MATTHEW'S DRAGON
by Susan Cooper & illustrated by Jos. A. Smith
A nifty variant on the theme of a bedtime adventure with a fabulous friend. The dragon comes out of Matthew's book as a miniature. First, Matthew also becomes tiny, and the two explore his own garden and have a terrifying encounter with a cat; then, suddenly growing enormous, the dragon effects a quick rescue and whirls Matthew off to meet a convocation of "every dragon ever imagined" before bringing him home to bed. Smith's paintings make it all seem real—the companionable feast on Dad's tomatoes, the voracious cat, and especially the endearing dragon. Thoroughly satisfying. (Picture book. 4-8)