A DRAGON ON THE DOORSTEP

When ferocious beasts come to visit, two friends face the dilemma of finding places to put them so they can get away. “There’s a dragon on the doorstep, / Do you think he wants to play? / Let’s lock him in the closet, / Then let’s run away!” But there is also a crocodile in the closet, so where to put him? Each new hiding place uncovers yet another new beast (along with all the previous ones concealed somewhere in the picture). Young readers will delight in the hide-and-seek illustrations. The most observant will spot a tail, head, fur or claw of the animal that will pop out at the next turn of the page. The simple lines and bold colors are appealing, and the facial expressions on both the children and the animals will grab readers’ attention. While the rhythm and rhyme of the couplets peters out toward the end, this is still an enjoyable read-aloud for a group or one-on-one. (Picture book. 2-7)