Product guide

The Boy Who Grew Dragons 1 by Andy Shepherd

The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd is the first book in a middle-grade fantasy series, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. Tomas discovers that fruit from a tree in his grandad’s garden can hatch dragons, and must learn to care for the unpredictable Flicker. The comic premise and illustrations may appeal to children who enjoy magical adventures and humorous mishaps.

At a glance

First instalment of The Boy Who Grew Dragons series.
Tomas discovers a dragon in fruit from a tree in his grandad’s garden.
The story follows Tomas as he learns to care for Flicker and deal with more dragonfruit appearing.
Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie.

Price

£5.00Save 37%

Reference price: ~~£7.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

The unusual dragon-growing premise gives the adventure a clear hook.
The 224-page illustrated story combines fantasy with comic, unpredictable dragon mishaps.
Customer feedback reports enjoyable humour, accessible reading and appeal across a range of ages.

Technical specifications

12 specifications

Book details
Author	Andy Shepherd
Illustrator	Sara Ogilvie
Publisher	Piccadilly Press
Publication date	14 Jun. 2018
Edition	1st
Language	English
Print length	224 pages
Reading age listed	5 - 8 years, from customers

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	294 g
Dimensions	13 x 1.5 x 20.2 cm

Identifiers
ISBN-10	9781848126497
ISBN-13	978-1848126497

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing describes this as a bestselling illustrated adventure, but does not specify the illustration count or format. Its stated reading age is customer-derived, while feedback describes particular appeal to 7–9 year olds, so treat these as guidance rather than a fixed age range.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Children who enjoy humorous fantasy adventures and stories about dragons.
Readers looking for an illustrated chapter-book-style story of 224 pages.
Families seeking a light, comic story that customer feedback says can encourage reading.

Less suited to

Buyers seeking a non-fiction book or a story without fantasy creatures and mischievous humour.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.7 / 5 · 5,652 ratings

5 stars78%78%
4 stars15%15%
3 stars5%5%
2 stars1%1%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback describes the book as engaging and well-written, highlighting its mischievous humour, illustrations and readability. The reported age appeal ranges from younger readers to older children, with one account describing finishing it in three nights. That perceived accessibility and comic storytelling fit the listing’s illustrated fantasy format, though individual reading pace and age suitability will vary.

Positive themes

Customer feedback highlights the humour, story, illustrations and easy readability.
Feedback describes appeal to a broad range of ages and says the story can encourage reading.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Boy Who Grew Dragons about?

Tomas finds fruit in his grandad’s garden that hatches a tiny dragon, Flicker. He has to learn how to care for the dragon as more dragonfruit appear.

Is this the first book in a series?

Yes. The listing identifies it as the first book in The Boy Who Grew Dragons series.

How long is the book?

The listed print length is 224 pages.

What age is the book aimed at?

The listing gives a customer-derived reading age of 5–8 years, while customer feedback mentions particular suitability for ages 7–9 and wider appeal. These are indications, not a guaranteed reading level.