The RPCD was designed to protect endangered monsters—but now somebody is trying to steal them! For a book about fantastical creatures, details about them are sorely lacking. When Ulf leads a tour of the facility, he names numerous creatures, but little or no description about them is given. This is such an overlook as to make the reader want to leave the book right there. Text is also a little too advanced for an audience reading chapter books, with no definition explained for words that might require them. Further, illustrations, though inked beautifully, with bold strokes, add little to the text, sometimes even contradicting what the reader would expect—for example, why is Professor Fielding smiling as she autopsies the dragon? The title battle, left to the end and having nothing to do with the book in its entirety, is brief and anticlimactic. Readers wanting action will be disappointed, as will the readers desiring fantastical beasts. ( )

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The Beastly Business series take place in a modern world where mythical creatures aren't so mythical - and they're protected by law. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts (RSPCB) exists to not only protect these creatures, but set up breeding and conservation programs, healing and helping to rehabilitate beasts so that they can return to the wild. Ulf is a young werewolf who has grown up at the RSPCB main headquarters which doubles as a 10, 000 acre rescue home for beasts. He'll remain there until he's able to care for himself. Ulf spends his days learning about and caring for various creatures on the compound and assisting Dr. Fielding, the RSPCB's vet. One night Dr. Fielding was tracking a mother and child pair of dragons when the disappeared from the radar. She discovers the body of the baby dragon and brings it back for an autopsy. During the autopsy they find that the dragon was shot down with a cannon ball and report the findings to the authorities. An Agent Black comes to investigate and Dr. Fielding and Ulf learn that they are dealing with a very dangerous criminal. The agent believes that this person has started the Ring of Horrors back up - an illegal pit fight where magical beasts fight to the death. The RSPCB must stop this criminal and rescue the mother dragon and any other captured beasts.

I'll admit that this is not my type of book at all, but I can think of quite a few students who would love it. Werewolf versus Dragon is a nicely paced story with some fantastic creatures, quite a bit of potty and gross out humor, and some gore (blood, detailed autopsy, guts, etc.) Heck, there's even a ghost! Ulf was a great character who was discounted at times (maybe because of his age or his species) but really saved the day. Duddle has provided some excellent pen and ink illustrations that are humorous and a little edgy.

I think some of the more scientifically minded readers would enjoy the autopsy and cryptozoology "science" parts of the book. I would also recommend this book to kids who enjoy the Captain Underpants books but are looking for a little something different (similar humor in both series). Werewolf versus Dragon seems to straddle the line between early chapter book and a middle grades book, I'd suggest it to my students who are in third grade or higher. While I wouldn't call this a scary book, there is the blood-and-guts factor (be it frozen rats for the mountain troll or the dragon's stomach contents) and it's a bit sad and violent. These creatures are fighting to the death in the Ring of Horrors and the baby dragon was killed. I would definitely keep your reader in mind when selecting this book - this isn't a book that every kid would enjoy and it might upset some. I would tell my students the same things I'm telling you if I were to suggest this series to them.

Read full review HERE ( )

For one thing, the pictures are simply adorable. For another, so is the rest of it.
http://persyandarty.blogspot.com/2010/07/persy-werewolf-versus-dragon-by-beastly... ( )

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

WEREWOLF VERSUS DRAGON starts off with Ulf and Dr. Fielding watching a radar screen at the RSPCB (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts). On the screen, they see two blips, which Dr. Fielding explains are dragons. The mother and baby dragon are migrating further north and passing over the RSPCB.

Later though, Dr. Fielding and Orson the giant retrieve the body of the baby dragon. It was found dead and Dr. Fielding is determined to discover what caused it to die. Little does anyone at the RSPCB realize that someone called the Baron had his minions do what they could to shoot the dragons out of the sky. However, the evil Baron doesn't want the mother dragon dead...he has other plans for the huge beast.

Dr. Fielding reports the dragon attack to the National and International Criminal Emergencies (yes, aka NICE). Soon, an inspector shows up. The inspector hints that the dragon attacker may have plans to hurt the beasts at RSPCAB, and Dr. Fielding, Ulf, and Orson secure the grounds. But there's something not quite right with the inspector, and the story grows more twisted once Inspector Black appears.

WEREWOLF VERSUS DRAGON introduces the reader to Ulf, Dr. Fielding, Orson, the RSPCB and scary Marackai. The story is a quick read, and boys will certainly be drawn to this AN AWFULLY BEASTLY BUSINESS series. With many mythical beasts and crazy villains, the action and adventure will surely be appealing. Marackai calls to mind the villainous Count Olaf and the crazy schemes that he gets up to.

For more adventures with the RSPCB against Marackai, check out SEA MONSTERS AND OTHER DELICACIES. ( )