Do you love How to Train Your Dragon?? We sure do! I think this is my favorite Family Adventure Series theme so far. Yesterday I shared a Toothless the Dragon Hooded Towel, and today I am excited to show you the new project that my son and I have been working on: making our very own Big Book of Dragons! Eeekkkk!!!!! It’s been one of the best parts of our summer!
This little boy of mine LOVES How to Train Your Dragon. It is one of our family’s favorite kid movies ever. Recently we even bought the DVDs of the Dragons: Riders of Berk and Dragons: Defenders of Berk cartoon series and have been watching them together to learn about the dragons that aren’t showcased in the main movies. It has been so fun!
I have been mulling over the idea of trying to make a Big Book of Dragons with my boy for quite some time, but, quite honestly, I didn’t want to bother. It just seemed like a LOT of work to figure out all of the dragons and get it ready to go. Well, I am glad that I finally pulled the plug and went for it, because my boy is T-H-R-I-L-L-E-D with his very own Big Book of Dragons! Although he won’t let me call it the BIG Book of Dragons, just The Book of Dragons. Apparently it’s not actually big enough. I suppose I should have gotten an over-sized, engraved, leather bound book for it like the one in the movies. Silly Mommy! 😉
So here’s the deal: I have a PDF to share with you that includes EVERY dragon in the HTTYD universe. There are even pages for the class titles (aka “Mystery Class”). Print out the pages on normal copy paper, cut the pages in half, and then attach them together. I chose to go the extra mile a teensy bit by printing the cover on brown cardstock, laminating it, and having it spiral bound at Kinkos for $5. I just figured it would last longer. However, you could totally just print it out and staple it together. No pressure, Mama!
We looked up each dragon by Googling its name and checking out the image results, and then he carefully drew them to the best of his ability. Next we looked up information on each dragon and talked about it. He chose what information he felt was important and I wrote it down for him. (He’s only 5, so this was way out of the range of his writing abilities.) I took loads of pictures of him hard at work because he was so cute and intense. We don’t usually hang around the house in bow ties and such, but I took the pictures right after church.
He can’t tear his eyes off of his dragon because he is too excited about it. Love.
Do you want to make your own Big Book of Dragons? Here is what you will need:
DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE (PDF) HERE.
We used THIS webpage as our resource for all of the dragon species and their detailed information.
Do you know what my FAVORITE thing about this project was? The fact that the morning after we finished it I found him making his own book of dragons full of species from his own mind, all with fantastic features from his fascinating little imagination. This made both the mom and the (former) elementary school teacher in me swoon. Especially since he is still adding to it each day.
The cover of his own Book of Dragons. I love the Viking hat. 🙂 Please indulge me while I share two of his original dragons with you. I can’t remember their names, but I do remember how excited he was about their features.
This dragon lives in the water and can open his mouth so wide that it will engulf its whole head. Not sure how that works exactly, but I don’t ask such questions of the delicate genius. 😉
This dragon loves the moon (the circle above it) and doesn’t need any wings because the moon gives it enough power to fly through the air without them.
I just love this kid. I asked him for a nice smile and got this instead. I have been informed that it is his “Minion Face.” 🙂
What are you waiting for, Mama? Go print out that PDF! 🙂
Have a lovely day!
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Crystal says
I love that movie!! What a great idea to make your own book of dragons. I love it!!! Pinned 🙂
Tarah says
Printing this out now! My daughter is a HUGE Dragons fan, she will love this!
Sarah Westover McKenna says
Yay!!
Elizabeth Reiher says
Do you have a better link? I tried the link for the download and it was a broken link.
https://app.box.com/s/7czthhqt8ukvjmg9fbxy
Sarah Westover McKenna says
I just clicked on it and it worked! Maybe it’s your browser? Looks like it’s been downloaded about 250 times…. If you can’t get it to work I could email it to you after the weekend.
Elizabeth Reiher says
I tried it again and got a response: This webpage is not available.
Yes, if you could email it when you get a chance, that would be great. I think my son would really enjoy this. Thanks!
Sarah Westover McKenna says
Just sent it off to this email. Enjoy!
Donna says
Is it cheaper to print on your own or to download and have printed at an office supply store? Thanks, can’t wait to get started on this!
Sarah Westover McKenna says
I’m not sure – I just printed it at home! 🙂
Sylvia says
My son has LOVED this but now wants to add more pages! What font did you use? I can’t find it anywhere. Thank you so much.
Sarah Westover McKenna says
I’m so glad!!
This was made before the TV series came along, or movie #2, so there are certainly plenty of dragons to add! I believe it was PR Viking: http://www.dafont.com/pr-viking.font
Sukk says
Woooow! Thank you so much!!!
As a family , we also love HTTYD. This is the best. I can’t wait to see my kids face trying to complete their own book during this summer!!
Thank you so much for share it!
Sarah Westover McKenna says
HTTYD is the best!!!! My kids are much older now, but they still love it! Enjoy!