A Natural History of Dragons

A Natural History of Dragons - Dinosaurs?
Structured, represented and told like a true natural history book about real animals, this is an engaging and imaginative book with illustrations that make you feel like you are reading an ancient book.
I am sure that the print book will look awesome.

A lovely book with beautiful illustrations. I loved the inclusion of the diary entries mixed in with the scientific descriptions of the life and biology of dragons. The inclusion of dragons from varied places and their history and mythologies added an extra layer to the book. The work and detail is immense, but never felt overwhelming, instead there were more and more details to come back to in later readings.


The collaborations of Emily Hawkins and Jessica Roux are my favorites, and I think every book is yet another favorite to treasure. I highly recommend this book (and it's in great company with their previous books as well). A book that young and old with a love of magic with enjoy.

I absolutely love Jessica Roux's illustrations and have slowly been completing my collection of her books as well as ones illustrated by her. I've also explored Emily Hawkins' works before and have been meaning to pick up a few more - A Natural History of Dragons was already on my radar when I received the ARC so it was a really nice opportunity to explore this book and finalised my decision to also purchase this book when it hits the shelves.

It is unsurprisingly beautifully illustrated - both colourful and playful. It draws you in and goes wonderfully with the text and information provided by Emily Hawkins. It's insightful, imaginative and humorous - you'll easily believe the magic that is dragons and while this is primarily targeted at children, I firmly believe that any fantasy or dragon loving adult would love this book. If Emily Hawkins' other Natural History books are anything like this one, I am very much wanting to look into them too.

This fictionalization of the history of dragons reads like an informational text and will draw in readers who love both fiction and nonfiction books. My daughter is a voracious reader of informational books on folklore, myth, and mythological creatures and she adored this one. We have two others in this series and just love the work of Emily Hawkins and the illustrator, Jessica Roux, their collaborations are something truly special. This is a book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. I would highly recommend this to anyone wishing to learn more about dragons or who wound like to get lost in their magical history. This book is stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley & Quarto Publishing group for the free eARC copy in return for an honest review.

This is definitely the best book on dragons I have read so far. All the information is well-organised and presented with stunning illustration. The amount of work that has gone into creating this book must have been tremendous. This is a must-have for all dragon fans.

An absolutely stunning book on dragons, perfect for kids 7-11 and adults who adore these fascinating imaginary creatures. The artwork is gorgeous, and the design and info-rich text make it a delight to read. Recommended!

Gorgeous and informative, this is a perfect addition to anyone's collection of books on dragons. This is intended for children, but as someone who used to translate the runes in my Dragonology books during recess - I think it's also a nice fit for any adult who still loves that whimsy in life. (And who never quite gave up that child who secretly thought dragons were real).

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for a copy of this book.

A beautifully illustrated guide to dragons of the world.
For children. The children at the library will love it. Definitely the children.
OK it's me. It's me who really loves it.

Okay this was super cool!! I have three nephews and could easily see them loving all the facts about different dragons (10, 8, 7yrs old). I am actually very tempted to buy them a copy myself!

What I loved was the presentation of it being a “factual” textbook for aspiring scholars! I love immersive fiction like this.

The art was also spectacular and well crafted.

Definitely a fun book for lovers of dragons of all ages!! Though little ones who cant read much may only get to enjoy the pictures!

My kids are irrelevant for this one. I LOVE THIS BOOK! The layout, illustrations, content, all of it is fantastic. I am 100% getting this as a coffee table book.

I love this book! This is the kind of book I would have absolutely adored and believed, hook, line, and sinker when I was a kid. Every single sketch of the dragons, the people, and the dragon eggs were phenomenal, and very impressive. There was so much detail and accurate coloring, with the right finish on each illustration (that historical feeling). At the dragon description section, all of the dragons were drawn perfectly to the physical descriptions of the dragons. Lastly, for graphics, the book was organized really well, in a logical and concise way. Bravo, illustrator/graphics person!
As for the writing content, it was dense but really fun to read. All of the information kids want to know about dragons was present, and so fascinating, too. I also think that it was such a smart idea on the author's part to include a student's diary entries in this dragon info book. It will definitely inspire kids to dream and this book will trigger their imaginations to run wild. Kids love these kinds of books, and this book was done perfectly. This book will no doubt be a favorite and might even become a reference book for young to-be dragon riders. :)
Bravo!

Such a beautiful and entertaining book introducing kids to dragons. I loved the idea of it being a field guide and the illustrations were lovely

A Natural History of Dragons is a picture book "field guide" of dragons with incredibly beautiful illustrations. It reads like a non-fiction book with tons of dragon trivia & factoids. This would be a great read for dragon lovers of all ages.

I particularly liked the focus on dragon folklore around the world, and the emphasis on differences and similarities of dragons between regions. Thanks to NetGalley, Emily Hawkins, and Quarto Publishing for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own!

