What would you do if you found a dragon on the doorstep? Or a crocodile in the closet?

Reviews

PreS-Gr 1-A boy and girl encounter a series of exotic animals, beginning with the dragon on their doorstep, which they lock in a closet and then run away. As the children proceed from room to room, trying to subdue or escape from each of the surprising houseguests, they find yet another one ("a crocodile in the closet," "a tiger in the toy chest," and a "lion in the laundry"). To no avail, they try to lock the creatures away in various locations throughout the house, which may be a little disconcerting to young readers. The smiling animals seem too open and friendly to be truly frightening and, in the end, the youngsters and the whole menagerie end up outside, where they "can play another game and everyone can hide!" The rhyming text, which features some alliteration, is slightly uneven, but the lively art, done in watercolor, pen-and-ink, and crayon, adds a touch of humor to the story. Although children may like pointing out the hidden creatures in the brightly colored illustrations, they may find more enjoyment in searching for the runaway rabbit in Rosemary Wells's McDuff's Hide-and-Seek (Hyperion, 2004).-Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

"Readers will delight in the hide-and-seek illustrations. The bold colors will grab readers' attention"