How to Steal a Dragon

October 1, 2024
Five young villains in training save their school from a rogue teacher in another round of cozy evildoing. In this second series entry, the Weirdoughs--werewolf Bram, Sheila the ghost, surly Mona the elf-witch, Skele-tony Le Bone, and fartmeister extraordinaire Bryan the Lion--immediately smell something rotten in Felix Frostbite, a charismatic if literally icy new instructor. The friends wind up in a good position to scupper his genuinely villainous scheme to destroy the Villains Academy--and oh yes, the world. Meanwhile, the increasingly tightknit squad disrupt exams (to the grudging approval of homeroom teacher Master Mardybum) and learn evil arts from teachers with names like Whiz Warmbottom and Professor Plops. They also struggle to keep secret the pair of runty but rapidly growing dragons they've illegally rescued from culling. In the end, through teamwork and TLC, the Weirdoughs come out smelling like...well, not roses, considering the continual noxious contributions of Bryan, but at least close friends. Told that even she is loved, student villain Mona responds characteristically, "I know...But never tell anyone I just said that, or I'll have to destroy you." The pages of accessibly written text are festooned with charming duo-toned illustrations. In the multispecies cast, Hammond depicts Bram as a boy who's lightly covered in fur and Emma and some fellow students with dark skin and pointy ears. A gas for fans of magic school stories. (drawing instructions)(Paranormal. 7-10)

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