I never read this clever trilogy as a child, but thoroughly enjoyed reading them as an adult. True classics, they should appeal to the imagination of younger children. The narrator of the books tells the story of how his father Elmer rescued and befriended a baby dragon using his wits and the contents of his desk drawer. Their travels require resourcefulness as they make some narrow escapes, help other animals and share tangerines. The author's realistic, modern writing style makes these adventures seem almost believable. They are tame enough to be read to pre-school age children, while their illustrations help beginning readers decode tough words.

Jennifer Minicus is a mother and teacher living in Ridgewood, NJ.