Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny, relatable tale of 6-year-old with wild imagination.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Dory, better known as Rascal, is the baby of the family and wants her older sister and brother to play with her. But everything she does to get their attention just annoys them instead, especially when she starts populating the house with imaginary monsters, from her straight-out-of-Sendak BFF Mary to the toilet monster, who attacks you if you sit on the john too long. Her siblings' attempt to terrify her with an evil witch called Mrs. Gobble Gracker backfires badly as Dory takes on her new foe with gusto.
Is It Any Good?
DORY FANTASMAGORY is our introduction to hilarious, strong-willed, 6-year-old Dory, and it's an entertaining one. In words and pictures, Dory bedevils her older sibs with annoying demands for attention and enjoys a lively time with imaginary monsters, some friendly and others scary.
Author-illustrator and former first-grade teacher Abby Hanlon shows a lively understanding of the way kids really think, feel, and act, which will resonate with younger kids, older kids, and adults. Along the way there are many laughs, moments of new understanding -- and a few antics you probably don't want your kid imitating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories where kid characters have adventures with characters they've made up. Have you ever made up stories about your own adventures with imaginary friends? Were they fun or scary?
Do you think brothers and sisters who are different ages should figure out things they like to do together, or should each go his or her own way?
When you go to the doctor, do you act like Dory or do you do something else? What would you think if you were at the doctor's office and you saw a kid acting like that?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Abby Hanlon
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dial
- Publication date : October 9, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 8
- Number of pages : 160
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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