BABY DRAGON

Mother Dragon instructs her baby to wait for her by the red fern while she visits his grandmother, telling him she’ll be back by morning but neglecting to explain why he’s being left behind. The friendly-looking dragons nuzzle each other, and off mother goes. Throughout his wait, Baby Dragon entertains himself by drawing, counting, napping and torching a mosquito. Frog and Weasel invite him to play, but Baby Dragon stays put according to mother’s instructions. As night falls, the mood and story become darker, reflected in Will Hillenbrand’s engaging mixed-media illustrations. When Crocodile glides by and offers Baby Dragon a ride to find his mother he just can’t resist. He quickly discovers the threat Crocodile poses and makes a daring escape, returning to the fern. After his harrowing adventure, readers will wonder why he was left on his own in the first place. While the illustrations are appealing and colorful and the repetitive nature of the storytelling engaging in its predictability, this story may well frighten the young children it’s aimed at. (Picture book. 4-8)