THE DRAGONSLAYERS
by Bruce Coville & illustrated by Katherine Coville
A wispy confection from the author of My Teacher Is An Alien (1989) and other bon-bons, featuring a fire-breathing dragon, a misguided witch, talking animals, a hot-tempered princess, a plucky young page, and ``the world's oldest working squire.'' When King Mildred (yes, Mildred; he had a difficult youth) offers half his kingdom and his daughter Wilhelmina's hand to whoever slays the dragon created by witch Grizelda, only old Squire Elizar volunteers; but the feisty princess, in disguise, slips out to do the deed herself. A few quick adventures later, the dragon is bloodlessly vanquished, Elizar discovers that Grizelda is really his long-lost wife, and Willie achieves her heart's desire— knighthood. Most of these ideas recall such longer fantasies as Patricia Wrede's Dealing With Dragons (1990) and its sequels, but Coville's sly sense of humor gives it all a tasty glaze. (Fiction. 9-11)