When a Dragon Moves In
-
-
3.5 • 2 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
On a beautiful day at the beach, a young boy brings his bucket, shovel, and imagination, and builds a perfect sand castle. Right away, a dragon moves in. The boy decides to befriend his dragon and they spend time roaming the shore, flying a kite, braving the waves, defying bullies, and roasting marshmallows—all while Dad is busy sunbathing and Mom is engrossed in her book. Unfortunately, no one believes the boy when he tries to share the news of this magnificent creature. That's when the mischief begins, and the dragon becomes a force to be reckoned with. While adults will recognize the naughty antics as a ploy for attention, children will dissolve into giggles as the dragon devours every last sandwich, blows bubbles in the lemonade, and leaves claw prints in the brownies. Maybe the dragon really is running amok on the beach, or maybe it's a little boy's imagination that is running wild.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fans of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and its sequels should enjoy how debut author Moore, channeling an imaginative boy at the beach with his family, muses upon the consequences of having a bright red dragon take up lodging in his sand castle. At first it's all fun and games ("...you'll have a built-in marshmallow toaster"), with a little subterfuge thrown in (since there's no smoking on the beach, "you'll have to hide his smoke from the lifeguard"). But as the day wears on, the fantasy begins to impinge on others. Ultimately, the cardinal sin of the beach is committed: throwing sand at one's annoying big sister. "Then you'll march over to your sandcastle and order your dragon to leave until he learns some manners," says the narrator, who seems firm in his resolution, but who will live to pretend another day. Although it's not the freshest concept on the shelves, Moore has a light, sure touch, and she gives McWilliam (I Need My Monster) plenty of room to exercise his considerable gifts for operatic expressiveness and expertly choreographed physical humor. Ages 4 8.
