How to Wash My Dragon

Children's Guide to Washing Their Dragon

Children - Picture Book
57 Pages
Reviewed on 09/04/2026
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

How to Wash My Dragon: Children's Guide to Washing Their Dragon is penned by author Terry E Gunn with illustrations by artist Milan Samadder. It is intended for young picture book readers to enjoy. This engaging story humorously advises against washing one's dragon, emphasizing the challenges and potential pitfalls involved. Despite the dragon's stinky odor, the book playfully suggests alternative activities to engage in with the dragon rather than attempting to wash it. The book also offers lighthearted guidance for children on caring for their dragon companions, while also cautioning against underestimating the will of these mythical creatures.

Author Terry E Gunn has crafted an absolutely delightful picture book filled with whimsical illustrations and playful storytelling. Gunn's humorous approach to the age-old dilemma of washing one's dragon captivated my imagination from start to finish. I thought that the concept was so fresh and original by jumping straight into abstract fantasy and having it seem so normal and matter-of-fact. The illustrations by Milan Samadder offer some gorgeous and charming artwork to admire, and the action-packed pictures bring the dragon and its misadventures to life with huge visual appeal in the narrative. Gunn's clever incorporation of cautionary advice and subtle jokes for those helping young readers out added an extra layer of humor and charming creativity to the book. Overall, How to Wash My Dragon is a recommended read with its playful tone and clever wordplay. This picture book is guaranteed to amuse both children and adults alike.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Have you ever wondered how to wash your dragon? Should you put him in the bathtub full of toys, water, and soap? Or should the dragon join you and some friends by the pool? In Terry E. Gunn’s How To Wash My Dragon, one little boy has a dilemma he must confront. His dragon is dirty and stinks, but he refuses to bathe. He’s one very stubborn and determined dragon. The boy won’t give up, but neither will the dragon. The boy calls on his friends and collaboratively they try various options, each one failing, until at last they have a plan. But the best plan of all is to never give up.

Terry E. Gunn’s picture book, How To Wash My Dragon: Children's Guide to Washing Their Dragon, is a hilarious and perhaps useful guide for children, teaching them how to wash their dragon. But is the dragon a metaphor for themselves? Are the children the dragons that need a bath? That’s for the reader to decide. Told in rhyming verse and accompanied by Milan Samadder's bright, bold, colorful illustrations, this rollicking good story will have young readers chuckling along at the antics while learning the importance of teamwork and determination. The language is simple so young readers can easily follow along and improve their reading skills. There are a lot of imaginative ideas presented that will bolster young reader’s creativity – perhaps these young readers will have their own ideas on how to wash their dragons. Overall, a fun read.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

How to Wash My Dragon by Terry E Gunn is a 'Children's Guide to Washing Their Dragon'. What if your dragon was smelly and needed a bath? How would you go about it? Put him in the tub and scrub him down? First, you've got to catch him and your dragon might not want to be caught! What could possibly happen? Might your dragon run away? Can you get him back with treats? If you catch him, you'll have to hold on tight, or you might end up in the tub, too! Perhaps, just perhaps, the best way to wash your dragon is not!

How to Wash My Dragon by Terry E Gunn is a fun read for kids of all ages, with some great, colorful illustrations by Milan Samadder that help bring it to life. This is an entertaining story, and any pet parent will draw parallels between the dragon and their own pets – washing a dog is no easier than washing a dragon! This is an entertaining adventure story written in rhyme, and kids will want to read it all the time. It's the story of how creative one little boy can be when it comes to washing his dragon, and it teaches kids to let their imaginations run riot. It also teaches them anything is possible so long as they are prepared to put in the effort and find a way to make it happen. Highly recommended for all kids; it should be part of the school curriculum and on kids' bookshelves worldwide.

Delene Vrey

What do you do when your dragon just wants to play and not take a bath? When he starts to stink but sees through all your plans to get him clean? Well, you devise a brilliant plan that he does not see coming. After trying to lure his dragon into the bath, the little boy tried catching and bribing him with his favorite toy. The boy tried playing with the house in the garden, but the dragon stayed dry, and the boy got wet. Next, he tried to lure the dragon into the pool, but the sly dragon remained outside and stank up the yard. Then, when the stink became so bad, and it seemed the dragon would stay stinky forever, suddenly the weather changed, and the dragon ran outside. What brilliant plan did the boy make to trick his dragon into cleaning up? How to Wash My Dragon: Children's Guide to Washing Their Dragon, by Terry E Gunn, is a colorful children's book written for a fun reading time and an excellent introduction to fantasy and imagination.

Terry E Gunn wrote this story of a boy and his stinky dragon in rhyme and illustrated it with colorful and expressive pictures. The rhyme will keep a young child's interest. At the same time, the beautiful illustrations bring the dragon and characters to life with quirky facial expressions and introduce youngsters to the subtle art of interpreting illustrations, an essential skill for language development. Although this book is mainly for entertainment, it still has teaching elements. Like any book in your child's life, this one will enrich their reading experience and bring home values, life skills, and skills in interpreting visual cues, such as expressions. How to Wash My Dragon is precisely what the subtitle says – A Children's Guide to Washing Their Dragon. Any child faced with a stubborn dragon who doesn't want to take a bath will enjoy and be entertained by this beautiful book.

Courtnee Turner Hoyle

In Terry E Gunn's children's book, How to Wash My Dragon, a boy focuses on the best way to wash his smelly dragon friend. It's a difficult task as he tries several ways to coerce the dragon into the tub, like offering him a favorite toy or a treat. He doesn't have luck with any of his methods, so he enlists some help from his friends. They try to lure the dragon into the swimming pool, but the dragon resists, misusing the diving board and jumping away from the cool water. The dragon gets smellier in the sun as the day progresses, and the boy wonders if he will ever be clean. Finally, the friends go inside the house and develop a plan they hope will work.

Terry E Gunn shares an amusing story with a delightful dragon. Beautifully detailed illustrations by Milan Samadder accompany this humorous story, and the colors pop off the pages. The boy is determined to bathe his dragon, and the dragon's resistance is comical. When I read the story to my children, it reminded them of bathing a family pet and the funny struggles around the task. They made comparisons between the dragon and dogs and cats, citing hilarious similarities. When the boy can't accomplish the chore on his own, he asks his friends for help, and they work together happily. Children who enjoy stories about dragons or who are considering adding a pet to their home will benefit from reading How to Wash My Dragon.