**Disclosure – I received these books for review purposes from the Disney Book Group. All opinions are my own.
Story time is always a favorite in this Neurotic Disney home. NDK (Neurotic Disney Kid) is old enough to read, but not too old to still be read to! Books are wonderful on so many levels. We keep them everywhere – even in the car! Disney Books are a great way to keep Disney at home. Disney Book Group was kind enough to send these books for NDK approval – be sure to look for the NDK Review after the description of each book!
Disney Books has recently released a few books from the new Pete’s Dragon, released in theaters today. NDK quickly jumped in and read these and is happy to share her opinion about them. After reading Pete’s Dragon: A Junior Novel, she did decide not to see the movie with me. She explains it better than I can.
Elliot Gets Lost- Price: $16.99 * Hardcover * 48 pages
- Picture Book – Based on the book used in the movie
From the publisher:
Elliot the puppy is lost in the forest, and needs to find a new home. Will it be with a family of sheep, or a questioning owl, or maybe some playful fox cubs? Or will his search lead him somewhere else?
From the screen to the page, Elliot Gets Lost will bring the fun and heartwarming story of a lost puppy to readers of all ages. Seen in the 2016 movie Pete’s Dragon as one of Pete’s prized possessions, the picture book was brought to the page by the film’s creative team, and features never-before-seen illustrations. Fans of the movie and picture books alike will love this story of a young puppy’s journey.
The NDK Review:
Elliot Gets Lost is a cute picture book. This is about a puppy who gets lost from the people who own him when they go on a camping trip. Elliot thinks he is lost forever and tries to live with other animals. Every animal tells him that he has to find his family. In the end, the animals help him find his family.
My favorite part of the book are the illustrations. The pictures are simple and adorable. My favorite illustration is when all the animals are helping Elliot find his way back to his family.
My least favorite part of this book is that the story is very simple. It’s a lot of repeating, but that’s good for little readers.
I did learn that you should memorize marks in the woods if you ever get lost. That way you can find your way home. Never lose hope when something bad happens.
I recommend this book to any little readers. It is very cute.
Pete’s Dragon: A Junior Novel- Price: $5.99 * 144 pages
- Age Range: 8-12
From the publisher:
Pete has a friend and protector in the huge green dragon Elliot. But when they are discovered in the forest, Pete must find a way to protect Elliot in return. A boy and his dragon find friendship, adventure, and a place to belong in this junior novel based on the upcoming Walt Disney Studios film, Pete’s Dragon.
Includes an 8-page photo insert!
The NDK Review:
Pete’s Dragon: A Junior Novel is the story of a boy named Pete and Elliot the dragon. They both have lost their families, so they live together in the woods. They have a cave and a tree house and they explore the forest. One day,Pete was found, and he had to leave the forest. Elliot had no idea where Pete had gone, and he searched for him. This started an adventure for everyone.
My favorite part of this book was Pete’s new family. It’s a happy part of the story. He finally got a home to live in. They are nice people and Pete feels like he really belongs with them.
My least favorite part of the book was most of the story. I can’t give away too many details, but it is the first book that ever made me cry. There’s a lot of sadness in this story and not much humor. Because of this book, I did not go see the movie.
I recommend this book to anyone who liked the movie.
Pete’s Dragon: The Lost Years- Price: $16.99 * Hardcover
- Age Range: 8-12 years
From the publisher:
When a young boy named Pete gets lost in a gigantic forest, he forms an unforgettable friendship with a giant flying dragon named Elliot. Based in the world of the film Pete’s Dragon, this original story features original illustrations, explores Pete and Elliot’s adventures and struggles in the forest and tells the tale of the lost years not shown in the film.
The NDK Review:
Pete’s Dragon: The Lost Years tells about the years before Pete was found in the forest. There are four parts in this book, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Each season tells a story from Pete and Elliot’s life in the forest.
My favorite part of this book is that it is mostly happy. The stories are fun tales about different adventures. I really liked one story where they discovered the pond with berries all around it. Elliot taught Pete how to live in the forest.
I really do not have a least favorite part of this book. I do wish there were a few more illustrations. There were only a few in this book, but they are really neat.
I learned that you should try to be happy every day. You never know what can happen.
I recommend this book to anyone who is a wilderness fan or if you like dragons. The adventures are fun. I wish I had a dragon!
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
