The story in one page
When Peter, Johnathan, and Janet Jane discover a dragon in the local woodlot, the challenge of fitting a magical beast into a modern home proves remarkably difficult. Guided by their resourceful grandmother, the children embark on a series of adventures that shift between their quiet lives and the year 1227. While training with gnomes and questing for princesses in armor that clanks, Peter learns to dance. Eventually, the group navigates their way through time to return to their own Sunday morning breakfast table, leaving behind only a suspicious footprint for their bewildered father to wonder about.
Who's who
- Peter
A boy who wears dented armor and dances for a princess.
- Grandma
A helpful strategist who facilitates the dragon's integration into home life.
- The Dragon
A soft, out-of-shape creature who struggles with modern space constraints.
- Crubby
A stern gnome who insists on exercise for lethargic dragons.
What it's really about
- Domesticity
- The clash between household chores and legendary beasts.
- Time Travel
- The bridge between modern life and medieval myth.
Why it's memorable
- A dragon attempting to curl its tail like a cat to fit in a nursery.
- A boy in squeaky, heavy armor performing frantic cartwheels to impress onlookers.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Grandma signals to the children that their experience was genuine, while a literal dragon footprint remains in the mud outside as evidence.
For your book club
- The logistical hurdles of housing a dragon in a suburban residence.
- How a grandmother manages both medieval questing and family breakfast.