it, thinking I might buy one at a later time. But I soon realized that I needed to have a copy in my possession immediately! Laden with attractive illustrations, Dragonology's tongue-in-cheek charm is addictive. Especially amusing are "Finding, Hatching, and Raising a Dragon" and the explanation of what to do for a person who's been hypnotized by a dragon. Pick up a copy for yourself and enjoy this fun read.
Profile Image for Cowgirlgem.
37 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2015
This books is just gorgeous!

It is a faux-text book about dragons, talking about different kinds of dragons throughout the world.

It is surprisingly in things like the development of dragon embryo's in eggs and different tracks left by different dragons.

It has lots of flaps to look behind, and messages in pouches and other neat things which make the book extra fun.

Kids ages 8-12 would love this!
Profile Image for [ J o ].
1,962 reviews522 followers
January 8, 2016
Part of the Dragonology series. This particular book has a model of a green "European Dragon" that can be assembled and hung up. This one is more for the younger readers, but it still contains a booklet that features some of the information provided in the other books of this series.
Profile Image for Nora.
64 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2024
I really enjoy this book, in fact I have it checked out right now! It's awesome to read this book, And my favorite one (of the dragons) is either the European Dragon or the Ice Dragon. Probably the Ice Dragon, Though the European Dragon's Pretty cool too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews

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