Timothy Titus Terrance O'Toole and the Dragon
- Publisher
- OC Publishing
- Initial publish date
- Dec 2021
- Category
- General, Humorous Stories
- Recommended Age
- 5 to 8
- Recommended Grade
- k to 3
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781989833148
- Publish Date
- Dec 2021
- List Price
- $13.99
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781989833155
- Publish Date
- Dec 2021
- List Price
- $22.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
Timothy Titus Terrance O’Toole is a kind-hearted little boy. . .who befriends a big, scary dragon! Well, not so scary really, and actually a little bit shy, being new to the neighbourhood. Timothy is able to convince his mother to let him keep the dragon as long as his father approves. Timothy’s dragon wins over not just Timothy’s parents, but the entire community, with his love of children, helpful attitude, and skillful kitten rescuing. He becomes an important part of the neighbourhood, and is so well-loved that he is forgiven for eating Mrs. McGillicuddy’s flowered hat! It’s just what dragons do. He uses his fire-breathing for good, like lighting barbeques and warming up bowls of chili, like no one else can. He fits in perfectly! What a helpful dragon.
About the author
Contributor Notes
Jackie Arnason was a prairie girl, born in a small town in Saskatchewan and living most of her life in Regina. While growing up in the “dirty 30s” life was hard but the local library became her haven. She learned to love reading and books of all kinds and made up stories to tell her brothers and sisters. This talent for storytelling continued when she had children and then grandchildren. Here at last was a captive audience, so she told fanciful stories about pigs and dragons and kittens and clouds and zebras. Storytime fostered a closeness between mother and daughters and Ahma and grandchildren and provided a gentle and imaginative way of teaching life lessons. Despite having written boxes and boxes of stories for her family for decades, Jackie became a delighted first-time author at the age of 87, publishing Hambone—Why Pigs Have Curly Tails, in 2020. Timothy Titus Terrance O’Toole & the Dragon is her second children’s book. Jackie passed away in September 2021 but her legacy will live on in the lessons and magical stories she shared through the years. Learn more about Jackie at www.ocpublishing.ca/jackie-arnason.html
Excerpt: Timothy Titus Terrance O'Toole and the Dragon (by (author) Jackie Arnason)
Timothy Titus Terrance O’Toole was a very ordinary boy.
He was seven years old. He had red hair and freckles.
He played baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter.
He loved chocolate pudding and hated spinach.
He collected gum and string and stones and sometimes frogs in his pockets.
In fact, everything about Timothy Titus Terrance O’Toole was very, very ordinary except for one thing - he had a dragon!
Oh, I know - you’re saying, “Pooh! There are no such things as dragons.”
Well - you’re wrong! Timothy Titus Terrance O’Toole really did have a dragon and this is how it happened.
One day, on the way home from school, Timothy heard a funny noise coming from behind the lilac bush at the end of his yard.
“That sounds like somebody crying.” he said, as he crept quietly up to the bush and peered through the branches.
Lo and behold - there was a dragon!
Timothy rubbed his eyes and looked again.
The dragon was still there.
It looked really, really big.
Timothy thought it was probably a hundred feet long (actually it was just a little dragon - only twenty feet long).
It’s scales were a muddy, froggy, green, and it was crying big, BIG, salty tears.
“Oh, don’t cry, dragon dear. What ever is the matter?” said Timothy.
“Oh, woe is me!” cried the dragon, splashing Timothy with big salty tears. “I’m lost and I have nowhere to live and I’m so-oo-oo lonely.”
“Oh, how sad.” said Timothy. “Why, I’m sure you can stay with us. I’ll go ask Mother.”
And he ran to the house shouting, “Mother, come quick - come quick!”
Mrs. O’Toole ran out. “What’s wrong Timothy? “
Timothy said, “I’ve found a lost and lonely dragon. I said it could stay with us. That’s OK, isn’t it?”
Editorial Reviews
“The book is simple yet engaging and will hold the attention of children of all ages. Timothy is a character with a roaring imagination. It’s delightful to connect to and see ourselves in this fun character.” Kylie Etmanski, elementary school teacher
“Timothy Titus sure does have a great imagination! This book will spark imagination and creativity in children. This is a great book for teachers to read to their students when encouraging them to come up with ideas for writing their own short stories.” Chelsea Sneep, preschool & early learning teacher
"A warm and welcoming short story that reminds us of the magic of imagination and the power of kindness.". Caylee Ortiz, ECE teacher and children’s librarian
