Dragon's Breath by Michael Gordon

February is National Children's Dental Health Month... a month-long observance that raises awareness of dental health and promotes the importance of proper oral hygiene.  During this time, early elementary school students learn and practice the right way to brush and floss their teeth.  Quite often dentists will visit their classrooms as guest speakers and pass out toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss.  Fun times!

Not too long ago, Michael Gordon published his book Dragon's Breath. Dragon's Breath is about Joe the Dragon who does not want to brush his teeth. His teeth turn green... his breath starts to smell... and people don't want to be near him because of it. Eventually, Joe brushes his teeth and feels good about it. Hooray! But, what if Joe didn't make the smart choice to brush his teeth? What would have happened to them over time? Keep reading to learn more about Dragon's Breath and for a free reading comprehension printable.

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

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Author's Summary

What happens when a dragon doesn't brush his teeth? Well…we all heard about the ''dragon's breath’’. That's why learning proper dental care is really important for a little boy and his friend Dragon Joe.

• Teach the importance of brushing teeth in a cute and fun way
• Create more positive attitudes in preschoolers
• Perfect book for kids who love dragons
• Solutions that help keep teeth clean and healthy

🍎 Title: Dragon's Breath

🍎 Author: Michael Gordon
🍎 Illustrator: Michael Gordon
🍎 Publisher: self-published
🍎 Date: October 6, 2018
🍎 Pages: 28

Language Arts

Dragon's Breath by Michael Gordon is a fun story written in rhyme.  We learn about Joe the Dragon and why he doesn't want to brush his teeth... dragons aren't supposed to have clean teeth!  As you read Dragon's Breath with your students, spend some time talking about Joe.  Why was Joe so unhappy?  What happened to his teeth when he decided not to brush them?  What happened to his breath?  How did George trick Joe into brushing his them?  How did Joe feel once his teeth were clean?  What can we learn from this story?  What do you think would happen if Joe hadn't brushed his teeth at all?

What is the biggest problem in the story?

While reading Dragon's Breath with your students, talk about all of the problems that pop up in the story. Some problems are bigger than others... but which problem is the BIGGEST problem of all? What is the ultimate problem that causes all of the other problems to happen? And, how does that problem get solved?

I created the graphic organizer below to go with Dragon's Breath. It can be used as a way to take notes while reading Dragon's Breath or as an independent practice after your students finish reading it. Even though this chart appears to be seemingly simple, it can be a challenge for students who are beginning to use inferential thinking skills and are used to finding the answers 'in the book.' You may need to do a minilesson about making inferences from stories before completing this activity.

To download a FREE copy of this printable, (one page in all), please click on the image above. Clicking this image will take you to the Teachers-Pay-Teachers third-party website. This is a FREE download-- no purchase necessary.

Did you enjoy reading about Dragon's Breath? If so, check out these blog posts for more children's books and activities:

• Book: What's an Og? By Mary Barry
• Book: If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff
• Book: Grouchy Goose by Betina Baptist
• Book: Raja's Pet Camel: The Magic of Hope Anita Nahta Amin
• Book: Yuka's Way Home by Abigail Roscoe
• Book: Crazy Cats from Outer Space by Matt Bell