Module 13: Dragon Slayers' Academy: The New Kid at School

Module 13 focused on graphic novels as well as series for children and young adults.  One of my favorite books from this module was The New Kid at School, the first book of The Dragon Slayers' Academy series.   This book and the series are not graphic novels, but they do include some illustrations to help keep the reader's attention and highlight important parts of the story.

I thought this was a great book - it has adventure elements that will intrigue boys, but I believe girls would like the story just as much.  This is another great example of the underdog rising above his meager position in the world to become a hero, and these sorts of stories are found throughout the great literature of the world.  Even though series books are often thought to not be quality literature, I don't believe that is the case with The Dragon Slayers' Academy series - they are witty, smart, and have a lesson for everyone.

Image credit: http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780448431086,00.html?The_New_Kid_at_School_#

The New Kid at School is the story of Wiglaf, the third eldest kid out of over a dozen living at home.  Wiglaf is picked on for being small and weak.  One day, the family is traveling to the Penwick Fair, when Wiglaf spots a flyer for The Dragon Slayers' Academy.  His parents, greedy for their portion of a dragon's horde, grudgingly agree to send Wiglaf to the school.  Once he arrives, he must work in the kitchens to pay his tuition, but he becomes an excellent student.  One day, when all the older students are away on a field trip, Wiglaf and his classmate Erik are forced to go and fight a dragon.  Wiglaf learns a secret about Erik, and in the end, the dragon is defeated by Wiglaf!


John Peters of Booklist says: "McMullan launches a promising tongue-in-cheek fantasy series featuring a would-be dragon slayer with an aversion to violence; young Wiglaf of Pinwick leaves his family and with his beloved pig, Daisy, sets off to enroll in the Dragon Slayers Academy...Readers will laugh out loud at the cleverest, most manic kickoff since Scieszka's Knights of the Kitchen Table (1991)."

This book could be used as part of a reading club for elementary aged kids (grades 2-5) at the library.  Since it is part of a series, the book club could discuss a different book each month, and librarians could incorporate other activities into the meetings, such as composing your own knock-knock jokes, creating images from the book using a computer, or even creating a book trailer.

References:
McMullan, K.  (1997).  The New Kid at School.  New York: Grosset & Dunlap.
Peters, J.  (1997).  The New Kid at School.  Booklist, 94(7), 637.