GRANNY’S DRAGON

A very pastel take on the old I-don’t-want-to-go-to-bed-because-of-the-monster routine. A bright-eyed little girl spending the night at her grandmother’s is concerned about the fearsome creature in her room. Granny points out all the ways that she will keep the monster from her girl, but to no avail: Her granddaughter still frets. Finally, Granny brings out her secret weapon, a large pink-and-purple dragon that will stay by the child’s bed all night long. Granny even makes sure that the dragon’s teeth are brushed. The matter-of-fact, mostly dialogue-based text has the air of the real conversations kids and caregivers have about bedtime monsters, and the cheery, green-eyed dragon is a nice touch. Moore’s very contemporary Granny wears rings and scarves and has a similar kind of layered grey haircut to her grandchild’s ginger one. Sweet and fun. (Picture book. 3-8)