Season of Dragons is a fun, lighthearted mystery fantasy that follows Ichabod, an adventurous but often overlooked kid, as he journeys to far off lands full of dragons. The characters in the story are so sweet and relatable, even the dragons! I really loved Gran, the grandma dragon, and Mist, a mischievous, snarky mist that protects the island of dragons. The book is full of found family and epic adventure vibes and I loved the ending so much! This is the first book in a series and I'm so pumped for the sequel.
My son and I just finished reading this together and we loved it! Between the very well done ADHD rep, and the adorable characters (My son's favorite is Gran the grandma dragon who loves skiing) this book is the perfect start to a new kids fantasy adventure story.
Season of Dragons by Nikki Mitchell is a fast-paced middle grade book with echoes of whimsy found in the films of Studio Ghibli. That along with its balance of humor and important themes in the vein of author Roald Dahl, Season of Dragons is a fantastic book for young readers.
In this first installment of the “Magic Shoebox Adventure” series, we are introduced to young Ichabod Surname. The warning message in the beginning of the book immediately entices you to dive in; and once you start? You need to know what Ichabod does next!
I started reading this book, and I couldn’t stop! It is a quick read at a little over 100 pages, and its pace is definitely good for young readers who often grow bored when bogged down with too much unnecessary information thrown at them. While reading, I felt reminded of Dahl’s character Matilda Wormwood. Like Matilda, Ichabod is a sympathetic character who, through determination and gusto, makes a difference. In summary, Ichabod Surname is a relatable young man who inspires readers to do what is right, never fear adventure, and to remember to call their grandma.
As a school librarian, I feel this book is perfect to add to a classroom reading list during the academic year. I will be adding a paperback copy to our library catalog, and I plan to utilize it in small groups with our fourth graders. Nikki includes a list of discussion questions for teachers at the end of the book which can be used for the classroom setting. The book itself lends itself to discussing various topics including character development, elements of plot, theme, types of conflict, point of view, context clues, and inferencing. The vivid fantasy world Nikki creates lends itself to endless creativity when it comes to designing writing prompts and multimedia presentations for students as well. I am so excited to share this book with my school babies, and I encourage other librarians and teachers to share with their kids, too!
Overall, Season of Dragons is superb. I readily give it 5-stars as it is a short, humorous yet poignant book for developing readers. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book of the Magic Shoebox Adventure series!