Wow! This is such a gorgeous collection of information about dragons that is sure to delight any dragon lover, as well as any children interested in fantasy. While the eBook is wonderful I think this is a book that would be highly treasured in print and admit to wanting a copy when it is published later this year. With a mix of journal entries from a long ago dragon-rider student, accompanied by a field guide with illustrations and detailed descriptions, there is so much information on all things dragon. I found this book captivating and fascinating in so many ways, and enjoyed the level of research and thought that has gone into making this a great resource. Funny, quirky and brilliantly done. Thanks to Netgalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s books for letting me read this advanced reader copy in exchange for my review. Also thanks to the amazing author Emily Hawkins, and the stunningly talented illustrator, Jessica Roux.

Children with parents that are fans of Dungeons & Dragons or any dragon fantasy reader!! THIS IS A MUST HAVE ON THE SHELF!!

Absolutely beautiful dragon illustrations. The descriptive writing and attention to details is immaculate. So happy that we have more dragons books.

It has everything you need to know about dragons from their life cycle down to their wing spans. If I didn’t know any better, I would think dragons are real

Can’t wait for this to release. Will be buying this for my daughters.

My son and I love this series of books and growing up I was definitely a dragon girlie so we were excited to get a look at this book! It did not disappoint! Everything you'd expect to see with some things you would not! Beautiful illustrations as well! Thank you so much for the e arc!

I love the clever premise of the Academie Solomonar and the work of the Solomonari. Between this and the gorgeous illustrations, as well as the beautiful layout, this book will engage dragon lovers of all ages.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is so creative and fun!! What an inventive concept and I want to buy this for my nephew! The illustrations are detailed and beautiful, too.

With an exquisite cover and gilt edges, A Natural History of Dragons is fated to treasured for years to come. But even without that, children would cherish A Natural History of Dragons due to author Emily Hawkins quaint storytelling and illustrator Jessica Roux’s detailed, old-fashioned depictions of dragons. Together we soar!

This picture book purports to be the letters, textbooks and notes of one Thaddeus Quinn, who learned to be a dragon-rider at the secret Academe Solomonar, located in Transylvania, in the closing days of the 19th century. The book’s vibe is definitely Dragonology, with an equally beautiful exterior and interior, and Hawkins’ history of dragons includes dragons from all over the world and all ages.

The opening letter ends with “May the flame of this ancient knowledge kindle the spark of learning in you.” I can devise no better wish than that. Who could resist that? I only wish I could give this picture book six stars!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books in exchange for an honest review.

This book would be the perfect gift for a fantasy loving older child (or, frankly, a fantasy loving adult). This beautiful book covers what dragons are, a history of dragons, and how to care for dragons. The book is well written and has a very engaging format.

The illustrations are spectacular. The illustrator uses vibrant colors and intricate details in the pictures. These are the sort of illustrations that my children and I would come back to over and over again.

I love that the author covers dragons around the world. As an immigrant to the USA, I appreciated that a dragon from my home country was referenced. This also makes it more exciting for my children, who love books with that connection.

Overall, this is a beautiful book that I can see being loved by a lot of children and their families.

This is a beautifully illustrated book, jam packed full of lush dragon lore.

Perfect for dragon lovers young and old, a really great read. I loved the fact that the book reads like a children’s fact book yet the feel and style is more reminiscent of a ancient text, or a book you could imagine with pride of place on a coffee table. A valuable addition to any collection.

My children loved discovering the dragon facts, choosing their favourite dragon egg, and were excited to read each page.

I think this book would be perfect for children age 8 upwards or any fantasy enthusiast!

Thank you NetGalley for the free eARC.

I read this book (as much as I could see with my eyes, which was not much, actually) to my 9-year-old nephew, Hasti, and we had a lot of fun looking at the colorful and amazing dragon pictures. The illustrations are beautiful and stunning. I highly recommend reading the physical book. It's kind of like a Wikipedia for dragons, which was quite fun!

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing the DRC via NetGalley, Hasti gave this a high five, and remember that the publishing date will be on 3 Sep.

This is incredibly detailed from the informative writing style to the stunning illustrations. I appreciated the little notes, they made the book feel cohesive and made me feel like I was actually exploring the pages. Any fantasy lover would appreciate this book and the wealth of information inside.

I must confess, as a long time fan of the illustrator, the imagery is what led me to this title but I am happy to report that Emily Hawkins has matched the talent of Jessica to create the most stunning and immersive experience!!

A Natural History of Dragons is simply stunning visually but the varied offerings in the text make it something incredibly special! Children will feel swept away with the unique mix of story and style. There's a level of immersion in the checklists and to do's that could keep a kiddo busy for days upon days.

This one is worthy of a home library or as a whimsical coffee table companion!