When a Dragon Moves In

This is a cute new book by a new author (Jodi Moore) and the illustrator from I Need My Monster (Howard McWilliam). Kids will be drawn to the cover...a boy having fun on the beach with a fire breathing dragon...it just looks like an instant hit. It is a little long for little little kids but it is a great read aloud. It sort of reminds me of the beginning of How I Became a Pirate and the flow of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

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. However, no one believes the boy when he tries to share the news of his new friend. That’s when the mischief begins, and the dragon becomes a force to be reckoned with. Children will laugh out loud 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.