The Persnickety Nostrils ofDragamore Dragon
Dragamore is a nearly grownup dragon with a problem: every time he tries to breathe fire, his persnickety nostrils whistle and sputter clouds of steam.
Meet DebraArtist, author, and educator behind Dragamore's peaceful choices.Author and Artist
Debra Grantz Wolf
Artist, educator, and storyteller behind Dragamore's gentle lessons in courage, kindness, and peaceful choices.
Dragamore began as a traveling puppet teaching children how to manage big emotions and make positive choices.
The Story
A snowy adventure about big feelings, brave breathing, and finding your spark.
Dragamore is nearly grownup, but every time he tries to breathe fire, his persnickety nostrils whistle WHEEEOOO and sputter clouds of steam.
Without his fire, he cannot go to Dragon Fire-Breathing School or do the fun, grownup things his brother can do. With help from his friends, Dragamore learns the empowering energy and joys of cooperation and perseverance.
A not-quite-grown dragon
Dragamore can stomp his feet and bang his tail, but his persnickety nostrils whistle WHEEEOOO instead of breathing fire.
Big feelings in the forest
When Dragamore gets scared, his nostrils puff clouds of steam. A lost puppy named Basset helps him learn a calmer way to breathe.
The first fiery breath
A deep breath, a brave moment, and a little spark light the way to Penguin Pond and help Dragamore find his confidence.
Word to Know
What does persnickety mean?
Debra uses persnickety as an endearing word for fussiness, carefulness, and the parts of ourselves that can demand extra patience. We all encounter something persnickety as we learn to manage and accept ourselves and others through life's ongoing challenges.
A Peek Inside Dragamore's World
Meet the characters and places that shape Dragamore's journey from anxious steam clouds to cooperation, perseverance, and a brave spark of fire.
Near Dragon Fire-Breathing School
Dragamore and Dragster
Dragamore with his older brother, Dragster
Dragster can do grownup dragon things. Dragamore wants to join him, but his nostrils whistle and steam instead of breathing fire.
The red treehouse
The Treehouse
Zack and Kimi
Zack and Kimi are friends, but their treehouse is just out of reach. Dragamore cannot climb up with his short dragon arms, and another big feeling begins.
The snowy woods
Basset in the Woods
Basset the puppy
Basset is lost and needs help. Caring for him gives Dragamore a reason to move through fear and practice calming himself.
A tense forest moment
A Brave Breath
Dragamore, Basset, and the skunk
This is where fear becomes action. Dragamore's breath finally changes from steam and whistles into the fire he has been hoping for.
Penguin Pond
Penguin Pond
Dragamore and friends
Penguin Pond is the fun he has been imagining. The scene carries the joy of friendship, cooperation, and getting to participate.
A warm ending in the snow
Campfire Glow
The whole group
Dragamore's new confidence becomes something he can share. The campfire turns his brave spark into warmth for everyone.
Launch Day Interview
Hear Debra share the heart behind Dragamore.
In this book launch conversation, Debra Grantz Wolf talks about the story, the children it was written for, and the peaceful choices that shaped Dragamore's journey from nervous steam to brave sparks.
Reader Praise
A story about big feelings, bravery, and learning to breathe.
“No matter their size or age, children are often dealing with very big emotions. In this lovely book by Debra Grantz Wolf, young dragon Dragamore needs to learn how to change his frightened persnickety nostrils into the fire-breathing ones of his dreams. His kindness leads to a new technique of self-control, one every apprehensive child can appreciate.”
“The gift of a children's storyteller is to impart adult wisdom on a child's brain, and without their realization. Debra Grantz Wolf has succeeded in this great gift to children's literature in her book, The Persnickety Nostrils of Dragamore Dragon. Not only will the tale keep the children's interest, but they also will learn lessons of growth decreasing fear, patience producing positive results, and acceptance overcoming misjudgment.”
Free Downloads
Coloring Pages and Bookmark Crafts
Download four coloring pages and two bookmark sheets here. Join Debra's email list and receive a link to a full collection of downloads of coloring pages and bookmarks.
Coloring Pages
Four free printables to start with, including characters, friends, and snowy story moments.
4 featured of 10
Craft Downloads
Dragamore Bookmark Sheets
Print, cut along the borders, and tuck a little Dragamore courage into the next book.
Two Bookmark Sheets
One sheet is ready to color, and one is already full of Dragamore color for quick classroom, library, or at-home sharing.
Fine Art
Author and Artist
A Glimpse of Debra's Fine Art
Debra's paintings move between watercolor's flowing surprises and acrylic's bold color, inviting a slower look at nature, movement, and quiet forms of peace.
Visit the Art Gallery
Forever Summer
landscape
Hydrangea Love
floral
Geraniums in Blue Pot
abstract
Julys Geraniums
landscape
Three Roses
floral
Celebrations
abstract
Artist Statement
Watercolor compels and challenges me to "go with the flow." I am also captivated by the bold color acrylics provide, so I embrace the beauty and creative challenges of both water mediums.
Painting is a choreography of composition and design, with color, value, and brushwork leading the eyes to behold, to feast, and to linger on nature's beauty and bounty.
Abstracts are the pure interplay of forms, colors, and value in a spiritual sense of space, offering views without boundaries of words and labels.
Author and Artist
Debra Grantz Wolf
Author, educator, watercolor and acrylic artist.
About Debra
Debra Grantz Wolf, Author and Artist
Debra Grantz Wolf is an artist, author and educator who lives in Dublin, Ohio. She loves to paint with watercolors and acrylics, as well as write poetry and stories for children.
Combining her masters' degrees in communication and counseling, she created, authored and published a communication and conflict resolution program, Peace-Abilities, to help students learn the wisdom of kindness and making peaceful choices. Throughout her career, her favorite audience is a room full of students of all ages sharing their passions for the art of peace.
Her character, Dragamore, carries on her dream of peaceful living from his days as a traveling puppet, teaching children of all ages how to manage challenging situations and emotions by making positive choices.
As a mother of two and grandmother of five, she continues baking the rainbow cookies that her mother taught her to make as a child.
Read More About Debra