WINNIE'S MIDNIGHT DRAGON

Winnie the Witch and her cat Wilbur are somewhat discomfited by the sudden appearance of a lost fire-breathing dragon-baby through the cat-flap. A few spells to put his fire out prove to be only a temporary solution; it takes moving the moon (and restoring his flame) to reunite the tyke with his searching mother. The slight tale doesn’t benefit from the padding afforded by the spells, but readers will enjoy the visual feast afforded by Paul’s cartoons, which seem to aspire to Blake-ian bristliness. Wilbur’s and Winnie’s expressions and the details of Winnie’s witchy lair will keep their attention happily fixed. (Picture book. 5-8)